Bud Black Edges Dusty Baker by One Point for Manager of the Year

Bud Black received 16 first place votes to Baker's 13 in a voting by 32 members of the Baseball Writer's Association.

Baker was named on 26 ballots and Black on 25 but the first place votes carried the San Diego Padres manager to a one-point win over the Reds' Baker.

In addition to the first place votes, Black was named second on seven ballots and third on three for a total of 104 (5 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd).  Baker had 12 seconds and two thirds for 103 points.  He fell one short of his fourth Manager of the Year award.  Baker won in 1993, 1997 and 2000.

Both managers use the same style.  They are considered player's managers in that they communicate with their players and give reasons for their moves.  Both have the reputation of dealing with their players in an up front manner, so they know where they stand.

Baker, in particular, relies less on stats than he does on what his eyes tell him.  He is often criticized by fans for moves that they see in games that seem to go against percentages.  Baker will use his own intuition and will throw away "the book" when he feels it is appropriate.

He stuck with young players like Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce in the 2010 season while both were struggling.  In August Bruce was stuck on 12 home runs but finished strong with 25 home runs.  Bruce finished with a respectable .281 batting average.  Stubbs finished the season with his highest average at .255.

Baker was not afraid to let the young players learn on the job at the risk of losing a game or two along the way.

"A lot of times we get impatient and want them to be great right now," Baker said during the season.  "We have to let them learn if we believe in them.  We might lose a game now but win a lot of games later."

His young team won the National League Central Division over the more experienced St. Louis Cardinals.