Major League Baseball announced their managers of the year on Tuesday. St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt of Charlotte, North Carolina was named the National League manager of the year and Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli of Woonsocket, Rhode Island was named the American League manager of the year.
In 2019, the Cardinals and Twins both made the postseason. The Cardinals won the National League Central with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses, while the Twins won the American League Central with a record of 101 wins and 61 losses.
This was Shildt’s first full season managing the Cardinals and Baldelli’s first season managing the Twins. In 2018, Shildt became the Cardinals manager on July 14. In 69 games, the Cardinals had a record of 41 wins and 28 losses.
Speaking of managers, the San Francisco Giants named Gabe Kapler of Hollywood, California as their next manager on Tuesday. Kapler has managerial experience over the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. This past season, the Phillies reached the .500 mark at 81 wins and 81 losses, but it is fair to say Philadelphia did not meet expectations. A lot more was expected in Philadelphia with the offseason acquisition of star outfielder Bryce Harper.
The Giants had a record of 77 wins and 85 losses in 2019. It was the final season for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who announced his retirement. Bochy had been the Giants manager since 2007 and over that time San Francisco won three World Series.
Meanwhile, in the WBSC Premier12, there is a two way for first place in the super round between Mexico and Japan at three wins and one loss. Mexico beat Australia 3-0, but then lost to Japan 3-1. Japan’s only loss so far came to the United States in a 4-3 decision on Tuesday. In other action, Australia beat the United States 2-1 and Chinese Taipei beat South Korea 7-0 for South Korea’s first loss. South Korea has a record of two wins and one loss.
