2012 MLB Player Props- AL and NL Manager of the Year
The start of a new MLB regular season brings renewed hope to all 30 teams in terms of their chances to go out and win this year’s World Series. Behind all these teams is a manager that will take the fall his club falters or the accolades if it succeeds.
The following is a look at a few of the top contenders to win this seasons AL and NL Manager of the Year Award along with their odds as provided by William Hill.
American League Manager of the Year
Joe Madden- Tampa Bay Rays (13/2)
Madden is a perennial favorite to win this award after leading Tampa Bay to the World Series in 2008 and the playoffs in 2010 and 2011 with an ever shrinking cast of talent in the most competitive division in Major League baseball. With Boston and even Toronto pushing the Rays from behind and New York still in their way, a third-straight postseason berth for Tampa should make Madden a lock to win this award in the American League.
Joe Girardi- New York Yankees (7/1)
It is hard to find value in a manager of a team that is the favorite to not only win its division, but is one of the top favorites to win the AL Pennant. Girardi is almost in a no-win situation unless the Yankees go really crazy and win more than 100 games.
Mike Scioscia-Los Angeles Angels (7/1)
Scioscia certainly has all the tools in Los Angeles with the addition of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, so while the value in his odds is high, so is the pressure to win. The Angels are the class of the AL West, but they will have to win more than that to justify all the money they spent.
Others to Watch
Bobby Valentine- Boston Red Sox (8/1), Jim Leyland-Detroit Tigers (8/1), and Ron Washington- Texas Rangers (8/1). [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
National League Manager of the Year
Charlie Manual-Philadelphia Phillies (7/1)
Much like Girardi in New York, Manual is in an even more precarious situation in Philadelphia. His aging ballclub is running out of chances to get back to the World Series, and the fans in Philly will more likely run him out of town if things come unglued with this team.
Fredi Gonzalez- Atlanta Braves (8/1)
Replacing a legend such as Bobby Cox was no small task, but if things come together quickly for Atlanta’s bats and its pitching performs to its capabilities, everyone will quickly forget about last season’s collapse and Gonzalez will quickly be back in the fans’ good graces.
Ozzie Guillen- Miami Marlins (8/1)
Guillen is probably already the fan-favorite to win this award, but if the Marlins meet or exceed their 85-game win projection and somehow get back into the postseason for the first time since 2003, he would have to be a lock to win NL Manager of the Year.
Others to Watch
Dusty Baker- Cincinnati Reds (9/1), Bruce Bochy-San Francisco Giants (10/1), and Davey Johnson- Washington Nationals (10/1)
