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ERIC WEDGE Runaway win in AL |
NEW YORK - Bob Melvin and Eric Wedge barely made a ripple as players. Backup catchers, they both batted a pedestrian .233 in the big leagues.
All that time spent pondering on the bench paid off. Far more successful in the dugout than on the field, they were honored yesterday as their league's Manager of the Year.
Wedge became the first Cleveland manager to win the AL award, chosen by a wide margin after the Indians and Red Sox tied for the best record in baseball. Melvin was the first Arizona manager to get the NL prize, picked after leading his young team to the top mark in the league.
Wedge and Melvin are among nearly a dozen former catchers who manage in the majors. "There's been quite the trend," Wedge said on a conference call. "The catcher has to be aware and knowledgeable of every aspect."
"It's a leadership position. That position demands a great amount of passion for your teammates and the game of baseball," he said.
Wedge received 19 of the 28 first-place votes and got 116 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He finished ahead of a pair of former catchers, the Angels' Mike Scioscia (62 points) and ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre (61). Terry Francona of the World Series champion Red Sox got 13.
Melvin was chosen on 19 of the 30 first-place ballots and got 119 points. Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel (76), Colorado's Clint Hurdle (58), a former catcher, and the Cubs' Lou Piniella (25) followed.
Melvin was honored for leading a team that sometimes started six rookies to a 90-72 mark.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
