ALDS Game 1: Joe Maddon Proves Why He Is AL Manager of the Year for the Rays

It's been quite an incredible season for Joe Maddon. It seems he is always pushing the right buttons to give the Tampa Bay Rays success. He is a big reason why the Rays topped the Red Sox for the final playoff spot, and he has continued his seeming genius in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers.

Joe Maddon is a great manager; there is no debating that. The Rays improbable run on his watch will make him the easy winner for the AL Manager of the Year award. Some would argue that one Manager of the Year award can be luck, a product of a good season by your team. 

But two? That's when you have to give credit where credit is due.

It's been moves like the ones Maddon made tonight that puts him in the conversation as one of the best managers in the MLB. Your average manager wouldn't start a rookie in Game 1 of the ALDS. At least not a manager looking to keep his job.

But Joe Maddon isn't your average manager.

Maddon was able to have enough confidence and guts to hand the ball to rookie Matt Moore for Game 1. Coming into his first playoff start, Moore had only one big league start under his belt, a start that took place on September 22nd against the Yankees.

Maddon could have used a more experienced starter like Wade Davis, but he decided to roll the dice and go with Moore.

To say Moore was spectacular may be an understatement, throwing seven innings of shutout ball for the Rays in their 9-0 victory over the Rangers. He showed incredible poise for a rookie making his first playoff start.

In the process of his risky decision, Maddon again went against the grain, starting season-long backup Kelly Shoppach in place of their starting catcher John Jaso. During the TBS Broadcast, Maddon explained that Shoppach not only hit lefties well, he also has more experience working with Matt Moore.

Shoppach hit .176 during the season and is a career .200-hitter in the playoffs. But that meant nothing in this game.

Maddon's move to start Shoppach led to five of the Rays runs and a 3-for-4 day for the Tampa Bay back-up catcher, including two home runs. It was more than the difference in this one, helping to put away the Rangers before they had a chance to climb back in the game.

Great managers like Maddon always seem to make moves like he did in Game 1 that turn into gold. It is just another shining example of Maddon's brilliance as manager of the Rays.

Maddon's club now finds themselves up 1-0 in the ALDS over the Rangers, having yet to throw their three best starters and having already beaten the Rangers ace. On top of all that, they have now taken away home-field advantage from Texas.

Tampa Bay is in a commanding position in the ALDS already, and it's all because Joe Maddon made all the right moves.