Manuel: Upon further review. . .
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Manuel: Upon further review. . .
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Just so happens the Baseball Writers Association of America announced it's NL Manager of the Year Award.
Just so happens I was in charge of our chapter's vote for the award.
Just so happens I didn't choose Charlie Manuel.
Hey, I'm all about full disclosure. Manuel was second on my ballot, and he finished second in the voting behind the Cubs' Lou Piniella. Looking back on the postseason, it is obvious Manuel was a deserving choice. If I knew then what I knew now, I voted him No. 1. However, I had the Marlins Fredi Gonzalez on the top of my ballot. My reasoning was pretty simple: Florida had an Opening Day payroll of just under $21 million, the lowest in the majors. Nobody expected them to compete. Yet they spent a significant amount of time in first place in the NL East, they won 84 games, and they went 10-8 against the division-winning Phillies.
I had Pinella third, for the record.
^
Here is how the voting finished:
2008 NL Manager of the Year Votes
(First-Second-Third, Total)
1. Lou Piniella 15-8-4, 103
2. Charlie Manuel 8-6-9, 67
3. Fredi Gonzalez 5-6-5, 48
4. Joe Torre 1-1-3, 11
5. Tony La Russa 1-1-3, 11
6. Jerry Manuel 0-3-1, 10
I agree with you Murph. Gonzalez keep the Marlins in contention almost to the end of the season in only his second season as manager and after losing Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Also, some of his best young pitchers, like Anibal Sanchez, Josh Johnson and Renyel Pinto, were on the DL for a long time. He should be the Manager of the Year.— EL Zorro- Dave; Another rookie mistake by you. There is supposed to be a built in bias in the BBWA balloting. Hell, I don't even know why anyone takes an award with only 32 "voters" seriously. I am surprised you guys do it by committee. I thought most of the old codgers who eventually get a vote would hold on jealously and not share with some guy nickhamed "cheesey." Pinella's Cubs under-performed...ridiculous decision. I see your point about Gonzalez, but your team has to have some real sucess and some real players to really compare against other clubs. Marlins and Pirates are more like AAA teams, and I don't think comparison is really valid. Charlie should have one in a close one. You cost Uncle Charlie 3 points. Shame.— bigredmachinefan
- Oops. Gonzalez kept the Marlins in contention...— EL Zorro
- Contention? Maybe the AAA thing is harsh, but if you were ever really concerned about the Marlins this year, you've got a better hook-up then me!— bigredmachinefan
- do you think the voting should take place after the WS or before? AS you said, if you knew then what you know now... I can see your point about Gonzalez, but at the same point, Charlie had his number 2 starter take a tour of the minor leagues, Utley nursing a bad hip for half the season, Eaton's total failure etc.— jeff gross
- I guess you missed the fist 3 months and a half of the season, specially the time when they were in first place, bigred. Antoher point agaisnt Charlie, who did a nice job BTW, the Phillies were defending division champions and were expected to win.— EL Zorro
- I guess you did not see the fist 3 months and a half of the season, specially the time when they were in first place. Another fact that favors Gonzalez and not Charlie: The Phillies were defending division champions and were expected to be contenders.— EL Zorro
- Good stuff Murph. I always go for the coach or manager who does the most with the least. Not saying the Marlins don't have good players, but nobody in their right mind looked at them as contenders for 2/3 of the season before it started. Manuel did a lot of good things, especially in the playoffs, but the awards are voted on before the playoffs. Howard still has a good shot at the MVP, but it probably goes to Fat Albert.— joeyjoejoe
I agree with your vote for Fredi Gonzalez - as I stated on the other article - Uncle Charlie is Philadelphia "Manager of the Quarter Century" anyway.— dpcoz- I know it is based on regular season but it is funny to see piniella win since the cubs got swept out in the first round for the second year in a row. also it is sad that a manager gets an award for taking the best team on paper in the NL to the playoffs. He should have had the best record and taken them to the playoffs, its like giving an award to bus driver for driving the bus to the end of the route (no offense is meant to bus drivers)— timm2
Comment removed.- Hank - shut up and get a life.— doorspj24
- There's only one award that really matters and the Phanatic was hoisting it up down Broad Street!— ChekUrFax
- Comment removed.
- Here's why I would have voted for Charlie, he managed his team to a division title even though they spent a better part of the summer not being able to drive in a run. Think about it, they sent 2 of their starters from the original starting rotation to the minor leagues. He had to deal with Jimmy's ego, injury, and mouth. He had to manage a 45 year old pitcher (who ended up being our stopper most of the year). He had to deal with new personalities like Feliz, Jenkins, Lidge, Eyre, and Bruntlett. He had to strategically change out Burrell late in games, and it worked for the most part. He managed what most people thought coming into the season was a horrible bullpen. Most people thought outside of Hamels that the rest of the rotation was worse than most teams' rest of the rotation. Charlie brought all of that together and won with it and THAT my friends is why Charlie deserved it.— cg
