Leyland says Melvin, Showalter top AL managers

OAKLAND -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland has had no shortage of praise for his old Minor League catcher, A's manager Bob Melvin, for the job he has done turning around the record and the culture in Oakland. On Tuesday, with the A's potentially a loss away from their magical season coming to an end, Leyland went a step further.

"Not to put the cart before the horse, but I hope that [Orioles manager] Buck Showalter and Bob Melvin are Co-Managers of the Year this year," Leyland said. "I think this would be a year there should be two guys get the award, I would say this would be the year."

If the Tigers move on to the American League Championship Series, Leyland could be going up against Showalter, whose Orioles headed to New York with their AL Division Series tied at a game apiece. They'll play Game 3 on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Fittingly, the Tigers beat out another team led by a Manager of the Year candidate, Robin Ventura's White Sox, to win the AL Central.