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LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was named 2016 Sporting News National League Manager of the Year on Monday, perhaps a foreshadowing of the BBWAA award next month.
Roberts received 7 of 14 votes from NL managers to win, the fist Dodgers manager to be so honored by The Sporting News since Walt Alston in 1963. Cubs manager Joe Maddon and Dusty Baker of the Nationals tied for second place with three votes each, and Mets skipper Terry Collins received one vote.
The Dodgers won their fourth consecutive division title in 2016, but it wasn’t smooth sailing in Roberts’ first season. He saw ace Clayton Kershaw miss 10 weeks with a herniated disc in his back and the Dodgers set an MLB record with 28 different players played on the disabled list.
"To get recognized is a great honor, but something for me that is a team award. I can't tell you how much support I've gotten in the first year,” Roberts said Monday. “The title says manager of the year, but it's a team and organization award for me.”
Corey Seager on Monday won the Sporting News 2016 NL Rookie of the Year as well.
Baseball Writers Association of America award winners will be revealed from Nov. 14-17, with Rookies of the Year in each league announced on Tuesday, Nov. 15. But first, the BBWAA will announce the top three finishers for its awards on Monday, Nov. 7 on MLB Network.