REPEAT WINNERS! Pat Murphy, Stephen Vogt make history with latest Manager of the Year honors! 🥞

on the bridge. I don’t know how he can’t be manager of the year. He’s pulling all the triggers and he’s doing all the right things. You have to give credit to Steven V. The guardians of miracles. John Schneider has the Blue Jays back in the postseason. You got to love what Dan Wilson did there. Pat Murphy, he’s the perfect manager for this type of team. Nothing on paper says we’re supposed to be where we are. Nothing. He is maximizing everything he’s got. I love the way Rob Thompson manages his club. Baseball’s way better with Tito Franklin. In our game, you earn your stripes every day. Good evening. Welcome to the BBWA Awards Show here on MLB Network alongside Tom Bernucci and fourtime manager of the year Buck Shoalter. I’m Robert Flores. We’re glad you’re with us. For the next hour, we’re celebrating the managers and the nominees and the finalists for the American and National Leagues. And we’re going to chat with all six members of them as well. Well, Buck, as I mentioned, this you are a four-time manager of the year award winner. You said something to me off camerara. You said this is really an organization award, but these managers, they all set the tone, and it’s a very important thing to set. You know, one thing I I noticed looking at them today, and really they all are have great people skills. You know, they they really have a way of making people feel a part of the whole. And I noticed five of them are catchers, ex catchers. But also, you feel like they could take theirs and beat yours and then take yours and beat theirs and that’s a great compliment. Tom, I know you voted in the National League portion of the of the manager of the year. What when you look at these six finalists as a whole, what jumps out at you? Well, the way they run games and today’s game, especially bullpen management, is huge. Um, and I also think I like this award because it’s the least predictable award and it’s never unanimous, so it’s always a surprise. All right, so let’s get to it. Let’s start in the National League. Let’s give you the three finalists. Let’s begin with Terry Franka. In his first year in Cincinnati, he led the Reds to their first postseason appearance in a full season since 2013. Now, this would be his fourth manager of the year award, tying the record shared with our own Buck Shoalter, Bobby Cox, and Tony Larusa. From the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s Pat Murphy. He led the Brew Crew to the best record in the bigs this season as well as their best record in franchise history. He looks to Jo looks to join Kevin Cash and Bobby Cox as the only skippers to win consecutive manager of the year awards. And our final finalist in the National League, Rob Thompson of the Philadelphia Phillies. He led the Phils to their second straight division title. He looks to become the first Canadian-born skipper to win manager of the year and the second Philly skipper to do so, joining Larry Boa back in 2001. And we are pleased to be joined by Terry Frankona, Pat Murphy, and Rob Thompson. Gentlemen, we appreciate the time. Thank you. Terry, let me start with you. What do you recall about your meeting with the Cincinnati Reds when they urged you or asked you to come out of retirement? What appealed to you most about this opportunity in Cincinnati? Shoot. I we did the interview about 10 feet from where I’m sitting right now, sat in my rocking chair, and Brad Meadow and Nick Crawl came out and about 20 minutes into the interview, I caught myself saying we for about three or four times and I was like, whoa, slow down, big boy. But it just felt right. Um, I I the people are what makes the job so special. You get challenged in so many ways, but when you go through it with people you care about and respect, that’s what it’s all about. Hey Murf, it’s Tom Verduchi. Congratulations again. Being a finalist here, we saw a lot of you this year because your bullpen fourth in the major league in innings pitch. It’s not easy. I mentioned how the game today is so much about bullpen management. Murf, what have you learned about what it takes to run a successful bullpen as much as your guys did work this year? Well, uh, thanks Tom. I’m still learning. Um, I just got back from an MRI on my knee and it’s probably from all those visits to the mound. And your guys pitched well throughout six months. So, it wasn’t a matter of overusing anybody. So, what is the key to managing a staff in terms of bullpen usage? I think it’s it’s it’s a matter of having eight relievers that you can depend on. You have all eight have to contribute. You know, back in the day when the long reliever never got in or or you really basically went to two or three guys, now all eight have to contribute because like you said, at the end of the year, they got to they got to have something left in the tank. You know, Robbie, this this I think everybody here understands what an organizational award this is, you know, and it’s really a lot of times to the team that surprises the most. But you’re unique. You know, it’s I thought, you know, playing a good hand well is one of the most difficult things to do in baseball. And I I think about back in London, Ontario, when I first saw you breaking in, but what along your path had equipped you to handle some of the challenges that you have unique there in Philadelphia. Well, Buck, you know, I think I think working with Joe Tory was very special time for me. He taught me a lot about, you know, don’t p I stay calm even though the inside’s maybe rumbling. Uh you can’t let them see you sweat. And uh the other thing I think you staff a lot and we have a great coaching staff. We have a lot of support from upper management and player development and every department. You said it best. This is an organizational award as far as I’m concerned. Um yeah, I just lean on a lot of different people. Well, Rob, your team played really well down the stretch, the best record in baseball the last two months of the season. And I noticed that you had to make and not afraid to make some tough decisions with your lineup once you make got Harrison Bader in the mix. Maybe Castanos lost some plate appearances. You kind of move Schwarber and Turner throughout the lineup left, right? Tell me when a manager makes these decisions, the tough decision with veterans, what goes into the thinking. Well, I think I think number one, you got to get information from your staff, uh, from analytics department, talk to a lot of people, and then once you’ve kind of figured out what direction you’re going to go in, now you got to start talking to players, uh, because you don’t want to walk in and see that they’re hitting eighth or something like that. So, it’s it’s a lot of conversation. It’s it’s a lot of making sure that they’re prepared. And then once there once the game starts, try to try to get out of the way as best you can. You know, Terry, I I’ve spent a lot of time today looking at your background and you were a pretty good player. Okay. I didn’t realize like I thought today like, you know, how how little you struck out and today’s game, you know, that’s not always the case. And how have you maintained your reency with the way the games changed some and kind of maneuvered with the time? I was looking at your dad. Believe me, you’re a legend among the clubies all through baseball. I try to keep up with you for a while. Nobody is more respected than like guys, do not try to tip along with Terry. You’re going to lose a lot of money. But, you know, you look back at through your background, what’s allowed you to stay relevant in the game this long. I I think I I I love the game. I physically love the game, Buck. Probably too much, but but I don’t apologize for that. Um, you’re alluding to me as a hitter. I think it’s amazing what the aluminum bat can do for you. And then when we got to wood, how I kind of came back to earth. But I don’t think I I you know, we you you change, you know, the world’s changing, but I don’t think that means you ever sacrifice your principles or what you believe in. And our players are great. They they want to be coached. As long as you don’t just throw stuff against the wall and what you’re asking them to do, you have a reason to do it. I think they enjoy being coached. Pat, final one for you. among you, the players that you currently manage or maybe players that you managed back in the day, if they were asked the question, “What was it like to play for Pat Murphy?” What are the first words you would hope they that they would say? I’d hope they’d say that uh despite his his manners, despite his directness, uh he cared about me. Yeah. Well, that’s definitely a good message, gentlemen. Thank you very much for the time. Hang tight here. We still got a little bit more. We’re This is TV, guys. We got to draw it out a little bit, but you hang tight. We appreciate it. Stand by. Those are our National League finalists for manager of the year. Coming up, we’re going to take a closer look at the season all three helped produced for their respective clubs, including how Pat Murphy and the Brewers are able to create an offensive machine despite not hitting a whole lot of homers. Stay with us. Welcome back. Pat Murphy led the Brewers to the best record in the majors this season, 97 and 65. He’s trying to make it back-to back National League manager of the year awards and he’s among the three finalists along with Terry Franka and Rob Thompson. We’re glad you’re with us. This is Studio 21. Tom Verduchi, Buck Shoalter. I’m Robert Flores. Tom, the Milwaukee Brewers, they did it again. They they they proved everyone wrong yet again. And Pat Murphy, obviously a big reason why. Yeah. I mean, they take on the personality of Pat Murphy, that old college tribe from his old college days. I say that as a compliment. They should be known as Brewers. You I think they should have letter sweaters Milwaukee because that’s how they play. I say that because they do the little things right. You want to see a team that takes great secondary leads, a team that is always looking to take not just one base, but always thinking about two. How about a team that sprays the ball around the field? That’s what the Milwaukee Brewers do. Listen, they were 22nd in the major leagues in home runs and won more games than anybody else. How the heck do you do that in today’s game? Well, you have to do all these little things well. I’ll tell you what else they do well, too, is defend the field. They hit all over the place, but defensively, especially up the middle, when you’ve got Terraang and Ortiz in the middle of your diamond here, you’re going to make plays like this on a nightly basis, and that is going to dovetail with the pitching that they have to get the most out of it. So, when I watch the Brewers play, I I don’t see a team that’s sitting around waiting for a three-run home run. They’re doing all the little things. And I know Murf from day one in spring training tells his guys, “Guys, we have to play that way to win baseball games.” 97 wins, alltime Brewers record. man, they earned every bit of it. Yeah. You take a look at the best records in Major League Baseball, the Brewers. Remember, they had homefield advantage over the Dodgers in their series in the NLCS of I mean, ultimately the Dodgers went on to win that series and win the World Series. But Buck Tom mentioned about the message that Pat Murphy has to impart on his players. Hey, we have to do the the little things. We have to play this way. How important is that for the message to be the same not just from the manager but have it run through the entire organization? Well, you’re in a sport that you play every day. So, they’re going to these players are going to sniff out a phony in in a heartbeat. It’ll be in spring training. So, I think there’s a sinceress. They got to know that you have their best at heart. You also the players are going to embrace what you deem important. And if it is those little things and it’s not a lot of people do the lip service and talk about it, but they don’t actually hold people accountable for it, but you got to make it somehow important for the players to please each other. Yeah. So, when they police themselves, you know, you got it with them. I I heard you mention this to to Rob in our previous segment about look, he’s got the benefit of a starstudded lineup, the benefit of of resources, but like you said, it’s not always easy to play a good hand. Well, Dave Roberts, Robbie Thompson, these guys, just because there’s a payroll there and you get these players that have a track record of having done something in the past doesn’t mean they’re going to do it that year. You know, I think Joe Tori is one of the best I ever saw at playing a good hand well. And that’s hard. It’s really hard because there’s so many temptations to give into it because you don’t have that mental edge that the little engine that could always does because they’re playing with house money. Philadelphia Dodgers, teams like that, they’re not playing with house money. They’re expected to be the last team standing. And quickly, Tom, Terry Francona, I mean, a baseball lifer and a chance to win yet another manager of the year award. Yeah. Made an immediate impact on an organization, especially down the stretch. You know, they had a losing record on September 6th and they’re in the postseason because they played some of their best baseball at the end of the year. And to me, that is the mark of a great manager. And Terry Francona, you look at his track record, he’s done it multiple places. All three worthy finalists for the National League Manager. I look at him, I go, there’s three guys I’d like to play for. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, up next, we will announce the winner of the National League Manager of the Year award. And we’re going to get some help from former Braves manager and World Series champion Brian Sniffker. He will join us on the other side. Stay with us. Welcome back. We are just moments away from announcing the National League Manager of the Year. Who will it be? Rob Thompson of the Philadelphia Phillies, Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers, or Terry Frank Kona of the Cincinnati Reds? We are just moments away. Brian Snitker just recently concluded a 10-year run as manager of the Atlanta Braves. He was manager of the year in 2018 and of course he led the Braves to the World Series title in 2021. And we are pleased to be joined by Brian Snicker who joins us now. And Snit, as someone that has won this award, what is it uh what does it mean to have this on your resume? Well, I think it’s great. I think just like Rob said, I think it’s an organizational award. It takes a lot of people in the whole building to make something like that happen. And um you know what in 18 when I won it, I was just a recipient of a really good year for our organization. Snit, I heard you and Buck Shoalter chatting during commercial break that he was asking you about those grandkids and they are eager to spend a lot more time with their granddad this uh this spring and summer. Correct. Well, grandpa’s really eager to spend a lot more time with them also. I mean, I missed everything that my kids did and they’re starting to really get involved in everything and uh you know what, I want to be a part of that. Well, that’s great to hear. Well, Brian, we we’re thrilled that you’re here. You’re going to help us with the announcement. So, sir, the floor is yours. Well, the 2025 National League Manager of the Year once again is Pat Murphy. Congratulations, Murf. That’s right. Thank you very much for the help with the announcement, Brian. We appreciate it. Enjoy the off season. Once again, Pat Murphy is your National League Manager of the Year. It was a sizable win as he got 27 first place votes for a total of 141. Once again, congratulations to Terry Francona and Rob Thompson, our other two finalists. But we are pleased to uh once again be joined by Pat Murphy. Murf, congratulations. What does this mean to go back-toback National League Manager of the Year awards? Well, I think it’s a statement for the Milwaukee Brewers from ownership to the the ivory tower uh to our coaching staff. Um again, like Snit said, you know, um it’s an organizational award and I’m I’m very pleased uh to be part of this organization. You know, Murf, I you know, I think one of the great accolades you can get paid is there’s a brand that you think about when you think about the Milwaukee Brewers. There’s a way they play the game and a a certain level that everyone’s held to and they want to please each other. How did this come about? I know you’re going to say it’s through the players, but there had to be a backbone there somewhere. Yeah, I mean, you know, yourself, you know, you have certain standards that you believe in and I believe that young people want to be directed. Um, I watched uh, you know, counts do it for years and um, I I took notes and uh, very pleased to say that, you know, we’re upholding those same type of standards um, day in and day out and it’s it’s hungry players. You know, Arnold Arnold brings me these guys I’ve never heard of. And and uh he swears that they’re good. And you know what? He’s right most of the time. These guys are hungry to play. They’re aware of what it takes. And I’m just I’m just proud to be part of it. Murf, congratulations. Full disclosure, I was one of the 27 that voted for you. And I did so because not just the way your team played throughout the year, but I also love the way you communicate with your players because you’re not afraid to let guys know when they have to be accountable when they don’t play the game the right way. So what advice would you give a say a first time manager about striking that balance between communication, gaining trust, and accountability? Yeah, I think you got to be authentic and you got to be in it for the right reasons. And you know, it takes a while. You know, I I again, I was lucky. I got to be a bench coach for eight years uh for one of the best. And um you know, it was like I was learning, you know, what’s going to be my way if I ever get a shot, you know. Um but it is it’s a balance. It’s got to be part of your your your authentic self. Um you’ve got to mean it and um you got to live it and then they’ll trust you. Well, Murf, as a uh as a kid of the 70s and 80s, I appreciate the way your Brewers play baseball. So, uh congratulations on a fantastic 20 trying to say I’m old. Is Is that what you’re saying? No, I’m as old. I’m I’m I’m old, too. Really? Yeah. Really? I’m very old. Hey, hang in there. It’s okay. It’s okay. Does MLB Network have HR? Do you guys have HR, too? Oh, yeah. We have a thriving human. I got to ask you, what parking lot are you in right there? It’s um a Rumby Rumby. That’s a um Hawaiian place. Um I had to pull off from a doctor’s appointment. Yeah. Well, Murf, congratulations on another fantastic season. Congratulations on winning consecutive manager of the year awards in the National Leagues. Enjoy the rest of the offseason, Pat. Thank you so much. You got it. That’s Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers making it backto back National League Manager of the Year awards. And that was his reaction as he learned that he was winning it yet again. And they began giving this award out in 1983. Pat Murphy is now the third manager all time to win consecutive manager of the year awards. We’re going to take a quick time out, but when we come back, we’re going to shift our attention to the American League. Stay with us. Welcome back. A reminder, the Sai Young award will be announced on Wednesday. And then the MVP, including the hotly contested American League MVP that will be given out on Thursday. All shows right here on the network. All shows beginning at 7:00 Eastern. And then you got some rears thrown into the mix just in case you missed it. All right. Now, earlier Pat Murphy was named National League Manager of the Year. Let’s turn our attention to the AL. John Schneider’s Blue Jays went from last to first in the AL East, winning the title this season. He looks to become just the second Toronto skipper to win manager of the year and the first since Hall of Famer Bobby Cox way back in 1985. Steven Vote and the Guardians overcame an MLB record 15 and a half game deficit to win the AL Central. He looks to become the first person ever to win manager of the year award in each of his first two seasons as a big league skipper. And Dan Wilson led the Mariners to their first division title since 2001. He looks to join Lou Panella in 1995 and 2001 as the only Seattle skippers to win a manager of the year award. and we’re pleased to be joined by John Schneider, Steven Vote, and Dan Wilson here on this broadcast. Uh John, let me start with you. When you and I spoke at the World Series, uh you mentioned I did not have to call a team meeting at all. How much pride does that give you and your staff and what does that say about the group you had collectively this year? Uh good to see you guys. Um yeah, it’s it speaks a lot to the the characters that are in the clubhouse, you know. Um can’t speak highly enough of the veteran guys, the young guys that came up and kind of got um you know, they just got used to the culture that we that we created there. So um it was really weird to have the first team meeting after game seven in the World Series, but uh it just speaks volumes to to the veteran guys and the guys that um know how to bring it every single day. You know, I I look at you guys, there’s three three more catchers. I think five of the six guys were catchers. And I think what people miss sometimes tonight is you don’t want to have a meeting. Nobody wants to have a meeting. That’s not fun. Every once in a while, you got to have one for yourself. Stephen, I I got to ask you, okay, you’re sitting there at 15 and a half and then 11 in September, you know, drawing on that as you go forward. What did you take out of that that you’ll always be able to use as a manager next year when they start out 0 and5, which I hope not doesn’t happen, but you know, I just think about what that clubhouse must be like. What did you try to focus on a little bit better every day? Yeah, I mean, first of all, it’s an honor to be here with these two guys. uh great seasons and I think for us it’s focus on each day. That’s why you play 162 games. You have to finish all of them. And the biggest thing that you know our guys, our guys in the clubhouse really preach is show up every day ready to win and you never know what could happen. And I couldn’t be more proud of our guys and the resilience that they showed. They had everything thrown at them and more this year and they didn’t let any of it get them down and we had to do what we had to do and that’s win every single game down the stretch. And I’m really proud of our guys. Hey Dan, it’s Tom Verduchi. Congratulations on being a finalist and it’s nice to talk to you without bugging you in the course of a playoff game. But I I know that one of your managers, Lou Panella, was manager of the year with the Seattle Mariners. Now, I would say your personality is a little bit different than LSE, but what kind of things do you draw from Lou Panel or any of your previous managers that come into play now that you are a major league manager? Well, thanks for having me, guys, and and uh Shane Voter, congratulations to you guys as well on on your seasons. Um, you know, I I I’ve talked with Lou a lot over especially these last couple of months, and you know, can’t thank him enough for for the the mentorship and and that the help that, you know, he has spoken into it and and you know, I think the thing about Lou um that we all loved and we all appreciated and and we all respected was his his desire to win and desire to win uh every night. and um you know he he he managed that way and and uh you know I hopefully that’s something that that uh our guys understand is is the importance of uh the game tonight and and being ready at 7:00 to take the field and and get after it. Hey John, I wanted to ask you about the growth of a major league manager. It’s similar to a player, I would imagine, and I know that you’re a different manager this year you were than you were when you first got the job four years ago. In what way would you say that you were different in 2025? man in this job. You know, you grow every single day and I feel like this year you it takes reps. It takes it takes messing some things up. It takes having a little bit of success and it takes a lot of trust in everyone around you, you know. Um I think everyone, you know, Dan Boater, you know, Buck, you you all said the same thing. You want to be just so convicted in being yourself. And I feel like I was that this year, you know, not being afraid to have tough conversations or conversations and just kind of, you know, you know, not letting anything go by the wayside and kind of letting it rip. If you see something, you say it. Um, but you you learn every single day. And I think the day you stop learning is the day that the game kind of passes you by. Uh but you also understand that this job t it takes time to kind of get comfortable with um who you want to be and what your players want to see every single day. You know, I always ask people, you know, I tell guys, hey, would you want to play for you? You know, and I think all you guys are so authentic. It’s so sincere. There’s nothing like baseball to to get rid of a phony because you’re around each other too much. Dan, you know, I’ve known you since 95. I’m trying to forget you and that thing that happened out there, but we won’t talk about that. Dan, when you look at I don’t think people realize the uniqueness of playing in Seattle and the travel and every time you get on a plane it’s three hours it’s coast you know that’s why I voted for Raleigh uh in one thing just because being able to do what he did with that type of travel you know I I just I’m amazed by what challenges do people miss about playing in Seattle? Yeah, I think that’s certainly one of them. Uh you know it’s it’s no uh mystery that we we travel as much as anybody if not the most. Um, and you know, we’ve got two teams in our division that that are four hours, four and a half hours away from us by plane. So, we do we spend a lot of time on an airplane. Uh, but in some ways, you know, I think that that can also bring teams together and and you spend a lot of time together uh on the road um and traveling and and in airplanes. Um, in a lot of ways that can can really bond you and and make you tighter. So, sometimes it’s it’s tough on the body physically. Uh but there are other advantages you see from it and and I think in some ways we we can uh gain from it as well. Stephen, last one goes to you. Uh Buck mentioned three former catchers here among the finalists for American League manager of the year. What is it about the nature of the catching position that lends itself to guys getting the itch to become managers? I can only speak for my my own career, but I for me it was you’re a part of everything as a catcher. You you deal with pitchers. you you’re out there to guide pitchers through games and to help support them and you are a position player yourself and that you have to hit and I think you just you see the game through lenses. You talk to the manager, the pitching coach probably more than any other player does. And so for me, I learned so much from all the different coaches and managers that I played for that helped equip me to be able to, you know, continue to learn how to do this on the fly. as as Schneider said, I mean, we’re always learning, but my experience behind the plate helped me with in-game decisions and seeing the game from all different lenses, and I think that really helps. Well, gentlemen, we appreciate the time. Stay stay there where you’re at. We’re going to uh uh do a few more TV things, and then we’ll announce the winner just shortly. But when we come back, we’re going to continue to talk more about the finalists for the American League Manager of the Year, including what John Schneider’s Blue Jay team was doing that we hadn’t seen in a decade. Welcome back. Let’s give you a little bit of a reminder of what the last three manager of the year winners in the American League were in 2022. is Terry Frankona who was a finalist in the National League. This year, Brandon Hyde, former Orio skipper and Steven Vote won it last year. He’s trying to become the first skipper all time to win manager of the year in his first two seasons as a big league skipper. We’re glad you’re back with us here in studio 21. Buck Shoalter, Tom Verduchi, I’m Robert Flores. Tom, uh Steven Vote has to be thinking this manager this managerial stuff’s kind of easy. I I’ve yeah I’ve won one and I’m a finalist for another. Crazy. And what a job he did this year specifically 15 and a half games out and they win the division. How do you do that? Especially when he was not blessed with I want to say a deep team. When you look at the Guardians, you have to start with Steven Quan and Jose Ramirez. Their war combined is 9.5. Everybody else on the team combined is under one war. That’s what he’s dealing with. He has to ride his two star players, make sure they’re in the lineup every day, and just kind of work around the edges and get the most out of everybody else. The other thing that caught my attention is what they did down the stretch. I mean, this is amazing. 20 and seven in September, best RA overall, best bullpen RA. And one thing that he did that I think is lost a little bit, he went to a six-man rotation and he had all of his starters throw two bullpens in between. So, it wasn’t just about rest. It was about making sure those guys maintain their stuff and they were lights out down the stretch. That didn’t happen by accident the way the Guardians finished the season. Give him a ton of credit. Boy, that’s a nice little nugget there telling him, “Hey, you need to be ready because we’re going to ride you hard down the uh down the stretch.” We touched on it earlier, Buck. You brought it up and you heard Stephen mention it a little bit. All three of the finalists in the American League are former catchers and that’s not a coincidence. Well, I also think that they kind of learn about what not to do, too. You know, you get to see so many things. You know, people say, “Gosh, who’d you learn your baseball from?” I learned a lot from people about what not to do. I go, you know, that doesn’t work. That don’t work. But you think about they see the whole field. They they’re involved in every meeting. They they get to see how the even the front office people and the new players that come in, they’re the guy that’s constantly talking to teammates. So, they’re all going to have good uh people skills. You know, John Schneider went from last place to playing in the last game of the 2025 season. And to do it in that division against his opponents that are in that division, that’s not that’s not no small feat there. Yeah. 20 win improvement. Now, John is too humble to admit this, but I think the team really showed the fact that he played he had them playing unselfish baseball and I saw that offensively with the way this team played. I called it fast break baseball because they scored runs in bunches up and down the lineup by attacking early. They did this against many teams. This is just one example against the Yankees in the third inning here. Look at these numbers here. They were kind of old school offensively in that batting average did matter to them. They were great hitting with runners in scoring position. They would hit the ball the other side. They were great with two strikes. I think the way that John Schneider convinced his team to play this kind of baseball and they did not strike out by the way, which we have not seen really in a decade. 2017 Astros, let’s face it, they had little help knowing what was coming. Yeah. So, go back to the Royals. We haven’t seen a team play this kind of offensive baseball in a decade. That to me says a lot about the way the manager had everybody buy into playing unselfish baseball. You know, uh, when you look at the American League West, Buck, the Houston Astros have dominated that division, but yet this year under Dan Wilson’s stewardship, they were able to break through and take the division. And that’s no small feat either. You know, uh, you think about what a stronghold basically either both Texas teams have had on that division. And, uh, it’s it’s a hard place to win. I I really believe that. I was talking to Lou Panel about it one time and I think it really puts a lot of emphasis on how much you know taking care of your lineup and as far as moving it around making sure guys get rest because of the challenge of the travel and I think Dan and his organization did a great job of now they had great pitching. Yes. But they they I think they were were number one in one run wins we were talking about earlier. Yeah. What what does that tell you about about Dan and his and his coaching staff and and the team itself to have this many one-run victories in a season? Yeah, to me it’s about bullpen management and offensively. I thought this was the most dynamic offensive team they’ve had in a while in terms of power and the ability to steal some bags, but that’s a credit to me and Dan Wilson and all their comeback wins as well. Uh that he’s making the right decisions late in the game with his bullpen to hang on to those leads or to over overcome them. Yeah, Buck, you know how hard it is to to come up when those come up with a with the right move, the right solution in in a tight ball game. Yeah, and it usually revolves around pitching. You It’s like Tom said, it’s, you know, usually a team with a better pitcher. When a pitcher’s on top of his game and a hitter’s on top of his game, the pitcher wins. That’s why it plays in the postseason. But the ability to maintain not only quality pitching, but the health of that pitching has become paramount, even more so in today’s game. All right. Now, we’re just moments away from announcing the American League manager of the year. We’re going to take a quick timeout. Will it be John Schneider, Steven Vote, or Dan Wilson? Find out when we come back. We’ll also be joined by another former manager of the year, Jerry Manuel. Stay with us. Welcome back. We’re just moments away from announcing the American League manager of the year. Will it be John Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays, Steven Boat of the Cleveland Guardians, or from the American League West Division Champion, Seattle Mariners, Dan Wilson? We are just moments away from that announcement. To help us with it, let’s bring in Jerry Emanuel. He won the American League manager of the year back in 2000 for the Chicago White Socks after he led them to a first place finish in the American League Central. And Jerry Manuel joins us now to help us with this year’s announcement. Jerry, how are you? I’m outstanding. How you doing? I’m doing great. Thank you very much for joining us. What do you recall about that season that you won manager of the year in 2000? Well, it was it was a remarkable season for us because we had come come off a season that wasn’t wasn’t too favorable, but to uh have everything go your way. Uh do things the right way. Uh it was a it was a it was a remarkable year for us and uh it was exciting as well. For those of us that cover the game and for people that watch the game, we all think that we can do your job, right? What is something that we miss that we don’t appreciate enough in terms of what it takes to be a successful big league manager? You have to be consistent. You have to be consistent and you have to have certain principles in your life to keep you on the straight and the narrow. Yeah, those are things that that that has to take place. Well, Jerry, we’re pleased that you’re helping us with the announcement. So, take it away, sir. The manager of the year for 2025, Cleveland Guardians, Steven Vote. Congratulations. Well done. Well done, Steven Vote of the Cleveland Guardians. Jerry, thank you very much for the help. We appreciate it. Good seeing you, sir. As you take a look at the vote totals, Steven Vote getting 17 first place votes. John Schneider had 10. Dan Wilson had two. We want to appreciate and congratulate John Schneider and Dan Wilson for being the finalists. Uh but let’s bring in the winner, Stephen Vote. Stephen, back-toback American League manager of the years in just two in your first two years as a big league skipper. What does that mean to you? U thank you guys and thank you Jerry. Um it it means a lot in that, you know, our group worked extremely hard uh from ownership, front office, staff, players. Um all this credit goes to the players. They kept they kept their heads up. They didn’t get down. They kept their resiliency and they never quit. We had every reason in the in the world to quit and um they never did. And I’m so proud of them. Okay, Stephen. Now what? Now what? You know, you going to shoot for three? And I I’m asking research. You been three in a row? I don’t I don’t I can’t You got a shot at it now. You got really really good now. Pressure’s on. Yeah. Well, I mean, we’ll see how that goes. But, you know, obviously we’re working to win a World Series, Buck. You know that. Um, this is a really cool honor and I’m super honored. Um, thank you to the writers, but um, you know, we didn’t accomplish our ultimate goal and that’s to win a World Series. So, that’s what we’re working hard at. And again, this is just a testament to our whole entire group and our players. Well, Stephen, I want to go back to what you said about your group keeping their heads up because they had every reason to drop them. When you think about the fact that you had Shane Bieber coming back, but he gets traded to Toronto. You also had your closer and one of your starting pitchers put on administrative leave, gone for the season. What did you do as a manager either talking to the group collectively or individually to make sure that their heads stayed up? Yeah, I mean, you know, heard earlier Schneider didn’t have any meetings. We had a lot of meetings this year, but um it uh you know, honestly, it was we can only control what we can control, and that’s showing up every day with a winning mindset and coming to work ready to go. And our group, our players, every single day, whether we were in the middle of losing 10 in a row or a one and nine stretch or we got some bad news off the field, they showed up ready to win every single day. And um they believed they were good. They went out there and played like they were good and they were. And at the end of the day, um, we were able to win the division and get into the postseason. Stephen, earlier I asked Pat Murphy, who was named National League Manager of the Year award, if you asked players, current and former, that played under you, what would be the one thing or a few words that you would like to hear from them? So, I’ll ask that question to you. What do you hope that your current or former players would say about what it’s like to play for you? Uh, that that I’m the same guy every day and we have a blast. Um, we ask a lot of our players and coaches and and staff and uh we ask a lot of everybody, but we’re going to have a blast while doing it. So, I would hope they would say that they knew I cared and I was consistent every day. Stephen, you got to this job one year coaching, obviously the playing career as well. What have you found that you love most about the job that you do as a major league manager? I love watching our players have success. I love putting together a player plan or having an idea and then watching the coaches and staff run with it, introduce it to the player, and then seeing them go out and accomplish that out on the field. There is no greater feeling than watching a player work on something, and then have it be successful for them out on the field. Stephen, a little bit later in the week, we’re going to be naming the American League and National League most valuable player awards. Jose Ramirez is one of the finalists in the American League. Uh he is a supremely talented and gifted player, one of the best in the game. What do we not know or what is not mentioned enough about Jos Ramirez when it comes to his game? Uh you know the easy one is the that what what a leader he is. Uh the way he pushes his teammates, the way he pushes us coaches to be better and he does it by example out on the field. Um Jose Ramirez has the highest baseball IQ that I’ve ever seen. Uh he sees things that none of us see. He’s looking for balls in the dirt uh before the pitcher lets go of it. He knows when he needs to steal third to take away the pitcher’s breaking ball with, you know, with two outs. Um he’s just he’s always thinking ahead. He is by far one of the most cerebral baseball players I’ve ever been around. Well, Stephen, congratulations on this award. Back-to-back American League manager of the year awards in your first two seasons as a big league skipper. And as Buck Shaw Walter said, now what? What are you going to do for year three? But uh congratulations Stephen. Thank you very much for the time and enjoy the rest of the offseason. I appreciate you guys. Thank you so much. You got it. That’s Steven vote. We had a historical vote here as we uh awarded the both the American and National League manager of the year. For more on the breakdown of tonight’s result, we’re pleased once again once again to be joined by BBWA Secretary Treasurer Jack Oonnell. Jack, this is the first time in manager of the year balloting that there have been winners in consecutive years in both leagues in the same season. Steven vote is the second American League manager to win the award two years in a row, joining Kevin Cash with the Rays in 2020 and 21. In the National League, Pat Murphy’s victory this year and last with the Brewers matches the back-to-back triumphs by the Braves Bobby Cox in 2004 and ’05. This is the second runner-up finish for Terry Fran Kona who won the award three times in the American League with Cleveland in 2013 16 and 22. He ran second to the Twins Paul Moler in 2017. All right Jack, thank you. Appreciate that for a little perspective on this award is once again a historic vote as we have two managers who get their second consecutive manager of the year awards in Pat Murphy and Steven Vote. Tom, as you look at the um at the vote and the results, what comes to mind? Uh authenticity of these two guys, their personality. We we know the baseball IQs are there. Obviously, the way they run a game, but I think the way the players respond to both of them, I think is a is kind of a model as we’ve seen a lot of jobs turn over this winter. Yeah. A lot of people looking for the next Steven Vote, right? Manager of the year, his first two years. Can’t do any better than that. And Buck, I know you have a lot of respect for all the finalists tonight. Yeah. And you know, you wonder why didn’t they win it again the next year? You think Bobby Cox got dumber the next year? You know, it’s really it’s kind of a it is an organizational award. It’s to the team that surprises the most in most cases, but it also doesn’t lead to your tenure a long time. Trust me. That’s true. Uh trust me. You know, you can win one of these and next year be down the highway. So, you know, you guys stay on task. Yeah. Things happen quickly in Major League Baseball. That’s for sure. Uh Tom, I mentioned I said to Stephen vote on Thursday the American League and National League most valuable player awards will be handed out. But on Wednesday, we’ve got the Sai Youngs in both leagues. What are you kind of looking for big picture here as we get ready for that announcement on Wednesday? Yeah, again, we’ve just saw two repeat winners. Maybe Terrick Skoo trying to go back to back in the American League and the National League. You have to think Paul Ski’s front runner. I’m not sure if it’s going to be unanimous. We’re going to have a lot of intrigue the next two nights with Sai Young and MVP. Yeah, there’s a you’re not getting a lot of runs off any of those finalists that for the Sai Young. You know what’s impressive is how uncomfortable they all felt with the spotlight on them. Yeah. And that that’s very attractive. That’s that’s a very good point. They are uh they’re all about results. And congratulations to Pat Murphy and to Steven Vote for the American and National League Manager of the Year awards. We’ll see you on Wednesday for the Sai Young. Thank you very much for watching.

@MLBNetwork announces the 2025 MLB Managers of the Year.

The Brewers’ Pat Murphy and the Guardians’ Stephen Vogt are the first skippers to win the award in their first two seasons on the job. They’re also the first repeat tandem in MLB history.

Don’t forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/mlb

Follow us elsewhere too:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlb
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mlb

Check out MLB.com daily to watch the MLB.TV Free Game of the Day! https://mlb.com/freegame

Visit our site for all baseball news, stats and scores! https://www.mlb.com/

12 comments
Leave a Reply