Orioles manager Buck Showalter shows he has a wonderful way with words. Taken from press availabilities through out the season. (Baltimore Sun video)
But the first step toward that is now out of the way.
Showalter was announced Wednesday night as one of three finalists for the Baseball Writers' Association of America's award after leading the Orioles to a 93-69 record and their first playoff appearance since 1997.
His competition is Oakland’s Bob Melvin, who led the small-market A’s to an American League West crown, and first year skipper Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox, who finished second in the AL Central.
Showalter, 56, has won two previous BBWAA manager awards, in 1994 with the New York Yankees and in 2004 with the Texas Rangers. He’s finished in the top 5 in voting three other times (1993, 1995 and 1999). Earlier this offseason, Showalter was named The Sporting News 2012 AL Manager of the Year.
This Manager of the Year award will be announced Tuesday at 6 p.m., the second of four days in which the BBWAA is televising its winners on MLB Network – the first time the organization has done that in its history.
Rookies of the Year will be announced Monday, the Cy Youngs on Wednesday and the Most Valuable Players on Thursday, Nov. 15.
During Wednesday’s BBWAA announcement of finalists, no other Oriole was named a top 3 finalist for Rookie of the Year or Cy Young, or a top 5 finalist for MVP.
Here are all the finalists:
AL Rookie: Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland; Yu Darvish, Texas; Mike Trout, Los Angeles.
NL Rookie: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati; Bryce Harper, Washington; Wade Miley, Arizona.
AL Manager: Buck Showalter, Orioles; Bob Melvin, Oakland; Robin Ventura, Chicago.
NL Manager: Dusty Baker, Cincinnati; Bruce Bochy, San Francisco; Davey Johnson, Washington.
AL Cy Young Award: David Price, Tampa Bay; Justin Verlander, Detroit; Jered Weaver, Los Angeles.
NL Cy Young Award: R.A. Dickey, New York; Gio Gonzalez, Washington; Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles.
AL MVP: Adrian Beltre, Texas; Miguel Cabrera, Detroit; Robinson Cano, New York; Josh Hamilton, Texas; Mike Trout, Los Angeles.
NL MVP: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee; Chase Headley, San Diego; Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh; Yadier Molina, St. Louis; Buster Posey, San Francisco.