MLB Manager of the Year Awards 2011: Rays Joe Maddon Is Top Skipper in AL

The Tampa Bay Rays were supposed to take a step back in 2011 after losing their second-best position player and having to rebuild the entire bullpen from the team that won the American League East the previous year. But manager Joe Maddon worked his magic, and was rewarded with his second Manager of the Year award on Wednesday. 

Maddon received 26 of 28 first-place votes from the writers and finished 79 points ahead of Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. 

When the Rays hired Maddon to be their manager in 2006, there were no expectations for him or the franchise. They had just finished their eighth straight season with of at least 91 losses and were the laughingstock of baseball. 

But Maddon's unique and innovative style, along with a front office that emphasized new metrics and scouting and player development, turned things around in a hurry. 

The Rays are now the model franchise in Major League Baseball, and Maddon is widely regarded as the best manager in the game. He does things differently than most managers do, and he has helped to change the way that managers operate. 

The only reason that the voters gave Maddon this award again is because the Rays made the playoffs, but realistically, he should win it every year. He is not afraid to take a chance with his lineup because he understands the game better than anyone else. 

There were times this season when Maddon put Evan Longoria, a prototypical No. 3 or 4 hitter, in the leadoff spot because he was pressing and he thought the move would help him get back in the groove of things. 

That is just one example of what Maddon does that makes him so great at his job. He understands situations and strategy as well as anyone. He is, by far, the best manager in baseball right now, and now he has some more hardware to prove it.