Schumaker and Hyde win manager of the year

*Photo from the Belleville News Democrat*

   A couple of first time winners for this award. Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker were voted as the 2023 AL and NL Managers of the Year on Tuesday night.

   On the AL side, Hyde rolled through the field to claim the award, while Schumaker's victory was a little closer on the NL side. Both managers win the award for the first time, with Schumaker winning in his first season as a big league manager.

   Hyde received 27 of the 30 first place votes to win handily, beating out second place finisher Bruce Bochy and 3rd place finisher Kevin Cash. Bochy received 3 votes for first place, 12 for second, and 10 for 3rd, while Cash received 13 votes for both second and 3rd while getting no first place votes.

   In his 5th season as manager, Hyde led the Orioles to an AL East title and a 101-61 record before they ultimately got swept by Bochy's Texas Rangers in the ALDS. The turnaround comes just two years after the Orioles lost 110 games. After leading the Orioles to a 83-79 record in 2022, Hyde was a runner up in the voting to Terry Francona.

   Hyde becomes the 4th Orioles manager to win the award, joining Davey Johnson, Frank Robinson, and Buck Showalter. He's the 9th manager in baseball to win the award without having played in the majors as a player.

   Schumaker received 8 votes for first, second, and 3rd place on the NL side, narrowly beating out finalists Craig Counsell and Brian Snitker. Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came in 4th and 5th place respectively.

   The Marlins now have 4 managers who have won the award, with Schumaker joining Don Mattingly, Jack McKeon, and Joe Girardi. He becomes the 8th manager in baseball to win the award in their first season as a major league manager.

   Schumaker orchestrated a quick turnaround for the Marlins, leading them to an 84-78 record and a playoff spot after the team lost 93 games in 2022 in what proved to be Mattingly's last season as manager. It was the first full season playoff berth for the Marlins since 2003, when they beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.