Manager of the Year Winners Announced

Earlier tonight, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced the winners for Manager of the Year

By Michael Foulks, Sports O’Clock Writing Team Member

National League Finalists: Don Mattingly (MIA), David Ross (CHC), Jayce Tingler (SD)

Miami Marlins Manager Don Mattingly (image credits: MLB; Joe Frisaro)

Winner: Don Mattingly

Tuesday night it was announced that Don Mattingly of the Miami Marlins won NL Manager of the Year. This comes as no surprise to those that follow the sport closely. The season started out as a disaster for the Marlins when they missed 7 games due to a COVID outbreak on the team. But, that did not hold the team back from proving that they are a major league team and they should be taken seriously. All credit is given to Mattingly and the front office, without him at the helm the team would not have made it to the Divisional Series. His players respect him, and he knows how to manage through injuries, lack of talent and pandemics. They finished the season 31-29.

American League Finalists: Kevin Cash (TB); Charlie Montoyo (TOR); Rick Renteria (CHW)

Tampa Bay Rays Manager Kevin Cash (Image credits: Baseball Writers Association of America)

Winner: Kevin Cash

The BWAA announced that Kevin Cash would join Don Mattingly as Manager of the Year for the AL. An obvious choice for the award, Cash led the Rays to the second best record in Major League Baseball (40-20), trailing only the Dodgers (43-17). They took down their division rivals in both the AL Wild Card round (2-0 vs the Toronto Blue Jays), and the Divisional Series (3-2 vs. the New York Yankees). Cash then led the Rays to an American League Pennant after a seven game battle against the Houston Astros.

The only person that would not have agreed with this decision would be Rays pitcher Blake Snell, who was pulled by Cash in Game 6 of the World Series. That move cost them the series as the bullpen blew the lead immediately, and the Rays failed to take control of the game.

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