Who Should Be the AL Manager of the Year?

As MLB heads down the final stretch, clubs are either completely out, officially in, or hanging on for dear life. And getting these teams into contention are the managers who play just as big a role in their club's success as the team's cleanup hitter or ace.

It's been an interesting year for the American League, whether it's the injuries to Terry Francona's staff, the surprising dominance of Ron Washington's Rangers or the consistent back-and-forth battle between Joe Maddon's Rays and Joe Girardi's Yankees.

To no one's surprise, Ron Gardenhire's Twins notched the AL's first spot in the 2010 postseason this week by clinching the punchless AL Central crown.

But which one of these managers deserves AL manager of the year? Girardi, Maddon, Washington and Gardenhire clearly have a solid shot at the title based on their team's standing in the playoff hunt. But an outside shot at the title would be Boston's Francona, whose club is currently in third place and on the outside looking in.

But look at the hand Francona has been dealt: He lost his leadoff hitter (Jacoby Ellsbury), No. 2 hitter (Dustin Pedroia), No. 3 hitter (Victor Martinez) and cleanup hitter (Kevin Youkilis) to either long-term or season-ending injuries this year. The combined payroll of these four on the shelf this summer outweighs some opposing starting nine's payroll.

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