ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) -- A 96-win season and the first postseason appearance in six years was not enough for Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin cash to be chosen as the top skipper in the American League.
Cash ended up finishing third to Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli for the American League Manager of the Year award, announced Tuesday by the Baseball Writers of America.
Baldelli was named on 28 of 30 ballots, more than any other manager, and garnered 13 first-place votes.
Boone was on 26 of 30 ballots, and also had 13 first place votes.
Cash, despite a season that saw the Rays win the second-most games in franchise history, defeat the Oakland Athletics in the Wild Card game, and take the eventual American League champion Houston Astros to a fifth and deciding game, was named on just 15 ballots, getting three first place votes, three seconds, and nine third-place marks. It is the second straight year Cash finished third for the award.
Oakland's Bob Melvin, Houston's AJ Hinch, and Cleveland's Terry Francona were also named on ballots, but finished outside the top three.
Cash becomes the second uniformed member of the Rays staff to finish third for a season award after Brandon Lowe finished third for American League Rookie of the Year Monday. Charlie Morton, a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award, will learn where he will finish in voting on Wednesday.