[ad_1]
Miami’s Don Mattingly was named National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after guiding the Marlins to their first playoff appearance since 2003, despite a COVID-19 outbreak that interrupted the season and ravaged the roster.
The Marlins’ 31-29 record marked Mattingly’s first victorious season in his fifth year with the club. The former first baseman and AL MVP had a winning record in each of his five seasons as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mattingly, the Marlins’ first Manager of the Year since Joe Girardi in 2006, was the AL MVP with the New York Yankees in 1985. He is the fifth person to win both MVP and Manager of the Year.
“They’re just different. The first one feels personal, and this one feels more like a team,” Mattingly said, “and that’s why I’m proud of it because we’ve struggled for a few years, and to go. forward is important, and I think it’s a sign that we’re moving in that direction. ”
Jayce Tingler of the San Diego Padres was second in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America poll, followed by David Ross of the Chicago Cubs.
Tingler and Ross led their teams to the playoffs in their first seasons as Big League managers.
After losing 105 games a year ago, Miami’s 2020 season came close to derailing with a coronavirus outbreak during the first weekend of play. The team had to perform 174 roster moves throughout the season. 60-game season – which included the use of 61 total players, more than in any other season in the team’s history – but achieved the franchise’s first record of wins since 2009.
The steady hand of Mattingly, 59, played a big part in the turnaround, which continued into the playoffs. Miami knocked out the champion Cubs from the NL Central in the first round before the team was swept away by the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division series.
Mattingly paid tribute to Marlins CEO Derek Jeter and the rest of the team’s ownership group.
“It’s an organizational reward. I really feel that way,” Mattingly said. “And for what we’ve been through the last couple of years, I think it’s great for our property and Derek and throughout our scouts, analyzes. It’s like it’s a team effort, right? And it just shows that we’re on our way, and that’s what we tried to get in Miami to. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link