SB Nation Awards: Manager of the Year

by Jesse on Nov 3, 2008 5:49 PM EST in News Comment 8 comments

This year we're including ballot totals, so you can see exactly how each of the horses placed.

National League	1st	2nd	3rd	Points
Lou Piniella	9	4	2	59
Charlie Manuel	2	6	5	33
Fredi Gonzalez	3	2	3	24
Joe Torre	2	2	3	19
Tony LaRussa	2	-	-	10
Ned Yost	-	3	1	10
Cecil Cooper	-	1	2	5
Manny Acta	1	-	-	5
Dale Sveum	-	1	1	4
Jerry Manuel	-	-	1	1

American League	1st	2nd	3rd	Points
Joe Maddon	16	1	-	83
Ron Gardenhire	-	7	4	25
Mike Scioscia	-	4	5	17
Terry Francona	-	3	2	11
Ozzie Guillen	1	-	2	7
Cito Gaston	-	-	3	3
Trey Hillman	-	1	-	3

Each year, SB Nation polls its bloggers and collects votes for all of the primary awards at the end of the season: Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP.

What's interesting is that I didn't even vote for Gardenhire. In order, my votes went Maddon-Scioscia-Guillen; Guillen because his team actually made the post season. I think Gardenhire is the better manager, but in this particular season (thus, Manager of the YEAR), Guillen's team earned themselves a shot in October. Any surprises on this list for you?

Up tomorrow: Rookie of the Year

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Comments

Full disclosure

I also voted in these awards. My votes:
1. Maddon
2. Gardenhire
3. Scioscia

I ranked the managers in the order I thought they had an impact on their team; in other words, my votes also could have been for some mythical “doing the most with the least award.”

by Jon Marthaler on Nov 3, 2008 6:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like that.

The mythical “doing the most with the least award”. I sort of based mine on that ethereal basis…just with different results.

by Jesse on Nov 3, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lou Pinella My Ass

Come on, the Cubs Choked in the playoffs, Lou Pinella Doesnt Deserve to be Manager of the year, if anybody does its Charlie Manuel.

by Tony_O on Nov 3, 2008 6:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think

Manuel would be a better choice as well. Gardy would have won this and the real thing if not for the Rays magical season, but Maddon deserved it this time around.

by Twins Territory on Nov 3, 2008 6:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Voting deadlines were the last day of the regular season.

By the playoffs, it was too late to change anyone’s mind.

Also, for the record, AL bloggers don’t vote on NL teams. And vice versa.

by Jesse on Nov 3, 2008 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My Bad Sir

I Like how one guy voted for Trey Hillman hahahaha.

by Tony_O on Nov 3, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a fan of Gardy...

at all. Everyone seemed to think that we overachieved this year, but I really didn’t think so. In fact, I expected a little bit more.

by DJSkillz on Nov 4, 2008 10:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We should have won the division

Until this year, the strength of his managing was in the bullpen. After this year, I now think it was just a strength of the team. When the bullpen struggled, Gardy’s ability to manage a bullpen was tested. And I would give him failing grades. Putting Juan Rincon in 12 close and late situations (where he failed 8 times) was bad enough. But when the GM finally offed Rincon, Gardy turned to Brian Bass of all people for six more close and late situations. He failed in five of them. Then it was Guerrier, even though he had been struggling for a full month. And he failed in six out of 10 close and late situations. That’s 19 failed opportunities to win one game. And it’s not like he didn’t have options. Breslow was solid, for example, and he never trusted him until he had no choice.

Gardy did some things well. But he so badly managed the bullpen, it’s amazing he Twins even won 88 games.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 4, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs