rocket domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/da961834/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114As the MLB regular season winds down, debates about annual awards ramp up. From MVP to Cy Young to Manager of the Year, there is no shortage of deserving candidates \u2013 in either league. We can debate MVP and Cy Young \u2013 and I\u2019m still deliberating about who I would choose \u2013 but to me, the NL Manager of the Year award has already been decided.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Atlanta\u2019s Brian Snitker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, if you think I\u2019m picking Brian because I\u2019ve known him for 35 years or because he\u2019s been a member of the Braves\u2019 organization for more than a decade \u2013 you\u2019re right, that\u2019s certainly part of it. While I try to be unbiased, I can also be honest \u2013 both with myself and you, the reader.<\/p>\n But the main reason I think Brian should be NL Manager of the Year is because I think he\u2019s been the best manager in baseball this season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Braves were projected to win 74-75 games this year<\/a>; midway through September, they\u2019ve already won 82. They were projected to finish fourth in the NL East; entering Sept. 13, they have a 7.5-game lead in the division. This team is exceeded expectations in every way possible \u2013 and Brian is the main reason why.<\/p>\n Some Braves fans, I\u2019m sure, will say I\u2019m crazy, as Brian is frequently second-guessed for his in-game strategy. From lineup decisions to bullpen management \u2013 you name it, he\u2019s been criticized for it.<\/p>\n To those fans, I submit the following quote from Bobby Cox<\/a>, a four-time Manager of the Year winner: \u201cI\u2019d put him (Brian) up against anybody as far as strategy goes and in terms of how much the players love him and are willing to play for him. Anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Those words, especially coming from Bobby Cox, mean something. Whether you agree or disagree with Brian\u2019s in-game strategy, the Braves absolutely love playing for him \u2013 and it\u2019s not an accident.<\/p>\n What makes Brian a good manager? The same thing that makes any manager a good manger: the ability to motivate players. How does a manager \u2013 or any leader \u2013 motivate? One word. Seven letters.<\/p>\n Respect<\/i>.<\/p>\n To me, respect is the single most important component of motivational leadership. Players have to respect the manager, yes, but a manager must first respect his players. It\u2019s a simple concept, in theory. In practice, though, is where things can get dicey, especially with so many egos and Type-A personalities.<\/p>\n Baseball is tricky. It\u2019s unlike any other professional sport because, well, you play so many games. There\u2019s a lot of pressure to win every night. You have 162 opportunities to make the playoffs, but you also have 162 opportunities to mess up. Win or lose, mistakes are made, and the manager must be held accountable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every. Single. Night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How a manager answers questions, especially after a loss, will tell you exactly what he thinks of his players. For Brian, it\u2019s clear that he loves his players and that they love him. When Jose Urena plunked Ronald Acuna in August, Brian stood up for Acuna in the moment<\/a> and after the game<\/a>, saying, \u201cI\u2019ll be honest with you: I\u2019ve never felt like that in a baseball uniform.\u201d That reaction \u2013 and those words \u2013 endear a manager to his players.<\/p>\n But with Brian, it\u2019s usually not about what he says; it\u2019s about what he doesn\u2019t say. He\u2019s extremely reluctant to criticize his players. Sometimes that comes across as bland. Sometimes fans get frustrated because they want more details about what happened or what\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n Brian, however, is acutely aware of how much a manager\u2019s words matter, especially in today\u2019s social-media world. What he says \u2013 or doesn\u2019t say \u2013 is the ultimate sign of respect for a player. When a player is struggling or having a tough time, a good manager will uplift him. He\u2019ll downplay his performance \u2013 or lack thereof. He doesn\u2019t go into specifics. He doesn\u2019t make it personal.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how Bobby Cox was. He communicated openly with players. Whether it was one-on-one or in a group, he was clear, concise, and honest. But he never threw anyone under the bus.<\/p>\n Brian is the same way.<\/p>\n When a player messes up, he knows he messed up. He doesn\u2019t need the manager to tell him \u2013 at least not every single time. If bad habits start to develop, that’s one thing. But if a player strikes out or bobbles a ball, he doesn\u2019t need the manager to say, \u201cHey, you struck out,\u201d or \u201cHey, you bobbled that ball.\u201d The player knows that. The manager doesn\u2019t like when you mess up, but he doesn\u2019t need to remind you about it, either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s important. In sports and in life, some people are very willing \u2013 and very quick \u2013 to pass the buck. They\u2019ll criticize others to protect themselves. Brian doesn\u2019t do that. He could dissect every player\u2019s mistakes and tear them apart for it. But he doesn\u2019t. He always puts a positive spin on it. I like where he\u2019s going. I like the direction he\u2019s headed.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The impact that has on a player cannot be understated. It makes players respect the manager, and when the player shows up to the ball park the next day, he\u2019s ready to go. There\u2019s newfound energy and urgency. He stepped up for me yesterday, so I\u2019m going to step up for him today<\/i>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a powerful feeling.<\/p>\n I\u2019m always stunned when managers or players publicly criticize their team \u2013 or teammates. Some people say that speaking up is a sign of good leadership. It can be, but if you want to talk to a player or teammate, do so privately. Don’t send a message through the media for the entire world to see and hear.<\/p>\n