Update: Shows what I know.

The National League Manager of the Year will be announced today at noon with Our Man Lou among the obvious frontrunners. Piniella won AL MOY honors twice while in Seattle ('95 and '01).

My money, however, is on Charlie Manuel. The Phillies manager finished second in last year's balloting to Bob Melvin of Arizona, and though balloting is completed before the post-season begins and thus, the Phils' World Series success won't work in Manuel's favor, I see him as more of a sentimental favorite than the crusty Piniella.

What's more, though expectations were high in Philadelphia this season, the Cubs seemed to be a consensus choice as best team in the NL at the beginning of the campaign, which could have left voters to conclude that Piniella simply won a division crown with a team that absolutely should have won a division crown, nothing more, nothing less.

Writing at mlb. com, Jim Maloney mentions Joe Torre as a third strong contender, but it's hard for me to see the baseball writers attributing the Dodgers' success to anyone other than that home run-hitting leftfielder with the long hair and even longer baseball pants.

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