Oakland Athletics: Bob Melvin adds to team’s haul of offseason hardware
Oakland Athletics skipper, Bob Melvin, has added to the team’s impressive haul of offseason accolades by being named AL Manager of the Year
After being awarded Sporting News’ 2018 AL Manager of the Year, Oakland Athletics skipper, Bob Melvin has another MOY award to add to a trophy case that’s already bursting at the seams.
This is Melvin’s third Baseball Writers’ Association of America Manager of the Year award of his career. He won the same honor in 2012 with the A’s and also back in 2007 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
According to the A’s, Melvin is one of only eight managers in history to win this award three or more times.
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Melvin won by receiving 18 out of 30 first place votes given out by the BBWAA. Some may wonder why World Series Champion Boston Red Sox manager, Alex Cora was not given the award for leading his team all the way to the end, and feel he may have gotten unfairly snubbed for the award.
But, according to Oakland A’s beat reporter for the Mercury News, Martin Gallegos, voting occurred before the postseason so there would be no bias due to playoff outcomes — which only seems right, given that it’s an award that takes the entire body of work into account, and not just any potential postseason success.
Melvin receiving the award this year is very fitting. He led an A’s team projected by most to finish near or in the cellar, to a 97-win season and a Wild Card game appearance.
Since Melvin became interim manager of the A’s after Bob Geren was fired, players have had nothing but positive things to say about him. Players are always reiterating how much they respect and admire Bob.
He takes great pride in a team that not all managers would take great pride in. Bob understands the A’s as a team and he understands their fans. The underdog mentality fits right into how Melvin manages a ballclub.
To celebrate Melvin’s accomplishment, the A’s will be giving away a BoMel Manager of the Year pin on this upcoming Opening Night set for March 29, 2019 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The pin dons a shamrock with three leaves — each leaf representing one of the three years Melvin has won the award.
Atlanta Braves manager, Brian Snitker took home the BBWAA Manager of the Year award for the National League.
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With a three-time Manager of the Year manager leading them and a 97- win season to look back on, it seems like the A’s will be in good shape for another successful season in 2019.