Managers of the Year: Black (NL) & Gardenhire (AL)

Yesterday the Manager of the Year award was announced for both leagues. In the National League, Bud Black of the San Diego Padres won the award by one vote, overtaking Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker by a vote point score of 104-103. In the American League, Minnesota Twins' Manager Ron Gardenhire finally took home the award, tallying a 108 vote point score while the runner-up was Ron Washington of the AL Champion Texas Rangers with 81 points. Gardenhire, who had finished as a runner-up for the award five times in his career, propelled the Twins to another successful year: a sixth AL Central Title. For both managers, the award was their first.

"This was a great year in the NL. I guess this vote could've gone either way. I feel fortunate that I won. All these guys are so deserving." Black said, once he found out he had won.

"It's pretty neat to have your name mentioned up there," said Gardenhire. "It's pretty cool."

Black, who captained a Padres' ship that fell short of reaching the playoffs on the last day of the season, finished 90-72 while having one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

"I guess this vote was sort of like our season, it came down to the wire," Black said.

Gardenhire, on the other hand, led the Twins to the playoffs after finishing 94-68, but suffered the same fate that his club has dealt with for years: not winning one playoff game and getting swept in the first round by the New York Yankees. For the second year in a row, the Yankees swept the Twins in the ALDS. However, while not winning a playoff series, Gardenhire was happy with the award.

"It's getting old, getting knocked out," Gardenhire said. "Not finishing second" in the voting, "that's good. Now if we go whack the Yankees in the playoffs next year, we'll get that done."

An underrated manager, Gardenhire was the man for the award this year.

Congratulations to both managers.

Today we wait for the impending annoucement of the American League Cy Young Award. Will it be CC Sabathia? Felix Hernandez? Stay tuned.