Nationals' Williams, Orioles' Showalter win Manager of the Year
Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams was named National League Manager of the Year and Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter was named American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday.
Williams won the award over Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who finished second, and San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who finished third. Showalter won the award over Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who finished second, and Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost, who finished third. The Baseball Writers' Association of America released the full voting results for both the AL and NL.
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This season was Williams' first year as a manager, after spending four seasons as a coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Washington went 96-66 this season, its second-largest win total in club history, and won the NL East by 17 games.
Williams is the fourth first-year manager to win the award, joining the Astros' Hal Lanier (1986), Giants' Dusty Baker (1993) and Marlins' Joe Girardi (2006).
"It’s a great moment for our guys. It takes a village. The players are ferocious and intense," Williams said after winning the award.
Showalter won the award for the third time in his career, having previously won in 1994 and 2004. The Orioles went 96-66 in 2014, winning the AL East by 12 games and posting their highest win total since 1997. The Indians' Terry Francona won the award in 2013.
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"I'm pretty speechless. It’s a great reflection on our organization," said Showalter, who has now won the award with three different teams (Yankees, Rangers and Orioles).
Voting for the award was completed at the end of the regular season.
- Molly Geary
