Paul Molitor named finalist for AL Manager of the Year award

The finalists for the AL Manager of the Year award were announced tonight, and as expected, Paul Molitor was named as one of the three finalists. The other finalists were the Indians’ Terry Francona and the Astros’ A.J. Hinch.

Paul Molitor’s nomination was pretty much expected, given then huge jump the Twins made between 2016, when they were just 59-103, and 2017, when they were 85-77 and made the playoffs as the second AL wild card team. That’s a 26-game jump in just a year—the biggest improvement in MLB.

Of course, Molitor didn’t make it beyond that one-game playoff, as the Yankees sent the Twins home in the postseason once again. Baseball writers vote for these awards before the post-season begins, however, so that probably won’t play a part in the voting, just as the Indians’ loss to the Yankees in the ALDS likely won’t play a part in voting for Francona, nor will Hinch’s World Series win play a role for him. Still, these are both formidable opponents, whose teams’ both won more games than the Twins overall.

The winner of the AL Manager of the Year award will be announced November 14th.