Milwaukee's Pat Murphy and Cleveland's Stephen Vogt had the unenviable task of taking over for successful and well-liked predecessors when they were named managers of their respective teams during the offseason.
Both proved to be naturals.
Murphy won National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after a stellar debut season with the Brewers, while Vogt took AL honors after leading the Guardians to 92 wins and a division title in his first year as a skipper at any level.
The 40-year-old Vogt is the first to go from a major league player to Manager of the Year in just two years. The previous fastest was Joe Girardi from 2003 to 2006, when he won NL Manager of the Year with the Florida Marlins.
"I got way more excited when any one of our guys hit a home run then I ever did myself or a big play or a strikeout," Vogt said. "I think that's the beauty of this role and this job - it's not about you. It's about your players and it's about their successes."
