NEW YORK — The Angels, overcome by waves of grief and sadness, could have crumbled when pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident in April.
Mike Scioscia kept them moving forward.
“There wasn’t one defining moment,” he said. “I think as the season started to evolve, guys found that sense of purpose to play baseball again and they played it at a very, very high level.”
For his deft touch during a trying season, Scioscia won the AL manager of the year award Wednesday for the second time.
Scioscia received 15 first- place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 106 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Scioscia and the Angels paid tribute to Adenhart with their fifth AL West title in six years.
“Some things, you’re never prepared for,” Scioscia said. “But those things really weren’t about us. They were about the Adenhart family, and I think as we supported them we found some peace.”
Ron Gardenhire finished second in the voting for the second straight year and fifth time during his eight seasons as Twins manager. He placed third in 2002.
Baseball to tighten schedule
CHICAGO — Baseball plans to cut down on off days during the postseason next year.
Commissioner Bud Selig said he’s working on tightening up the 2010 playoff schedule so there will be fewer gaps between games.
Scioscia criticized the current format after the Yankees and Angels played only eight times in 20 days going into Game 6 of the ALCS.
“We’re going to change it,” Selig said. “I don’t disagree with Mike Scioscia. I think he was right, so we’re going to try to tighten that up.”
Selig also said he would continue to discuss instant replay, but it’s not expected to be a major topic when owners have a full meeting this morning even though there were several missed calls by umpires during the postseason.
Managers of year voting
As selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (tabulated on a 5-3-1 basis):
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Manager, team 1st 2nd 3rd Tot
Jim Tracy, Col. 29 2 — 151
Tony La Russa, St.L. 2 13 6 55
Joe Torre, L.A. 1 7 7 33
Bruce Bochy, S.F. — 5 3 18
Bobby Cox, Atl. — 3 6 15
Charlie Manuel, Phi. — 2 4 10
Fredi Gonzalez, Fla. — — 4 4
Bud Black, S.D. — — 2 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Manager, team 1st 2nd 3rd Tot
Mike Scioscia, L.A. 15 10 1 106
Ron Gardenhire, Min. 6 12 6 72
Joe Girardi, N.Y. 4 3 5 34
D. Wakamatsu, Sea. 2 2 3 19
R. Washington, Tex. 1 1 11 19
Jim Leyland, Det. — — 2 2
