Miami Marlins manager nominated for a prestigious award

The Miami Marlins are making front office changes, and watching key hitters decide on player options. Meanwhile, manager Skip Schumaker has been nominated for the National League Manager of the Year award! The way he led the tem is more than deserving for the award, but can he can actually win it? What are his chances and what's his competition for the award?

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has been nominated for the NL Manager of the Year award!

The 2023 Miami Marlins finished the season with an 84-78 W-L record, and made it to the playoffs as the second NL Wild Card team. This was a marked improvement from 2022's abysmal 69-93 W-L record. A record that naturally led to the team missing the playoffs. Skip's debut was phenomenal and well-deserving of recognition.

The Miami Marlins had three previous winners of the award...Jack McKeon in 2003, Joe Girardi in 2009 and Don Mattingly in 2020. McKeon led The Fish to a World Series win in 2003. Girardi led The Fish to a solid 87-75 record and almost brought the team to the playoffs. Donnie Baseball brought the team back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003 season.

Who is Skip Schumaker's competition? Craig Counsell of the Milwaukee Brewers (he has since moved on to the Chicago Cubs), and Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves. Counsell led Milwaukee to a 92-70 W-L record and an NL Central title. The Brew Crew were swept in the NL Wild Card series by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell had an impressive season, but Milwaukee were beneficiaries of a weak division, and won it only recently in 2021. Last season, they had an 86-76 W-L record. Counsell managed in both seasons.

Skip Schumaker's work this season has certainly been more impressive than Counsell's. Brian Snitker led the Atlanta Braves to an impressive 104-58 W-L record and an easy NL East division win. That said, the team was bounced out in the NLDS by the Philadelphia Phillies in four games. Snitker did impressive work, but Atlanta had a 101-61 W-L record the previous season, and also won their division. Once again Skip Schumaker has to be the frontrunner for the award.