5 Reasons Why Bruce Bochy Should Win 2014 NL Manager of the Year

Over the course of the past five seasons, the Giants adopted three different mantras that defined each of their three championship runs. But no rally cry better defines Bochy's managerial strategy than 2012's "never say die" attitude. The Giants are often counted out—and usually for good reason—but Bochy has proven no team under his guidance can truly be written off. The Giants' big-headed skipper pushes all the right buttons in October.

Bochy is heralded as the best handler of a pitching staff in baseball. While most managers refuse to relegate their status quo methods of calling the shots in October, Bochy adopts a full-blown must-win mentality in September, well before the playoffs begin. Bochy's ability to cultivate a team-wide culture of selflessness down the stretch fuels the Giants' success. Everybody is on a short leash with the ultimate prize in sight.

Bochy has tallied 1,618 regular season wins during 20 years as a big league manager. Although his career .494 win percentage remains mostly unimpressive, his recent stretch of success is worth noting. Bochy stands alone in terms of managerial notoriety. He owns a ridiculous 34-14 mark in the postseason while leading the Giants. San Francisco is a whopping 10-0 in playoff series (including the Wild Card Game) under Bochy.

The Giants weren't supposed to survive the Wild Card Game against the surging Pittsburgh Pirates at October's start, let alone plow through the NL's elite en route to winning yet another World Series championship. The Giants entered the postseason without leadoff hitter Angel Pagan, 2012 NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro and former staff ace Matt Cain. Yet, Bochy found a way to enable his team to succeed. The Giants won in 2014 despite multiple injuries.

Even though members of the National Baseball Writers of America Association vote on postseason awards well before a champion is crowned, Bochy's managerial magnificence was apparent when the Giants claimed a playoff spot. The Giants won 88 games despite aforementioned injuries. They bulldozed through the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and eked out a Series win against the darling Kansas City Royals. Bochy is NL Manager of the Year.