Robin Ventura. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (CBS) – Despite having the Chicago White Sox in first place in the AL Central for most of the year, when most people believed the team would be near the bottom of the division, Robin Ventura lost out on the Manager of the Year to Oakland Athletics’ manager Bob Melvin.
Ventura led the Sox to a surprising 85-77 finish, following 2011′s disappointing 79-83 record, but the Sox sputtered in September, blowing a three-game lead over the Detroit Tigers to finish in second place in the division.
Melvin also led the A’s to a big turnaround, finishing 94-68 and winning the AL West.
He also beat out Baltimore Orioles’ skipper Buck Showalter.
Melvin got 16 first-place votes. Showalter got the other 12 first-place votes. Melvin and Showalter were the only managers to get votes for either first or second place, while Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox finished third overall, with 12 votes for third place.
It was Melvin’s second win for manager of the year, winning in 2007 with Arizona.
“I want to congratulate Bob Melvin on winning the award,” Ventura said in a written statement Tuesday. “Bob and Buck (Showalter) did great jobs this season and both really were deserving. For me to be considered for this award, especially in my first season, is a great honor but really it’s more of a reflection on the players and coaches. They put in the hard work from day one of spring training until the last out of the season and made my job easier.”
