Through the first half of the baseball season we have seen teams emerge
as contenders and those that have faded like pretenders. The success of a
club must be attributed to the manager. He is the strategist of that
25-man chess board known as a ball club. The manager has to push all the
right buttons while getting the most out of his ball club in order for
the team to be successful. At the end of the season awards are handed
out including for the top manager in both leagues. At the midway point
of the season here are my favorites to win The National League Manager
of The Year Award.
Clint Hurdle-Pittsburgh Pirates
Believe it or not The
Pittsburgh Pirates are over .500 and right in the thick of things in The
National League Central. Pirate fans have constantly heard about
rebuilding since Barry Bonds left town in 1992. This is the latest in
the season that The Bucs have had a winning record since that time.
Hurdle has a scrappy group of “no name” players that are getting the job
done. Hurdle’s pitching staff is fifth in The National League in earned
run average at 3.43. Starting pitcher Kevin Correia is an emerging star
as he has 11 wins so far this season and closer Joel Hanrahan is lights
out with 25 saves.
Terry Collins-New York Mets
At the start of the season
The Mets were left for dead. We all know the story about the financial
troubles that have been swirling around the team. The team’s payroll
options weren’t flexible and general manager Sandy Alderson brought in
guys that made the average fan scratch his or her head. Terry Collins
was hired and the fan base was disappointed that the team did not hire
former Met Wally Backman. The Mets started the season with a record of
5-13 and they were starting to resemble The Bad News Bears. Collins was
able to get across to his players and this team hasn’t quit. It seems
like every time The Mets play, they are starting a rally with two outs
and they find a way to get some runs across the plate. Collins has
benefited from outfielder Carlos Beltran and shortstop Jose Reyes being
in contract years. Reyes is leading The National League in batting
average at .354 while Beltran is proving his worth by switching from
center field to right field. Offensively The Mets lead The National
League in triples with 28, they are fifth in doubles with 156, and
second in both batting average and on-base percentage. Game in and game
out Collins finds a way to not only get his ball club ready, but to win.
Tony La Russa-St. Louis Cardinals
If someone had told
you that The Cardinals would be in first place at this point of the
season, more than likely would not be shocked. Now once you add in that
starting pitcher Adam Wainwright hasn’t pitched this season along with
first baseman Albert Pujols having an off year before breaking his wrist
then you would be surprised. The Cardinals were left for dead and still
everyone in the division is looking up at The Cards. La Russa has been
to The World Series five times as a manager including two victories, but
this may his best coaching job. Lance Berkman has found the fountain of
youth as the 35-year old is leading The National League in home runs
with 23. La Russa has had a closer-by-committee which had been led by
Fernando Salas who has 15 saves. One thing that is still a constant for
The Cards is catcher Yadier Molina who has thrown out 11 of the 28
runners who tried to steal bases against him as well as calling games
for a pitching staff that has allowed the second fewest walks in The
National League with 249.
Charlie Manuel-Philadelphia Phillies
There have been
many teams that have been talented and they have not succeeded. The
Philadelphia Phillies do not fall into that category. Manuel doesn’t say
much, but this team competes every game. Manuel has a starting rotation
that consists of “those animals” according to New York Met manager
Terry Collins. Manuel gives pitchers Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff
Lee, and Roy Oswalt the green light and they reward him. The Phillies
staff is second in The National League with an earned run average of
3.05. The staff leads both leagues in complete games with 11. Manuel has
this team on track to win he National League East and they seemed
poised for another World Series appearance.
Fredi Gonzalez-Atlanta Braves
Fredi Gonzalez took over for Bobby Cox and replacing Cox is no small
task. Cox was a fixture in Atlanta since the jheri curl and during his
tenure he established a certain standards of success. Under Cox, The
Braves won one World Series in 1995 along with five appearances in The
Fall Classic. Now Gonzalez is doing it his way, and that still has The
Braves in contention. The Braves are in the cat bird’s seat for The
National League Wild Card. The reigning Rookie of The Year Jason Heyward
is having a “sophomore slump” with his batting average at .223.
Gonzalez has relied on a pitching staff that has the lowest earned run
average in baseball at 3.02. Jair Jurrjens and his 1.87 earned run
average are anchoring the staff. Jurrjens is a favorite to be the
starting pitcher for The National League at The All-Star Game. Gonzalez
has gotten contributions up and down the lineup including rookie Freddie
Freeman who has contributed with 13 homers so far this season which is
keeping The Braves in striking distance of The Phillies.
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