American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition of American Association Daily, the Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association name Sioux Falls Canaries Manager Mike Meyer as Manager of the Year for the 2020 season.

Mike Meyer Named Top Manager

The Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association named Sioux Falls Canaries Manager Mike Meyer as the 2020 American Association Manager of the Year. Meyer was a unanimous choice, beating out Winnipeg Goldeyes Manager Rick Forney and Milwaukee Milkmen skipper Anthony Barone.

In his fourth season with the Canaries, Meyer led Sioux Falls to a 31-27 mark, the second-best record in the league. That earned the team a trip to the post-season to face the Milwaukee Milkmen in the league finals. The 31-win mark was the first winning record for the team since 2010. That was also the last time the team reached the playoffs as the 2020 team broke the decade old drought.

The Canaries got off to a quick start, going 15-9 in July. Several key injuries could have decimated the hopes for breaking the drought, but Meyer showed his GM skills were just as valuable as his managerial ones, acquiring catcher Roy Morales and starters Jake Zokan, Tyler Danish, Eddie Medina, Alex Boshers, and Tyler Culbreth. These additions helped support a very formidable lineup, led by MVP candidates Damek Tomsha and Logan Landon.

Now he looks to lead his team to a league title. Meyer has earned a league championship as a player and coach, but now is looking for his first title as a manager.

Forney, Barone Tie for Second

Forney and Barone finished tied for second in the Manager of the Year voting. Forney did an amazing job with the Goldeyes, who went 29-31 during the regular season. Winnipeg had the top record for much of the season, despite the team playing all their games on the road, the only team in the American Association forced to do so.

Barone led the Milkmen to the league’s top record in his first season as the manager of the team. The Milkmen went 34-26. Like Meyer, Barone did an amazing job in acquiring key talent that helped bolster the success of the team. That included adding three former Major Leaguers to the starting staff down the stretch.

By Robert Pannier