Managers of the Year

The straws that stir the drink, or I guess they might be the hand stirring the straw that is stirring the drink. The managers are often criticized, but then comes this time of the year when we look at how good of a job they did. The races for this award are usually not that interesting, mostly because you will have someone, in the National League this year for example, that is the overwhelming choice.

So as it is, Jim Tracy in the NL, manager of the Colorado Rockies, might as well have had his speech ready when they clinched a playoff spot. It is as simple as this, when Tracy took over the Rockies were 18-28. They finished in the playoffs with a record of 92-70. Enough said, he wins. You can talk about the jobs done by Tony La Russa and Bruce Bochy but they fail in comparison. It was a great turnaround and a great managing job.

Then when you look at the American League it is probably down to Joe Girardi and Mike Scioscia. The two teams with the best records, and were handled the best by their managers. Sure, Don Wakamatsu had a great year in turning the Mariners around, but they also got some better talent. Then Ron Gardenhire did a great job without two of his best players for a good portion of the year, and made a valiant run into the playoffs, but you have to look at the intangibles.

While Scioscia had a great year, especially after the death of Nick Adenhart, I think that you have to give it to Girardi. He came into the season on the hot seat after the Yankees had not made the playoffs the previous year for the first time in 12. He had a star that was hurt both physically with his hip, and then mentally and emotionally with the steroids scandal in Alex Rodriguez. He had three new, big signees in C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira that he had to get in there and win now with. They themselves started out slow, 13-15 before Rodriguez returned, and the team finished 103-59 with the best record in the majors.

There were a lot of managers that may have deserved it, but Girardi stepped up with the pressure and media circus surrounding them and led them to where they should be. A slow start into the best record in the league, and that is got to be worth something.