For an analytics enthusiast like myself, there’s no tougher Baseball Writers’ Association of America award on which to vote than Manager of the Year.
There’s no MAR (Manager Above Replacement) metric. No concrete way to determine how Manager X’s pregame mood influences his club, or how his in-game move helped or hurt as opposed to the alternatives he could have chosen.
But I like that the award exists, and I like trying to figure out the worthy recipient using more subjective measures. This year, I voted for National League Manager of the Year.
Now that we know the winner — Brian Snitker of the Braves (with Bob Melvin of the A’s winning the AL honor) — I can freely discuss my NL ballot:
1. Craig Counsell, Brewers. When in doubt on this award, go with the “Overachiever” angle. The Brewers overachieved, outlasting the Cubs to win the National League Central title and the top NL seed in the postseason, as per their payroll (about $108 million, compared to the Cubs’ $190-ish million) and their far-from-great starting rotation. Props to Milwaukee’s front office naturally for last offseason’s outfield imports Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich (the favorite to win NL Most Valuable Player honors on Thursday), and props also for sticking with Counsell, whom current general manager David Stearns inherited from his predecessor, Doug Melvin.
2. Bud Black, Rockies. I found it a tough call for second place between Black and the Braves’ Brian Snitker. I went with Black because 1) The Rockies faced a tougher intradivisional foe in the Dodgers, whom they pushed to a 163rd game before losing the NL West title; 2) Colorado outperformed its run differential by six games; and 3) Black, a former pitcher, helped to further develop a pair of high-end starting pitchers in Kyle Freeland and German Marquez. While in the bullpen,Adam Ottavino rose from the ashes to cover for the failures of highly paid guys like Mike Dunn, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw.
3. Brian Snitker, Braves. I remember being in Atlanta with the Mets back in April when Mets rookie manager Mickey Callaway observed, “That’s a fun team to play.” They were a fun team to watch, too, leaping over the disappointing Nationals and Mets on the backs of NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna and veterans Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis as well as starting pitchers Mike Foltynewicz and, shockingly, Anibal Sanchez. Kudos to Snitker for commandeering this revival. The Braves rewarded Snitker after the season with a contract extension.
— This week’s Pop Quiz question came from Elon Semaza of Tucson, Ariz.: A 1999 episode of “The Sopranos” features a flashback in which Uncle Junior tells Tony of a Yankee player getting three RBIs the previous night. Name the player.
— The New York State Baseball Hall of Fame will hold its annual inductions this Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Hilton Hotel in Troy. The class of inductees includes beloved SNY broadcasters Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez, Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, former elite closer Joe Nathan (who pitched for Stony Brook University) and 1969 Mets outfielder Ron Swoboda. Cohen, Hernandez, Nathan and Swoboda are expected to attend, as is as Mantle’s son, David, and Martin’s son, Billy Jr., To purchase tickets, call (518) 877-5170.
— The Pop Quiz answer is Joe Pepitone. If you have a tidbit that connects baseball with popular culture, please send it to me at [email protected].
Source: Read Full Article