SBN Awards: NL Manager of the Year

by gondeee on Nov 9, 2009 12:36 PM EST Comment 31 comments

Every year the bloggers and members of the SBN baseball blog community get together and do our own BWAA-style voting for all of the major awards. I didn't have much time to do the proper research for it this year, so I put it out to the Talking Chop community to get a couple of members who wanted to vote. Talking Chop commenters esadb and Doghnut submitted ballots on behalf of the site and Braves fans. Hopefully they will let us know who they voted for. Here are the overall results for the NL:

Rk	Manager	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
1	Jim Tracy	Colorado Rockies	24	1	2	125
2	Tony LaRussa	St. Louis Cardinals	3	7	10	46
3	Fredi Gonzalez	Florida Marlins	2	6	5	33
4	Joe Torre	Los Angeles Dodgers	-	9	2	29
5	Charlie Manuel	Philadelphia Phillies	-	3	5	14
6	Bruce Bochy	San Francisco Giants	1	1	1	9
7	Bobby Cox	Atlanta Braves	-	1	4	7
8	Bud Black	San Diego Padres	-	1	1	4
9	John Russell	Pittsburgh Pirates	-	1	-	3

I don't think very much of Jim Tracy so there's no way in hell I would have voted for him. I know the Rockies turned around when he took over, but really... was it really him? Or was it simply removing the ineffective and toxic Clint Hurdle, where anyone who replaced him would have gotten the same level of play out of that team. I'm just not a Jim Tracy fan.

Overall I don't know how one can really say that a manager had that much of an influence on a team, and more specifically, how one can say that a manager of a team you don't watch every day had this influence of that influence. I can have a better guess about Bobby Cox' influence on the Braves, but I have zero insight into the betterments of these other teams because of their respective managers. Only that I don't like Jim Tracy, nor think he deserves this award. /soapbox

FYI, in the AL Scioscia was first and Gardenhire was second in a very close vote. The AL results are after the jump.

Rk	Manager	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
1	Mike Scioscia	Los Angeles Angels	9	8	3	72
2	Ron Gardenhire	Minnesota Twins	9	5	1	61
3	Don Wakamatsu	Seattle Mariners	6	3	8	47
4	Joe Girardi	New York Yankees	2	4	2	24
5	Ron Washington	Texas Rangers	1	4	4	21
6	Terry Francona	Boston Red Sox	1	1	3	11
7	Jim Leyland	Detroit Tigers	-	2	4	10
8	Joe Maddon	Tampa Bay Rays	-	1	1	4
9	Ozzie Guillen	Chicago White Sox	-	-	1	1
10	Trey Hillman	Kansas City Royals	-	-	1	1

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Have to say I'm surprised

No love for Gardenhire or Scioscia? Even from the home teams’ blogs? Considering most voters don’t have 100% knowledge of everyone else’s season’s stories, I have to say that two of the best IMO were:

• Ron Gardenhire got so much inspired play out of a pretty beleaguered roster of players and managed to tie up the division lead on the last day of the season, and took it on a one-game playoff.
• Mike Scioscia took an emotionally wounded roster, team, fanbase after the horrible Adenhart tragedy, and despite injury and ineffectiveness from some key cogs of the team, still managed to run away with the division, finally shake the Red Sox, and come two wins away from a World Series run.

Perhaps I don’t know the stories well enough, and/or perhaps it’s because both teams are pretty consistent winners that they may have gone overlooked, but I would’ve expected both of these guys to garner at least some votes.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 9, 2009 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this is just NL

"Im a fullonrapist, I do men, women, autistic kids, children, the elderly." -Charlie Kelly

by Hcgadawgs on Nov 9, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I see that now

Totally a case of “you didn’t read everything, dumbass”

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

glad your mistake

was an opportunity to bring Gardenhire into the discussion though. He seems to always have the Twins in contention. I’ve wondered if he would be a good candidate to take Bobbys place if he retires after 2010.

by adc62 on Nov 9, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why would he leave the gig he has now to coach a brand new team, with whom he is unfamiliar with?

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Nov 9, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

more money

& a warmer climate. April baseball isn’t going to be to much fun in Minnesota’s new open air stadium.

by adc62 on Nov 10, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would have voted for Acta, if only because he managed the Natinals for years and didn’t commit suicide because of it. Him getting fired, which was ridiculous, was the best thing that could have happened to him.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That is oddly (Hilariously?) true.

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 9, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Many are glad

that Acta got the axe. I can’t say I disagree either – the guy was a robot. I’m not saying every manager needs to be like Phillip Wellman, but Acta never really stood up for his guys. I don’t think he’s a poor manager, I appreciate his line of thinking; but there are a lot of times when I have to think “wow, Acta could’ve handled this totally differently.”

I remember he did an interview, where he was asked who was the best player in the NL East, and he said Jose Reyes. Now he could’ve let that be right there, and it would be fair, but then he had to actually say “Ryan Zimmerman is great, but shortstop is a more important position.” I doubt it was deliberate, but he basically belittled his (then) franchise player during an interview.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 9, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See, the funny thing about that is that I know for a fact that he cares about his players as much as any manager in the game. I’m sure there are a bunch of other quotes that support what you’re saying, and you’re probably right, but just in relation to that quote, Zim’s the kind of guy who can handle it. Hell, he played SS, he’d probably agree with it and use it as motivation to be better.

Maybe I just have too much love for Acta, but the problems with the Nats were way beyond anything he could have been expected to deal with. When I saw the team in September half the guys that were playing I had seen with their AAA team in late July.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See, when I think Acta these days, I remember that scenario this summer where he disciplined Elijah Dukes for being late to the ballpark one day (by like 10 minutes iirc) because he’d been participating in a Nationals-sponsored little league charity event immediately prior. Now, I know Dukes has had disciplinary.attitude issues in the past and the Nationals have long way to go in shoring up their franchise, but was that really the appropriate thing to get upset at one of your players for? By all accounts, Dukes was working hard to earn a starting position and had more or less put his past issues behind him, then he goes out and works a charity event and ends up getting penalized over a measly ten minutes? It just seems like there were bigger fish to fry and Acta didn’t really know how to prioritize to get that franchise’s chip righted again. Makes me wonder if he’s got the stuff to reorient the Indians either. Not saying he’s stupid, he’s clearly knowledgeable and has passion for the game, but I just wonder if maybe his place is doing broadcast work or something else other than managing. It just doesn’t seem like his forte.

by J-Freak on Nov 9, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

franchise’s SHIP righted again. sorry fellas.

by J-Freak on Nov 9, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All I can say is

The Cleveland Indians are an old-school kind of franchise. As is a large chunk of their long-time dedicated fanbase. Who knows how well Acta’s statistical and sabermetric preference goes well over there, especially if the Indians don’t start the season well, which, looking at their likely 2010 Opening Day roster on paper, doesn’t look that promising, IMO.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 9, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I will say, whatever the reason, there is a huge and immediately noticeable difference in Elijah as a person from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2009.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s sort of my point though- most, if not all, of that change was evident by midsummer this year when the incident took place. He’d already made huge strides and then gets reamed for something like that? It just didn’t sit right with me… felt quite a bit excessive.

by J-Freak on Nov 9, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, it didn’t sit right with me, but it wasn’t just Acta. Mike Rizzo, the guy who fired Acta, was in on that move. It’s plausible that Rizzo was the one who made the decision, and that he forced Acta to go along with it. Maybe not, but it’s a theory.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As in recently-named-replacement-GM Mike Rizzo? Good Lord, that franchise… needs to scrap every member of the FO and staff and start fresh with new men in each position that have NEVER had ties to the Nats previously. For every step forward they take they also take 2 back.

by J-Freak on Nov 9, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s so sad to watch. That’s why I thought it was ridiculous when Roy Clark went to work for them. No matter how good he does with the draft it won’t matter cause they don’t supplement it with foreign players. They don’t hire great coaches for the minors, they don’t seem to have any kind of organizational philosophies that I can discern, and they don’t get much bang out of lower round draft picks, meaning their scouting department isn’t that great. And then, at the big league level, they make ridiculous trades and sing people to insane contracts. I live three hours away and I love baseball, so I could get behind rooting for them to be good (as long as the Braves were always much better), but it’s just not going to happen.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“sing people to insane contracts” This is the funniest typo I’ve ever read.

I got little mental images of Stan Kasten and Rizzo serenading the free agents over dinner… lmao

by J-Freak on Nov 10, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you told me that actually happened, I’d completely believe it.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 10, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s getting worse- first they indicate they’re willing to go with Ian Desmond at SS next year, despite the fact that he plays the position like he’s wearing cinder block shoes, and now they’re apparently interested in Uggla, who plays 2B like he’s wearing cinder block shoes. If they get him every Washington pitcher’s ERA is going to spike by a half-run by default. They’re certainly not doing their wunderkind pitching prospect any favors.

by J-Freak on Nov 11, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Apologies, I forgot to add the link

by J-Freak on Nov 11, 2009 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My votes

Jim Tracy
ja happ :/
Albert
Chris carpenter

hohohhohohoh its the offseason, time to rosterbate in public places

by esadb on Nov 9, 2009 3:55 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Same here

except Chris Coghlan for ROY.

As far as Tracy goes, I agree with Gondeee in the sentiment that I wasn’t really sure that there were many managers this year that really had an impact on their team. I felt Tracy kinda won it by default, considering how his team responded to him taking over, even if you could make the argument that it was more with Hurdle leaving than Tracy taking over.

I dont exactly remember my remaining votes for manager (I had to place 1-3), but I THINK Manuel and Torre were the other two, not sure what order.

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Nov 9, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks guys. Good work… except of course for Tracy (we should have talked first)… j/k
I like the Coghlan for ROY argument, but Happ’s a strong candidate as well.

by gondeee on Nov 9, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just feel

that Happ wasn’t really a rookie. And as good as Coghlan was, what about McCutchen? And of course, there is always Tommy Hanson…

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 9, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I find it funny

How you can you somehow determine if Jim Tracy deserves manager of the year. Honestly, what do you know? Were you in the Rockies clubhouse? I’m intrigued to find out your logic to why Tracy does not deserve it.

by SayHeyWerd on Nov 9, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have it on good authority that he 100% absolutely ruined Zach Duke and half of the Pirates pitchers when he was in Pittsburgh. Everyone I talked to could not wait to get rid of him then. I think, if it’s possible, he actually made that franchise worse. Just wait until he gets his claws into the Rockies next spring, and let’s see how they perform under a full year of Tracy, then we’ll see how he really is.

I find it absurd that people argue for Tracy to get the award because he turned the Rockies around in less than a full season at the helm, but won’t consider guys like Tommy Hanson or Cliff Lee for their partial seasons of brilliant work.

by gondeee on Nov 9, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I get what you are saying, but

The Rockies were pretty terrible before Tracy, and they were great after he arrived. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, or that Clint hurdle was really that bad. But the mainthing for mee is that I couldn’t find anyone else who really deserved it.

hohohhohohoh its the offseason, time to rosterbate in public places

by esadb on Nov 9, 2009 6:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs