

Matt Williams. (Getty Images)

In his first season at the helm of a major league team, Matt Williams was named National League Manager of the Year by Sporting News on Tuesday for guiding the Nationals to a 96-win season and a NL East title. This award was voted on by a panel of 22 fellow managers; the official Manager of the Year award will be announced by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Nov. 11.

Williams, a former all-star player and Arizona Diamondbacks coach, took over the talented Nationals this offseason under unusual circumstances after the 2013 Nationals underperformed and missed the playoffs by four games, leading to former Manager Davey Johnson’s forced retirement.

Williams joins Johnson as the only Nationals managers to earn the Sporting News award. Johnson earned the award after the 2012 season, the only other NL East title the Nationals have won. Williams claimed this year’s award with four votes — a surprisingly small vote total — edging out Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny’s two votes. Marlins Manager Mike Redmond finished third with one vote. Williams’ prize could foreshadow another managerial award next month.

Williams, 48, guided the Nationals with an even keel demeanor through several injuries. Five of the Nationals’ eight regulars landed on the disabled list at points during the season, and Williams maintained a consistently calm public face throughout the bleaker times. Known for his fierce stare and tough personality as a player, Williams was both a meticulous planner in his first season as manager and an open communicator with players, seeking their input and that of his coaches.

“No panic. He’s been there before whatever the situation,” General Manager Mike Rizzo said of Williams after the Nationals won the NL East title in mid-September. “He has a calmness to him. When things were at their toughest, he was at his calmest.”

Williams, admittedly, learned to loosen his grip later in the season and his in-game decision-making and demeanor improved. He made difficult pitching decisions (sending Ross Detwiler to the bullpen and removing Rafael Soriano from the closer’s role), changed positions for players (Ryan Zimmerman learned left field) and managed different clubhouse personalities (such as Bryce Harper’s benching and his lineup comments).

The Nationals endured a disappointing early playoff exit, which still stings Williams, and his decision to remove Jordan Zimmermann in Game 2 of the NLDS, as well as some pitching choices in Game 4, came under scrutiny, but that doesn’t discount the banner regular season. The Nationals finished with a 17-game lead in the NL East, the largest of any division winner.