13
2012
My Picks For Manager of the Year: Davey Johnson And Buck Showalter
An article by 
The Manager of the Year award will be announced this afternoon by the Baseball Writers Association of America. You don’t usually see managers of perennially good teams win the award because they are expected to win. The writers prefer rags-to-riches stories, but sometimes it is harder to win with a bullseye on your back.
I agree with the consensus, which has Washington’s Davey Johnson and Baltimore’s Buck Showalter the heavy favorites.
No Mets manager has won the award, which was instituted in 1983, for those wondering about Gil Hodges. San Francisco’s Dusty Baker – who is a candidate – beat out Bobby Valentine in 2000. As far as Johnson in 1986, he probably wasn’t considered after his declaration the Mets “would dominate,’’ that year.
He made no such statement this spring.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Baker and San Francisco’s Bruce Bochy are also under consideration, but both their teams were recently in the playoffs, with the Giants winning the World Series in 2010.
As for the Nationals, they have been traditionally bad since moving to Washington from Montreal.
The expectations for the Nationals heightened this year with the influx of free-agent Gio Gonzalez, return of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg and rookie Bryce Harper. The Nationals were considered in some circles to compete for a wild-card, but won 98 games.
Johnson had more to deal with this season than many realized. He’s been more comfortable with veteran teams, but was patient with the young Nationals. And, despite what he thought privately, he handled shutting down Strasburg, which was a controversial decision in the sport.
The Nationals were ousted in five games by St. Louis – Mike Matheny, who replaced Tony La Russa and didn’t have Albert Pujols, should also be considered – but that experience should be something to build on, much like the disappointment of his Mets losing in 1985 to the Cardinals.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Showalter, who won the award in the 1994 strike season, and Joe Torre in 1996 and 1998 won the award for the Yankees.
American League finalists include Oakland’s Bob Melvin and newcomer Robin Ventura of the White Sox, both with Mets’ ties. Melvin worked in the Mets’ minor league system and interviewed for the job won by Terry Collins, and Ventura played for the team, 1999-2001.
The Orioles hadn’t had a winning season since 1997, coincidentally, the last year Johnson managed the team.
Behind the Yankees, Boston and Tampa Bay, the Orioles were given no chance to win and .500 was the goal. Instead, they won 93 games and took the Yankees to five games in the ALDS.
The Orioles were 29-9 in one-run games and went 16-2 in extra innings, including their last 16. In addition, Baltimore had just a plus-seven runs differential.
Did Showalter do it with mirrors? It seems that way as the Orioles made 178 roster moves involving 52 players; had only one starter make as many as 20; and didn’t have a .300 hitter.
They also prevailed down the stretch without their best hitter, Nick Markakis.
As much as Ventura and Melvin did, Showalter is the clear choice.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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Houston’s Lanier won it in 86…they improved 13 games to win the division, hard to fault the writers.
I personally think Dusty should win the NL because I think they overcame more obstacles than SF or WSH.
Also, I think Melvin deserves it because he did more with less. Not everybody picked Balt for dead in 2012. There were some who thought/knew they had some quality talent. Most everybody penciled Oakland in for 90+ losses.
I think Davey and Buck will win but if you ask me, Dusty overcame more & Melvin did more with less talent
Eh…the Reds were picked by some to win the division. I agree about Melvin, but also agree with Davey.
I agree with Jessep – Bob Melvin with Oakland. Though Davy did a great job with the Orioles it was unfortunate that Baltimore’s miracle season co-incided with that of Oakland and that Bob’s team was made up of more inexperienced players.
I’d go with Dusty Baker in the National League only because he took a team that won just 79 games the year before into the post season even though 2010 could just be considered an off-year since Cincy also made it to the post-season winning 91. But then having a pitching staff go from 12th to 1st in team ERA, playing half their games in that ballpark, has to be quite an accomplishment.
Plus he lost Votto for a considerable period of time.
Great news for Davey if he wins. He is not only the manager of the year, but manager of the last quarter century in my estimation.
I thought Dave Johnson should have won Manager of year with Mets, season all five starters were on disabled list sometime during the year.
Off Topic: SNY is saying they will have an announcement regarding RA Dickey tomorrow at 6:30pm.
Kind of a weird way to tease an extension. I’m thinking it is some charity project or something. Maybe he’s going to climb Mount Everest.
Isnt 6:30 also when the Cy Young is announced on MLB Network? Thought I read that somewhere.
I read that too and the post mentioned he’d be joined by guys like Frank Viola and Jerry Koosman in the studio.
Still, kind of weird to tip it off if they already know, isn’t it? Might the BBWAA get pissed and give the award to someone else?
I read it will be to air the announcement of the Cy Young Award Winner and that a few former Mets will be with Dickey that night. Don’t know if the Mets know something in advance or they are there to get reaction one way or the other.
I hope its not like an on air countdown or something. And if Dickey doesn’t win, the ‘pons give him a plaque anyway or something. That would be sad.
Hi Donal,
I think last night when they announced the ROY, MLB Network had some of the eligible players on.
Ya, but this is SNY, not MLB. What are they going to do if he doesn’t win?
If they already know, won’t MLB and BBWAA be mad about stealing their thunder?
Hi Donal,
What will the Mets do if R.A. doesn’t win the Cy Young Award? That’s easy. Sandy Alderson will simply act the same way he did when David wasn’t voted the starting third baseman in the all-star game.
I wouldn’t put it past Sandy showing off his partisanship and then sending them both off….
Showalter had to do it in the AL East, the toughest division in baseball. Johnson is a no brainer the NL.
True that. The Rays won 90 games an finished 3rd.
I agree 100% with your pick for the AL. I think the NL is a bit harder. While I’m not a fan of this award I think it’s a race between Bruce Bochy and Davey Johnson. Look what Davey and I could even see it ending as a tie between the 2.
Look what Bruce Bochy was able to do with losing his closer, one of his aces regressing and his top offensive producer turning out to be a cheater and still winning the World Series.
Davey also deserves consideration in how he managed these young guys and the bit of a circus regarding Stephen Strasburg.
Melvin & Davey – we split the difference!