*Photo from Zone Coverage*
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has been named the 2019 American League manager of the year. Baldelli barely edged out Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Boone and Baldelli each got the same amount of first place votes, but Baldelli's 13 second place votes to Boone's 9 gave him the edge. Rays manager Kevin Cash and Astros manager AJ Hinch were the only other managers to get first place votes.
Before becoming the Twins manager, Baldelli was a member of Cash's staff in Tampa Bay. He made an immediate impact upon being named manager, taking a 78 win Twins team in 2018 and making them a 101 win team in 2019, despite them being swept by the Yankees in the ALDS. He's the 8th manager to win after getting his team to a 100 win season, and the first since Lou Piniella in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. He is the youngest winner of manager of the year, and the second manager to win in his first season, the other being former Rangers manager Jeff Banister in 2015. He is the 4th Twins manager to win the award, and the second in 3 years after Paul Molitor won in 2017.
*Photo from CBS Sports*
St.Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt has been named the 2019 National League manager of the year. Shildt got less first place votes than Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, but he got more second place votes, resulting in more points for Shildt, giving him the award. After missing the playoffs the last 3 years, Shildt guided St.Louis to a 91-71 record an an NL central title, and an appearance in the NLCS, where they were swept by the world champion Washington Nationals. Shildt is the first manager to win the award without playing professional baseball. Braves manager Brian Snitker was looking to become a back to back winner, but ultimately came in 3rd place.
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