On Monday, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America unveiled the finalists for Manager of the Year in the National League, presenting the names of Craig Counsell, Skip Schumaker, and Brian Snitker.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, one noticeable omission from this list was Torey Lovullo, the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who has played an instrumental role in transforming the team from a 110-loss record just two years ago into a World Series contender.
Lovullo’s absence from the finalists did not sit well with many fans, but it was perhaps veteran Evan Longoria who voiced his frustration the most.
Although Longoria had spent only one season with the Diamondbacks, he witnessed firsthand the exceptional leadership and team spirit that Lovullo brought to the clubhouse.
Immediately after the finalists were announced, Lovullo came to the defense of his manager with an Instagram post that read:
“Whoever votes for Manager of the Year missed big on this one…and how? This is the NL MOTY and it really shouldn’t even be close. What a joke.”
To receive this type of praise from a veteran such as Evan Longoria speaks volume to how well of a job Lovullo did with the D-backs this season.
Unfortunately, what was most likely the reason for Lovullo not being a finalist is the fact that they do not take postseason into consideration.
However, if postseason performance were a factor, there would be little doubt that Torey Lovullo could secure his second Manager of the Year award, the first of which he won in 2017.
