Yahoo Sports: Jerry Manuel for NL Manager of the Year

[Valadius]

For the past week, Yahoo Sports has been breaking down and analyzing the major awards races in both leagues. Today they came out with their analysis of the NL Manager of the Year race - and Jerry Manuel is their frontrunner for the award.

Their analysis of Jerry:

]The New York Mets were dead. They were underachieving again. They were swallowing against the aftertaste of the previous September and propping up a manager who�d done what he could, which wasn�t enough. They had talent, for sure, but had become a collection of names and paychecks, a daily nine-inning symbol of failure and heartache. The Mets were a game under .500 the night Willie Randolph was fired. They were 6� games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Since that night, and despite issues in their starting rotation, larger issues in the corners of their outfield, and massive issues in their bullpen, the Mets are 48-28. They have regained all those games on the Phillies. They�ve added three more. Jerry Manuel doesn�t have a contract for next season. He remains an interim manager. The Mets � his Mets � still must negotiate the most trying part of their schedule. The games themselves aren�t altogether daunting. But these are the weeks that were left unfinished last season. Going in, the Mets look like gamers again. They look like they�re having fun again. They look ready to win again. Manuel got them back here. That�s why he�s the NL manager of the year. With two weeks to go.

For the whole article, go here.

[metirish]

I've seen him talked up in other places this past week too, I suppose if Delgado is being talked up for MVP then why not Manuel for Manger of the Year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Let's see how the next 17 games go.

But I'd have to think he's a strong contender for the honor. And for a 2009 return as well.

[TransMonk]

The Mets were two games under .500 when he took over.

The Mets have more wins than anyone in baseball since.

'Nuff said.

If they make the playoffs, I don't see how C. Manuel, Pinella, Yost or Torre even come close.

Cooper has an outside shot if the Astros complete the unprobable comeback.