IBWAA Names Maddon, Francona Top Managers

The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) named Joe Maddon and Terry Francona the top managers in their respective leagues.

Maddon led the Cubs to their first World Series championship in like a thousand years. He received 85 first-place votes, compared to 66 for the Dodgers Dave Roberts. Dusty Baker finished third. I gave Terry Collins my first-place vote; a hometown decision, yes, but Collins certainly did an excellent job in guiding the Mets to the postseason with such an injury-riddled roster. Collins received 10 first-place votes. I had Maddon second and Baker third.

Francona also led the Indians to the World Series (although the balloting was done before the postseason began). He garnered 102 first-place votes. Jeff Banister of the Rangers and the Orioles Buck Showalter were second and third. I had Francona, Banister and Red Sox manager John Farrell.