Showalter heads AL MOY Award candidates

Buck Showalter’s 18th season as a Major League manager just might be his finest. To keep his Orioles in contention in baseball’s most competitive division with a work-in-progress starting rotation is a reflection of many things.

The Orioles do certain things better than anyone. They play defense and hit the ball over the fence. Baltimore’s bullpen is spectacularly good. But its starting rotation has a 4.80 ERA, the 25th best in the game.

Still, the O’s have spent 109 days atop the American League East and haven’t been more than a game out of first place since June 2. Right in the middle of it all is Showalter, managing the bullpen, selling the confidence, setting the tone. There just aren’t many better.

Hardware Hopefuls

• AL MVP • NL MVP

• AL Cy Young • NL Cy Young

• AL Rookie of the Year • NL Rookie of the Year

• Friday: AL Manager of the Year • Friday: NL Manager of the Year

• AL MVP • NL MVP

• AL Cy Young • NL Cy Young

• AL Rookie of the Year • NL Rookie of the Year

• Friday: AL Manager of the Year • Friday: NL Manager of the Year

Showalter makes a vote for the AL Manager of the Year Award simple. For the fourth time in his career, he’s the man. Showalter won his first one for the Yankees 22 years ago and went on to win one while in charge of the Rangers (2004) and another with the Orioles …

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