SportingNews has named Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon as this years AL Manager of the Year. They also selected Kirk Gibson, who led an unlikely Arizona Diamondacks to a playoff appearance, as the NL Manager of the Year.

Wait... The Kirk Gibson? Like, this Kirk Gibson? Yeah, apparently.

Anyway, credit is well due Joe Maddon, winning his second such distinction from SportingNews, as his penchant for defensive shifts, keen usage of platoon and ground ball / fly ball splits, and progressive approach to bullpen management has been unrivaled by any other manager in the AL.

Despite starting his Rays career in 2006 with a dismal 101-loss Devil Rays team, Maddon now has an above-.500 winning percentage as a manager, sporting a .509 mark with the Rays.

Way to go, Joe!

NOTE: Does watching that Kirk Gibson homer remind anybody of Dan Johnson's little homer last month? Yeah, me too.