Will Showalter take home the hardware tonight?

The Orioles' last chance to win a significant postseason award comes tonight with Buck Showalter being among the three finalists for American League Manager of the Year. The Baseball Writers' Association of America voting came down to Showalter, the Athletics' Bob Melvin and the White Sox's Robin Ventura. Showalter edged out Melvin for The Sporting News award, with their peers turning in the ballots. Showalter has won the award twice previously, with the Rangers in 2004 and the Yankees in 1994. This season, he guided the Orioles to their first winning record and playoff berth in 15 years, turning a 69-93 team into a 93-69 team that tacked on three more wins in the postseason. The A's won the AL West, moving into first place for the first time on the final day of the regular season. The Orioles settled for a wild card berth, which could work against Showalter. Voting was done before the playoffs. At the risk of sounding biased, I think Showalter deserves the award for removing the losing culture from a team predicted by many "experts" to finish in last place again and to lose 100 games. Thirty-two different players made their Oriole debuts. He handled the bullpen magnificently, demonstrating an expert's touch in keeping his relievers sharp and rested. Showalter had a 20-year-old Double-A shortstop at third base, a third baseman at first and an assortment of infielders playing the outfield. He navigated around injuries to key players. He had eight different players bat leadoff. His No. 5 hitter for seven games, Lew Ford, was employed by the Long Island Ducks earlier in the summer. The Orioles made 178 roster moves in 2012. They recalled 36 players, optioned 33, placed 15 on the 15-day disabled list, selected the contract of 19, designated 17 for assignment, reinstated 14 from the disabled list, placed 11 on the 60-day disabled list, outrighted 10, traded for seven, dealt two, placed five on waivers, claimed two on waivers, released two, signed one as a free agent, added one to the roster and had one go on paternity leave. It was chaotic at times, but Showalter kept steering the Orioles in the right direction. In some ways, it was business as usual for Showalter. The Orioles improved by 24 games. In 2004, Showalter's second full year in Texas, the Rangers improved by 18 games. In his second full year in Arizona in 1999, the Diamondbacks improved by 35 games. In his second full year in New York in 1993, the Yankees improved by 12 games. Showalter will attempt to become the third Orioles manager to win the award since its inception in 1983, joining Davey Johnson in 1997 and Frank Robinson in 1989. Here is the complete list: 2011 Joe Maddon Tampa Bay 2010 Ron Gardenhire Minnesota 2009 Mike Scioscia Los Angeles 2008 Joe Maddon Tampa Bay 2007 Eric Wedge Cleveland 2006 Jim Leyland Detroit 2005 Ozzie Guillen Chicago 2004 Buck Showalter Texas 2003 Tony Peña Kansas City 2002 Mike Scioscia Anaheim 2001 Lou Piniella Seattle 2000 Jerry Manuel Chicago 1999 Jimy Williams Boston 1998 Joe Torre New York 1997 Davey Johnson Baltimore 1996 Joe Torre New York/Johnny Oates Texas 1995 Lou Piniella Seattle 1994 Buck Showalter New York 1993 Gene Lamont Chicago 1992 Tony La Russa Oakland 1991 Tom Kelly Minnesota 1990 Jeff Torborg Chicago 1989 Frank Robinson Baltimore 1988 Tony La Russa Oakland 1987 Sparky Anderson Detroit 1986 John McNamara Boston 1985 Bobby Cox Toronto 1984 Sparky Anderson Detroit 1983 Tony La Russa Chicago You may have noticed a tie in 1996. Could it happen again tonight?