You thought I forgot. Go ahead, admit it. You noticed that we didn’t run a poll yesterday, and you thought that I’d forgotten about NL Manager of the Year.

Now, why would I do that?

Right, I wouldn’t. I also wouldn’t vote for anyone other than Clint Hurdle or Bob Melvin for this award. I suppose you could make a case for Charlie Manuel or Ned Yost, maybe Bud Black.

I kinda liked Willie Randolph before The Collapse (TM). Lou Piniella? Not so much for me. His bosses went out and bought the best team money could buy, and he barely managed to win a very weak division. Color me unimpressed.

Am I missing anyone? Manny Acta? I’m actually not being facetious; I could see him getting votes. The Nationals were supposed to be historically bad, but they lost only 89 games. And I guess Bobby Cox always has to be part of the equation.

But really, it comes down to Hurdle or Melvin. In my mind, Hurdle gets the nod because of preseason expectations. I had the Diamondbacks winning the NL West and the Rockies finishing fourth. Hurdle’s club outperformed my wildest expectations. The only other National League teams I can say that about are Milwaukee and Washington, neither of which reached the playoffs.

I’m going Hurdle, Melvin, Yost. How about you? Who do you like and why?

Post from: Knuckle Curve

1. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins claims that the Phillies are the team to beat in the National League East.
2. Manager Charlie Manuel has a nice little chat with a member of the sports media.
3. Manuel moves right-hander Brett Myers to the bullpen. Myers, you may recall, has been one of the Phillies’ best starters over the past couple seasons.

Meanwhile, the Phillies find themselves looking up at the Washington Nationals, a team expected by some to challenge the New York Mets’ record-setting 120-loss season back in ‘62. Honestly, when Antonio Alfonseca is your most effective pitcher, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate the situation a little.

Post from: Knuckle Curve