Seattle Mariners: Should Scott Servais win A.L. Manager of the Year?
The Seattle Mariners shocked the baseball world by winning 90 games this season. Should their skipper, Scott Servais be the American League Manager of the Year?
Pacific Northwest Sports is like many other modern workgroups. We have Slack chats, too; ours tend to focus on the teams and athletes we cover. The other day, we got to talking about whether or not Seattle Mariners Manager Scott Servais should be the 2021 American League Manager of the Year.
Joining me in the chat were Chris Phillips, Andrew Elderbaum, Joe Swenson, and Chip Clark.
Ed Stein
Is Scott Servais the A.L. Manager of the Year?
Chris Phillips
That’s a really good question. I think Servais should get Manager of the Year. Nobody, and I mean nobody (national media-wise), picked the M’s to finish second in the A.L. West, let alone be in playoff consideration.
Add in the fact that the Seattle Mariners have a negative run differential, and the M’s shouldn’t be where they are! So, yeah, Servais should win the manager of the year award. All the other American League playoff-contending teams had more consideration from the national media.
Andrew Elderbaum
It should be Servais, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay Rays) gets it. I think the resources Aaron Boone (New York Yankees) and Alex Cora (Boston Red Sox) have (negatively) affected people’s view of what they do. Seattle didn’t add Anthony Rizzo, Joey Gallo, or Clay Holmes. Then again, they also didn’t have to deal with Andrew Heaney.
Joe Swenson
You could make a case for Boone, Cora, Tony LaRussa (Chicago White Sox), and Cash, along with Servais. No one picked the Red Sox to do anything either.
Ed
I was thinking the same about Cora, but I’m not sure the media forgives him yet.
Andrew
I think everyone involved with those Astros teams are going to stay tainted. It’s like the poor man’s steroid-positive test. Not as bad, but it still won’t be forgotten.
Ed
Cash has a good case. After all the players Tampa traded away, no one thought they could produce a triple-digit win total. Still, the job Servais did keeping the Seattle Mariners in contention all season was above and beyond. I have, in order, Servais, Cash, La Russa, Dusty Baker (Houston Astros).
Joe
1 Servais, 2 Cora, 3 LaRussa, 4 Boone, 5 Cash. Tampa didn’t have the adversity the others faced, and they are the defending American League Champions.
Chip Clark
I know I’m late to the party, but I have to add my two cents. The award should go to Kevin Cash, and it’s not close. The Rays won the A.L. East by eight games in a division with three other 90+ win teams. As for the rest, Dusty Baker did a great job with Houston. Aaron Boone and Charlie Montoyo had their chances, but their team’s withered when it mattered most.
Great to catch up with one of my favorites today and @MannyActa14 made the clear case for @mariners Scott Servais as Manager of the Year. He also had tons of great insight on Kelenic's intensity and Crawford's lesdership.
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— Mike Salk, Seattle Sports (@TheMikeSalk) October 1, 2021
Do you believe Scott Servais should be the American League Manager of the Year? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.