Who Will Win A.L. Manager of the Year?

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Buck Showalter. Here are my arguments.

1) Did you expect the Orioles to be where they are at this point in the season? No one did.

2) Baltimore has kept ahead of teams who are usually, and should be, far better, such as Boston and Tampa Bay.

3) Agreed Ventura has been great, but you have to admit he does have more talent to work with, such as Konerko, Dunn (he's too good not to be productive, Rios, Peavy. Aside from Markakis and Jones, Baltimore has no big names.

4) Baltimore is in a significantly stronger division than Chicago.

I think Buck Showalter should easily get it if his team continues like this into the Wild Card spot. Not only is his team having a great season against some of the best teams there is (AL East+NL East IL play), but he's doing it with a team that doesn't really have much in the way of great players with the exception of maybe Jim Johnson who has been a surprise himself with the way he's shut down teams. One of the best examples of Showalters managing is that this team is 12-2 in extra inning games, where a managers decision to put a certain guy in relief or pinch hit a guy at the right time often makes the difference.

Ventura is certainly doing a good job, but I think he's got a lot more talent to work with than Showalter.

How about Oakland A's Bob Melvin. The A"s entered this season as a 90-100 games losing team. They lost their best two starters Cahill and Gio Gonzalez. They lost their lights out closer Andrew Bailey.

They have had to deal with so many injuries to their remaining crucial players. Cespedes have missed time, Crisps been hurt a lot, Brett Anderson(Out for year), Dallas Braden(Out for Year), Brandon McCarthy, Brandon Inge, Scott Sizemore(Out for year).

Yet they manage to be 62-55 and are about 0.5-1 game back in the Wild Card. They have managed to win a lot of close games and I think the way the coach manages the tight ones really defies his skill. The bullpen have been great(not lately though). The timely hitting and use of pinch hitters have been near perfect.

Nothing against Ventura, but the Sox had a lot more to work with than Melvin did. The A's best hitter entering this season was a rookie and their best pitcher was Brandon McCarthy. With that said, the Sox have done a magnificient job at turning around the franchise with pervious slumping stars coming alive and most notably Rios. Paul Konerko has been the man who refuses to end his career. Dunn has had an improved year, but lets face it hes batting close to the MEndoza line. Yeah 30 homers is great, but cmon hes still no where near respectability hitting wise. Chris Sale has come out of no where to dominate.

Bob Melvin for sure. Ventura has MUCH more talent to work with on the White Sox, while Melvin has had fantastic success with a team of essential "nobodies" and a very yound pitching staff that has been amazing.

Buck Showalter. The Orioles are biggest shock of the season, after 14 losing seasons. Buck has became this group round, obtained them in playoff contention and so they're no longer even at 100%.

I agree with the pick of Ventura, but Billy Beane should be the AL Exec.

Robin Ventura should be a lock

Bob Melvin also has a good arguement. But, Ventura would definetely be a solid choice as well.

Yes Robin has to be right now. But of course if they don't make the playoffs then he won't. Pretty much who makes the wildcard(s).

Agreed

"Make an argument for why that manager should win the award." dont tell me what to do