For the second consecutive year, Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named a finalist for the National League Manager of the Year Award. He’s joined by Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies.
Roberts won the award last season in what was his first as a manager, edging out Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs and Dusty Baker of the Chicago Cubs. Roberts guided the injury-ridden Dodgers to a 91-71 record and a trip to the NL Championship Series.
His second season as skipper was even better, as he led the Dodgers to the best record in baseball and best in Los Angeles franchise history at 104-58. Additionally, the Dodgers won more than 90 games for the fifth straight year, and won the NL West for the fifth straight time, which is a first in franchise history and in the division’s history.
The regular season success carried into the postseason, as the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series, and got revenge on the Cubs in the NLCS, defeating them in five games to earn their first trip to the World Series since 1988.
Roberts and the Dodgers ultimately fell short of their goal, losing to the Houston Astros in seven games in the Fall Classic. Despite not winning it all, the 2017 season was a wildly successful one for Roberts and his team.
Lovullo did a phenomenal job in his first year at the helm in Arizona, as they improved from 69-93 in 2016 to 93-69 this year, reaching the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Leading the Rockies for the first time, Black’s team finished with an 87-75 record. They lost a lead in the NL West standings but reached the Wild Card Game for their first trip to the postseason since 2009.
American League and NL Managers of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network.
Cleveland’s Terry Francona, Minnesota’s Paul Molitor, and Houston’s A.J. Hinch are the finalists for AL Manager of the Year.
