Poll: Jeff Banister finalist for Manager of the Year

Jeff Banister was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2015, leading a team that was one of the worst in baseball in 2014, and that was below .500 in mid-August, to the A.L. West title.

Banister followed that up by winning his second straight division title as manager in 2016, with the Rangers putting up the best record in the American League despite all sorts of problems with his bullpen while his rotation was dogged by injuries.

As a result, when the finalists for the major awards were named last night, Jeff Banister was one of three finalists for A.L. Manager of the Year, along with Terry Francona of the Indians and Buck Showalter of the Orioles.

The odds seem to be stacked against Banister winning twice in a row, but still, you can make an argument no one in the A.L. got more out of their team than Banister did -- especially if you think exceeding your expected record based on run differential is a reflection on the work the manager does.

So I'm curious -- do you, the folks of LSB, think Banister is the most deserving candidate for Manager of the Year, or do you think someone else -- whether Francona, Showalter, or a manager who didn't make the final three -- earned it?

Cast your vote below...