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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Maddon the favorite to win AL manager of the year

Posted Nov 16, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Nov 16, 2011 at 11:01 AM

ROGER MOONEY

He wished Carl Crawford well in Boston when the four-time All-Star signed a rich contract with the AL East rival. He wished Carlos Peña well in Chicago, when the Gold Glove first baseman headed to the Cubs for a big pay day.

Same with relievers Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano.

Joe Maddon didn’t bellyache when the 2010 American League East champion Rays were dismantled through free agency or trades (15-game winner Matt Garza to the Cubs and All-Star shortstop Jason Bartlett to the Padres). He was too busy looking ahead to the 2011 season, to how he would guide the Rays back to the postseason.

With a rebuilt bullpen and spotty offense, Maddon did just that, pushing the Rays to 91 wins in the tough AL East and the league’s Wild Card berth, which the Rays captured on the final night of the regular season once the Red Sox’s epic collapse was complete.

At 2 p.m. this afternoon, the baseball world will learn if Maddon’s work this season in the dugout and in the clubhouse earned him the title of the AL Manager of the Year.

Maddon, who won the award after taking the Rays to the World Series in 2008, would appear to be the front runner, though the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America who voted (two from each of the 14 AL cities) might have also considered Detroit manager Jim Leyland, who led the Tigers to the AL Central title.

But Maddon’s job this past season was a little more daunting than Leyland’s, giving what Maddon had to work with. The Tigers were among the favorites to reach the postseason, while many thought the Rays would do well to finish around .500.

Maddon never stopped believing in his team, even while they remained 10 games back in the Wild Card in August. He kept pushing, kept managing as if each game was important, and what do you know? Turns out they were.

When the Red Sox slipped, the Rays were ready.

Maddon did more with less than any other American League manager.

That’s why Maddon should win his second manager of the year award.