Whenever Sports Illustrated does one of their anonymous player polls, they’re interesting insomuch as you get to read what players actually feel like on issues they’d never express their true opinions about when there’s a microphone in their face.

In a sea of rehearsed-quotes plankton, these answers are sort of like finding the highest-quality lobster. Analogy of the year? Analogy of the year.

In their latest incarnation of this feature, reporters polled 380 MLB players on a range of topics, including which manager they’d least like to play for. The top of the list? Lou Piniella, who received 26 percent of the vote. No. 2 on the list? Ozzie Guillen, who received 21 percent of the vote. (Some players declined to answer this question, and total number of votes were not given.)

In today’s Trib, Piniella take it as a compliment, stating it shows they’re demanding and want to win. Guillen says as long as he’s No. 1 with the White Sox, that’s all he really cares about. Fair enough.

Guillen’s ranking on the list I can understand. From an outsider looking in on his style and the way he sometimes talks about his players to the media, that could rub some guys the wrong way. But Piniella as the manager players would least like to play for? This surprises me.

I suppose he’s known for a fiery personality and blah, blah, blah … but don’t all managers at some time or another go out and argue a call? It’s part of the job description.

But maybe it has nothing to do with Piniella, and everything to do with avoiding the Cubs. I’ve heard it’s been quite some time since they’ve won anything.