Dodgers News: Mattingly Finishes Second In Manager Of The Year Vote

A day after Dodgers’ outfielder Yasiel Puig fell short in the Rookie of the Year vote, the Dodgers had another finalist fail to win when manager Don Mattingly finished as the runner-up in the Manager of the Year race.

Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle won the award for leading his team to their first winning season and postseason appearance since 1992. Mattingly was named a finalist after leading the Dodgers to the NL West title and an NLCS appearance in his third year with the team.

Not surprisingly, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly came in second place behind the Pirates’ Hurdle for NL Manager of the Year. Mattingly got 68 votes, with two first place votes as he managed the Dodgers to a 92-70 record and their first playoff appearance since 2009.

The Dodger manager led the team on an incredible 42-8 run that sent the team from last place to first place. The Dodgers were stuck at 30-42 in late June and it was rumored that Mattingly was days away from being fired as manager; however, he remained with the team and helped turn around the club with the help of Puig and slugger Hanley Ramirez.

The Dodgers ended the year by winning 62 of their final 90 games and became the first team in the majors to clinch their division. They also ended with the largest margin of victory by a division leader and went into the postseason as the third seed.

In the playoffs, the Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, 3-1. They faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS and lost the series in six games. The Dodgers were trying to reach the World Series for the first time since 1988 and Mattingly came under fire in the postseason for a few decisions, but the playoffs don’t affect award voting.

After the season, Mattingly said that his option for 2014 kicked in after the team won their NLDS, but that he didn’t want to stay with the Dodgers on a one-year deal. He later declared that he would honor his contract and return to the team next season. The Dodgers are trying to work out a multi-year deal with their manager, as Mattingly will try to return as a finalist again next season.

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ICYMI: The Dodgers and Don Mattingly are talking contract extension.