MLB Awards: 2017 National League Manager of the Year
If you ever want a job where you are constantly second guessed, consider becoming a MLB manager. Which skippers did the best this season in the National League, and deserve to take home the Manager of the Year award?
During every MLB season, we find teams that surprise and teams that disappoint. The preseason is spent making predictions, and analyzing those offseason moves in an attempt to predict the standings at the end of the year. More often than not, those projections end up being incorrect.
Obviously, a lot of factors can lead to those results. Injuries, inconsistency, and dramatic performance swings, amongst other factors, all impact those final results. Teams can dramatically change their fortunes as players mature, or if they fill one of two holes in the lineup, or if their veterans suddenly age badly. Sometimes, it just takes a minor tweak or two for a team to reach its potential.
Whenever a team underachieves, the manager gets the majority of the blame. It is a part of the job description – making those managers some of the most second guessed people in sports. Rightly, or wrongly, they are criticized for every move that does not pan out. The wins and losses are all that matter. And in those wins, the manager rarely gets the credit they may deserve.
Which of these managers deserve the National League Manager of the Year award? Let us look at the top three candidates.
3. Dusty Baker: Washington Nationals
To the layman, it is easy to look like a great manager when one has some of the top MLB talent. Of course, there is more to it than that.
Sometimes, it takes a steady hand to guide that highly talented roster to the postseason. That is what the Washington Nationals have in Dusty Baker, a long time player who has now spent 22 years on the bench.
In his second season in Washington, Baker helped guide the team to a 97-65 finish, running away with the National League East. Even when Bryce Harper missed time, and with the early season bullpen woes, Baker helped keep the Nationals on track. He even managed to get a nearly full season out of Stephen Strasburg, a feat in its own right.
Of course, at this point in time, making the postseason is no longer enough for the Nationals. The team, and fanbase, want a lot more. Even with the excellent regular season, the 2017 campaign will be considered a disappointment if the Nationals do not make the World Series. If anything, the pressure is now on Baker to deliver.
The Washington Nationals had an excellent season despite their challenges. Sometimes, it just takes a veteran with a steady hand.
2. Dave Roberts: Los Angeles Dodgers
Having a seemingly unlimited payroll can make anyone’s life easier. Nonetheless, Dave Roberts still had challenges this season as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Seemingly destined to challange the Seattle Mariners single season wins record, the Dodgers had their issues. The starting pitching was inconsistent or injured, and sometimes both. Clayton Kershaw spent over a month on the shelf with a back issue. Kenta Maeda ended up in the bullpen, as did Hyun-Jin Ryu (for a save). It could have been a lot worse.
While the Dodgers fell short in their quest for 117 wins, they still finished with MLB’s best record at 104-58. Roberts managed to navigate through ten different starting pitchers, and the various outfielders the Dodgers brought through the clubhouse, to keep the team on track. That guidance was needed, as the Diamondbacks and Rockies were both hot on the Dodgers heels down the stretch.
Much like Dusty Baker and the Nationals, the Dodgers are not going to be judged on the regular season. Their year boils down to whether or not the Dodgers win the World Series for the first time since Kirk Gibson was pumping his fist around second base. Anything less will be considered a disappointment.
Dave Roberts may be able to bring the Dodgers to the Promised Land. He already did a great job guiding Los Angeles through their injury issues to the postseason and the best record in the game. All he needs is 11 more wins.
1. Craig Counsell: Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers should not have been in MLB postseason contention this year. And yet, heading into the final week of the season, there they were.
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This performance came despite Milwaukee ranking 10th in OPS, giving nearly 300 plate appearances to Eric Sogard. Eric Thames and Domingo Santana were the Brewers best hitters, as players like Jonathan Villar fell back to Earth. On the pitching side, the Brewers managed to get career years from Chase Anderson and Jimmy Nelson. Zach Davies tied for second in the NL in wins, but was roughly league average for most of the year.
Guiding Milwaukee to this impressive finish was third year manager Craig Counsell. The Brewers have improved every year with him at the helm, and improved by 13 games over last season. He has certainly been able to maximize the talent he has on the roster.
Although the Brewers missed their chance to unseat the Cubs this year, it could be the start of a rebirth of Brewers baseball. With some intriguing young talent in the majors, and in the upper minors, Milwaukee could become a contender moving forward. Having a bright young manager like Counsell will help the Brewers maximize their potential.
Next: 2017 AL Manager of the Year ballot
No one expected the Milwaukee Brewers to contend. In getting the Brewers to the precipice of the postseason, Craig Counsell deserves the National League Manager of the Year award.