As we continue to run through the postseason individual awards races, it's time to check in on the National League Manager of the Year candidates. This one could be a pretty nice race, albeit only really between two guys.
As a reminder, we are looking at how the vote is most likely to shake out based upon historical voting tendencies of the BBWAA, not offering up how we would necessarily vote.
On that note, let's keep in mind that the way the Manager of the Year award works, in that it is generally awarded to the skipper at the helm of a team that either defied expectations most greatly or improved the most from the season before. In this case, we've also got a first-year man who has dealt with a ridiculous spate of injuries.
You won't see Joe Maddon of the Cubs. Even if he's the best manager in the NL this season, which is a reasonable stance, the Cubs won 97 games last year, went to the NLCS and then were preseason darlings. So he's out, even if that doesn't sound fair. Life ain't fair, and that rings true in Manager of the Year voting at times.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Dave Roberts
It's not 100 percent over yet, but it's getting very close to the Dodgers winning the NL West for the fourth straight season. Doesn't this fly in the face of what was said above? We have unique circumstances here to combat the improvement/expectations corollary.
First of all, Roberts is a first-year manager. Secondly, the Dodgers set a major-league record with their number of DL stints this season and still survived them to be sitting with a comfortable lead in first place. Third, they were down by as many as eight games -- in late June!
Add of this up and it seems Roberts will be the winner. He's done a masterful job in using the depth of his roster and navigating through missing so many key players, notably a lengthy absence from Clayton Kershaw.
2. Washington Nationals: Dusty Baker
The 2015 Nationals were one of the biggest busts in baseball under aloof manager Matt Williams, who reportedly lost the locker room somewhere in early August. They needed a change so they went out and grabbed known players' manager Dusty Baker. The team picked by most to finish second in the NL East is going to clinch the division title as early as Thursday.
Now, do I think Dusty's done a masterful job? Not really, but he needed to come in, be the polar opposite of Williams nad let his talented players play. He's done exactly what he was hired to do and the team is going to win 10-12 more games than last season.
3. Miami Marlins: Don Mattingly
The 2015 Marlins finished 71-91. New manager Mattingly has his 2016 troops an even 76-76 with 10 remaining games. He's done this despite some key rotation injuries, a Giancarlo Stanton injury down the stretch and a half-season PED suspension to Dee Gordon. Along the way, several young Marlins have had breakout seasons. If the Marlins make the unlikely playoff run, Mattingly has a shot to win this award. Instead, it looks like they finish in the low-80s in wins and he'll finish third. It has definitely been a successful first year in Miami for Mattingly, though.
Honorable mention: Maddon; Walt Weiss, Rockies
