Internet Managers

The IBWAA announced their choices for Manager of the Year in the AL and NL:

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its manager category Tuesday, with the Oakland Athletics’ Bob Melvin winning the 2018 IBWAA American League Manager of the Year award, and Brian Snitker, of the Atlanta Braves, being selected as the 2018 IBWAA National League Manager of the Year winner.

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the manager category.

Election results are as follows:

AL Manager:

1st Place: Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics – 479 points
2nd Place: Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays – 297
3rd Place: Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox – 285

NL Manager:

1st Place: Brian Snitker Atlanta Braves – 502 points
2nd Place: Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers – 311
3rd Place: Bud Black, Colorado Rockies – 153

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

So each award went to a manager whose team exceeded their pre-season expectations. Melvin held together a starting rotation wrecked by injuries. Snitker took a young team to the playoffs faster than most expected. Congratulations to both on their well deserved awards.

I’m surprised Cash did not do better, as he first implemented the innovative strategy of using an opener. Maybe it came from the front office, but Cash seemed perfectly fine to go with the cutting edge change. It looks like making the playoffs still counts for something.

from baseballmusings.com https://ift.tt/2FmwvXg