Joe Maddon, Kirk Gibson nominated as Manager of the Year – MLB Update
Sporting News has announced the American and the National League Managers of the Year with the Tampa Bay Rays’ Joe Maddon and Arizona Diamondbacks’ Kirk Gibson being nominated for the Awards.
Both managers’ were selected by the votes of 23 managers. Twelve AL managers selected Joe Maddon while eleven NL managers picked Kirk Gibson.
The Tampa Bay Rays made an unmatched comeback in the month of September only because of the leadership of the Maddon. Rays gave serious defeats to the Boston Red Sox in the month and made their way through the American League Divisional Series.
The club opened the season with six back-to-back defeats and they had to won nine games in the month of September to come out of the Wild Card race. Under the leadership of Maddon, the club bounced back and won 17 of their final 25 outings, which also include
five consecutive wins to close down the season 91-71.
"We are the best 0-6 team in the history of Major League Baseball," Maddon said after his team was eliminated in the ALDS. "It was a huge success this year, and anybody that wants to argue otherwise, please come by. I'd be happy to engage in that discussion."
Arizona Diamondbacks had lost 97 outings in 2010 and they had to prove their presence as the most promising club in the NL. The club followed the moves of their manager Kirk Gibson and closed down the 2011 season as a winner of the NL West with a 94-68 record.
The performance of Arizona was tremendous in the start of the first half, in which they resided at first place for brief time. The club however grabbed the first position in the month of August and never let any club pass until cementing their spot in the
post-season. The reason behind all this success is a strong mind of Gibson.
"I'd prefer things that focus on our team," Gibson said during a September series in Los Angeles. "Our goals are on our team, and I could give two (expletives) about whether I'm manager of the year. Honestly."
The selection of the players for the 2011 Sporting News awards was made by the managers, Major League players and front office executives. 289 players of 30 teams voted for the Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year. As 23 managers
selected for the Manager of the Year Award and 55 executives entered their nominees for the All-Star teams.
Sporting News will start announcing Awards in different categories from Tuesday and will take four consecutive days. They will announce AL and NL Rookies of the Year on Wednesday, AL and NL All-Star teams on Thursday and finally the Player of the Year Award
on Friday.
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