2009 AL Manager of the Year BBA Vote

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3 — Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox (95-67)……………………..1 point

Without a legitimate SS for most of the year, with neither Penny nor Smoltz working out, the David Ortiz difficulties for the first 49 games of the season and the shutting down of Matsuzaka for the better part of the year, it’s amazing the Sox were still Wild Card winners. Francona has continually found a way to keep his players loose, focused and hungry throughout a 162 game season.

2 — Ron Washington, Texas Rangers (87-75)…………………….3 points

I honestly don’t know if this vote should go to Washington or team president and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan as the change in pitching philosophy and NOT their once potent offense is what turned this team around. They have changed how pitchers train, letting them throw more and I personally hope that it catches on. I’m tired of how pitchers are babied and i hope it overflows into their use of the bullpen, too. It was only their second winning season in the past 10 years, the other was in 2004.

1 — Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim (97-65)……5 points

Angels Manager Mike Scoscia

I have two words for you…Nick Adenhart! How many teams recover from this sort of tragedy, let alone win their division with 97 wins? This was Scioscia’s 10 season managing the Angels and in that time he has proven to be an excellent manager as most catchers are in my opinion. In those 10 seasons he has managed the Angels to 90 wins or more six times hitting 100 wins last year (2008). And this year he didn’t have his typical bullpen or closer. Scot Shields was either ineffective or hurt and Fuentes is no K-Rod or Percival either. He normally excels in strategy and use of his pitching staff, especially his bullpen corps.