Stephen Vogt was named manager of the year in the American on Tuesday, while Pat Murphy was the lucky winner in the National.
In his first season as manager, Vogt is the quickest to make the transition from player to recipient of the honor, just two years after ending his athletic career. Joe Girardi achieved the feat in 2006, after retiring in 2003.
Vogt led the Cleveland Guardians to a division title and the second-best record in the AFC. They were eliminated in the championship series by the New York Yankees.
Matt Quatraro, one of three finalists for this award, was his first professional coach in 2007 with the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Like Quatraro, who now manages the Kansas City Royals, and AJ Hinch of the Detroit Tigers, he led his team to the playoffs this season.
For his part, Pat Murphy inherited a managerial position for the first time in the MLB in November 2023 after spending eight years with the Milwaukee Brewers, taking over from Craig Counsell who turned to the Cubs Chicago.
He led the team to 93 wins and a second sectional title, with a 10-game lead atop the Central.
Murphy had a big mandate due to a weakened pitching rotation including the departure of Corbin Burnes and the injury to Brandon Woodruff which caused him to miss the entire season.
The other finalists were also in their first year on the job; they are Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets and Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres.
What were some of the most significant challenges they faced in transitioning from player to manager, and how did they overcome them?
Thematic Section 1: Experience Transitioning from Player to Manager
Interviewer: World-Today News is thrilled to have two esteemed guests today, Stephen Vogt and Pat Murphy, who have recently been named Managers of the Year in their respective leagues. Congratulations to both of you. As former players, how did your experiences on the field prepare you for this new role, and what unique challenges have you faced in making the transition to manager?
Stephen Vogt: Thank you very much. I think my experience as a player gave me an understanding of what it takes to succeed at this level, both individually and as a team. It also allowed me to identify with the players on a personal level, which has helped me build strong relationships with them. One of the unique challenges I faced was learning to delegate responsibilities and trust my coaching staff completely. As a player, you’re used to being in control and making decisions based on your instincts. As a manager, you have to learn to trust your coaches and rely on their expertise.
Pat Murphy: Thank you for having me. I agree with Stephen, my playing career gave me valuable insights into the game and the players’ perspectives. However, the biggest challenge for me was adapting to the strategic aspect of the game. As a player, you focus on your own performance, but as a manager, you need to think about the whole team’s performance and make decisions that impact the outcome of the game. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead these talented athletes.
Thematic Section 2: Success Amidst Tough Circumstances
Interviewer: Both of you have had great success in your first seasons as managers, despite facing some challenges. Stephen, you inherited a strong team, but how did you maintain their momentum? And Pat, you took over a rebuilding team with injuries to key players. Can you share your strategies for achieving success under these circumstances?
Stephen Vogt: We focused on building a culture of accountability and hard work. We communicated our goals clearly and set high standards for the team. We also recognized that we were in a competitive division and every game was important. We didn’t get too high after the wins and didn’t dwell on the losses.
