A's Manager, Bob Melvin, Finalist for BBWAA's AL Manager of the Year

A's manager, Bob Melvin has been named as a finalist for the BBWAA's American League Manager of the Year. This was an expected and well deserved decision after the season in which he led his team to 97 wins.

In their first winning season since 2014, Melvin led the A's to a win of the second AL Wild Card and a second place finish in the AL West behind the Astros. This came as a happy surprise to A's fans who assumed this would be another rebuilding season as per usual. Although the A's ultimately lost in the Wild Card game to the Yankees, the team and their fans have a lot to be proud of as well as a lot to look forward to.

If Melvin deservingly wins the BBWAA Manager of the Year award, it will be his third overall. He won this award in 2012 after the A's miracle season as well as in 2007 when he led the Diamondbacks to a NL West title. 

Melvin has already won Sporting News' 2018 MLB Manager of the Year. He was also recently signed to a contract extension through 2021 along with A's General Manager, David Forst, and A's Vice President of Baseball Operations, Billy Beane.

The other two finalists for BBWAA's AL Manager of the Year include 2018 World Series Champion Red Sox manager, Alex Cora and Rays manager, Kevin Cash. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, Nov 13.

Photo: ABC 10

The Matt's are Green and Golden

The corners are not only green, but double the gold this season. A's first baseman, Matt Olson and A's third baseman, Matt Chapman were both named American League Gold Glove winners last night.

This comes as no surprise. Olson's fielding percentage this season was .995%. Chapman's fielding percentage this season was .959%. Both Matt's were incredibly key to the A's 97-65 wild card season both defenisvely and offensively.

Olson and Chapman's Gold Glove's mark the first time an A's player has received the award since 2012 when outfielder, Josh Reddick won the award. Olson and Chapman are the first Oakland infielders to win the award since prized A's 3rd baseman, Eric Chavez in 2006. The Matt's are the first A's duo to both win Gold Glove's in the same season since Dwayne Murphy and Alfredo Griffin in 1985.

The fact that two of Oakland's bright young stars won this award in their first full year of playing in the Big Leagues is incredibly promising. A's fans have so much to look forward to after a surprise winning season and so much homegrown talent coming to light.

Photo: Mercury News