Jim Leland

And he really proved to be a huge difference down that stretch.

Oh boy, I'd have to think about that.

I like to think that I've had a lot of them, but I think the secret is to be able to separate the two.

I think you can have a friendship and still be the boss.

It's a very touchy situation.

When I say that, I didn't hang around with the players and things like that.

I don't do that, but at the same time, I liked them.

I saw what they were going through and

And you see how tough it is to play this game and what those guys go through on a daily basis and the emotional ups and downs of it.

I just had a soft spot for all of them.

Like I said, I'm proud to say after managing 30-some years that I could count on one hand the guys I just didn't really care for.

But I don't know.

I mean, I've always had a soft spot for Bob Walk, who pitched for me in Pittsburgh and just took the ball at any time.

There was just something about him.

He was such a competitor and

But over the years, I've had so many guys that I put in that same class.

I don't know that I really had one favorite.

But, you know, like I said, I have a lot of respect for anybody that can do what these guys do.

And, you know, if you have an extra special friendship with them, that's something.

Sean Casey comes to mind right away.