Bobby Cox and Ozzie Guillen Named Managers of the Year
As widely anticipated, the Chicago White Sox’ Ozzie Guillen was voted AL Manager of the Year and the Atlanta Braves’ Bobby Cox won NL Manager of the Year honors.
Managers of year: Guillen in AL, Cox in NL (AP)
Ozzie Guillen of the World Series champion Chicago White Sox was voted AL Manager of the Year, and Atlanta’s Bobby Cox won the NL award for the second straight year Wednesday after leading the rookie-laden Braves to yet another division title. Guillen received 17 first-place votes, five seconds and five thirds for 105 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Eric Wedge of the Cleveland Indians was the runner-up with six first-place votes and 71 points, while Joe Torre of the New York Yankees finished third with 43 points. Cox became the first manager to win two years in a row, listed first on 28 ballots and second on the other four to win by a whopping 100 points. He beat out St. Louis’ Tony La Russa, who also finished second last year.
Voting for all BBWAA awards takes place after the regular season and excludes the postseason.
In his second season as manager, the outspoken Guillen guided the White Sox to the best record in the AL (99-63) and a World Series sweep of Houston for their first title since 1917. His small-ball approach was a big hit in Chicago; he loved to bunt and hit-and-run all season.
Cox, whose Braves have won a record 14 straight division titles, was honored for the fourth time, tying La Russa for the most ever.
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The banged-up Braves were forced to use 18 rookies this year but still extended their streak of division titles. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Houston again. Cox also won Manager of the Year with Atlanta in 1991, the start of its incredible streak of division titles, and 1985 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
As frustrating as Cox has been as a postseason manager, he is probably the best talent evaluator and motivator in the game. Guillen actually played for Cox late in his career as a player.
They both have very similar tactical approaches but their personalities could not be more different. Cox is known for his calm clubhouse demeanor, although he has been known to get ejected from games for ranting and raving at umpires. Guillen is a fiery guy who wears his emotions on his sleeves. Obviously, there is more than one route to success.
I wonder if Guillen’s baseball cards are worth much. I have several from when he played for the Chi-Sox.
Viva Oswaldo Guillen. Viva Las Medias Blancas!
I bet his cards are worth a bundle.
I hate Cox and his Braves. With a passion. Why couldn’t my Pirates beat him and his team the two times they faced them in the playoffs? Why has Atlanta won their division EVERY SEASON SINCE, while the Pirates have been doomed to a losing record each year? Why, oh why?
That being said, Cox deserves this. No one currently employed in baseball has done better with the talent he has been given. There. I said it. *shudder*
bobby cox is a great manager and he pulled together an unlikely contender in his ballclub this year, but he really didn’t deserve MOTY honors this time around. it really should’ve gone either to larussa, who won 100 games with a bunch of bench players and some seriously banged up old-timers, or phil garner, who brought a team back from nowhere and ended up in the world series. i’m not putting cox down, but it really should’ve gone to a more deserving manager. hell, cox won it last year, which made no sense either!