Bob Melvin wins AL Manager of the Year Award
Posted on November 13, 2012
Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics works from the dugout during the game against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on Sunday, September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
In a huge surprise this afternoon the Baseball Writers Association of America named Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin the winner of the American League Manager of the Year Award. Since I live in the Bay Area I am very biased and thought that Melvin was most deserving of this award, but I figured the east coast bias in the media would allow Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter to win the award. The Orioles skipper was very deserving of the top prize as he led his team to an amazing season. However, what Melvin did with this club that looked awful in spring training with a below-the poverty-line payroll was truly remarkable.
Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on Sunday, July 8, 2012 in Oakland, California. Both teams are wearing throwback uniforms on turn back the clock day honoring Pacific Coast League teams from the 1950’s. The Athletics are wearing a uniform worn by the Oakland Oaks and the Mariners are wearing a uniform worn by the Seattle Rainiers. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Playing in the AL West meant the A’s were at a huge disadvantage when the season opened as the big spenders in Texas and Anaheim were stock-piling high priced free agents like Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, and Yu Darvish. The A’s were picked by many pundits to lose 100 games, and thanks to Melvin’s leadership they stunned the baseball world by winning the AL West crown by beating the Rangers on the last day of the season.
I wrote about game 162 last month when I called it one of the best events I had ever covered. I am still blown away by the season the A’s had and look forward to their 2013 campaign. None of their success would have happened had it not been for Melvin’s managerial skills and easy going personality that allowed his nutty players to have fun and be individuals as they chased down the Rangers throughout the summer.
Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics argues with home plate umpire James Hoye during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Saturday, May 19, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
This is a great day for the A’s and their fans. They had a terrific season that ended way too soon. This award proves that the baseball world and the media paid attention to what was happening in Oakland. When interviewed live on the MLB Network after the winner was announced Melvin was truly shocked and said so on the air. I was also shocked, and very happy for Melvin and the green and gold.
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