Padres' Mike Shildt Deserves NL Manager of the Year, But Voter Bias Will Prevail
Introduction
Mike Shildt guided the San Diego Padres to a 89-73 record in 2023, their first winning season since 2010. Under Shildt's leadership, the Padres made significant strides on both sides of the ball. Despite his team's success, Shildt is a long shot to win National League Manager of the Year because of voter bias against West Coast teams.
Shildt's Case for Manager of the Year
There is no question that Shildt deserves to be in the conversation for Manager of the Year. In addition to their 22-win improvement from 2022, the Padres led the NL in runs scored and ranked among the top 10 in the league in ERA and home runs allowed. Shildt also deserves credit for guiding the development of several young players, including Manny Machado, Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Impressive Regular Season Record
The Padres' 89-73 record was the second-best in the NL West, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego finished with a better regular season record than two of the three NL Division Series winners.
Significant improvement from 2022
The Padres' 22-win improvement in 2023 was the second-largest in the NL, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays. Shildt's ability to get his team to turn things around quickly is a testament to his leadership skills.
Led the NL in runs scored
The Padres led the NL in runs scored in 2023, averaging 5.03 runs per game. This is a significant improvement from 2022, when they ranked 12th in the league in runs scored.
Ranked among the top 10 in the NL in ERA and home runs allowed
The Padres ranked seventh in the NL in ERA (3.74) and ninth in home runs allowed (180) in 2023. This is a significant improvement from 2022, when they ranked 20th in the league in ERA and 29th in home runs allowed.
Guided the development of several young players
Shildt deserves credit for helping several young players develop into stars in 2023. Manny Machado finished the season with a .315 batting average, 35 home runs, and 110 RBIs. Juan Soto hit .313 with 40 home runs and 110 RBIs, and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit .292 with 30 home runs and 90 RBIs.
Voter Bias Against West Coast Teams
Despite Shildt's impressive resume, he is a long shot to win NL Manager of the Year because of voter bias against West Coast teams. In the past 20 years, only two managers from West Coast teams have won the award (Bruce Bochy in 2012 and Dave Roberts in 2016).
East Coast Bias
The majority of MLB voters are based on the East Coast, and they tend to favor managers from teams in their own region. This bias is likely due to the fact that East Coast voters are more familiar with the teams and managers in their own region.
Lack of National Coverage
West Coast teams do not receive as much national coverage as East Coast teams. This is because the majority of MLB games are played on the East Coast, and the national media tends to focus on the teams in the largest markets. As a result, West Coast teams and managers are less likely to be recognized by voters.
Conclusion
Mike Shildt deserves to win NL Manager of the Year, but voter bias against West Coast teams will likely prevent him from winning the award. This bias is unfair and needs to be addressed. West Coast teams and managers should be given the same consideration as East Coast teams and managers when it comes to awards voting.
