Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin wins the 2012 AL Manager of the Year Award. This is Melvin’s second Manager of the Year award.
Bob Melvin finished with 116 points (16 first-place votes), Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter finished in second with 108 points (12 first-place votes), and Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura finished in third with 12 points (0 first-place votes).
Bob Melvin, 51, managed the Oakland Athletics to a 94-68 record to become the American League West Champions and reaching the American League Division Series before being eliminated by the Detroit Tigers. This is Bob Melvin’s ninth year as a manager. Bob Melvin took over managerial control of the Baltimore Orioles on June 9, 2011, to a 74-88 record, 47-52 under Melvin.
The Athletics were not expected to contend because they traded away starting pitchers Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, and relief pitcher Andrew Bailey over the offseason. The Oakland Athletics were able to win the last 6 games of the regular season to clinch the American League West division title on the final day of the season.
Bartolo Colon was suspended during the season when he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
The Oakland Athletics featured first-time Gold Glove Award winner, right fielder Josh Reddick and Rookie of the Year runner-up outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
