Terry Pluto defends voting Joe Maddon No. 2 for AL Manager of the Year

Planet X’s wrong box?

Pluto voted Gardenhire No. 1 and Maddon No. 2, and joked he now has “many fans in Tampa” after getting more than 20 emails from puzzled Rays fans.

But here’s Pluto’s explanation:

Gardenhire’s Twins didn’t make the playoffs (they lost in one-game playoff with the White Sox for the AL Central title), but voting was done in the final week of the regular season. Pluto said he has absolutely nothing against Maddon, whom he has a lot of respect for. It was just a tough decision at the time.

“The voting is done in the final week of the season, so I did not have the playoffs to consider,” Pluto said. “If they did the voting after, certainly Joe would have got it. I had great respect for both men, and gave the edge to Gardenhire for keeping his team in contention after losing Santana, etc. I had no idea how anyone else was voting. I certainly didn’t set out to stiff Joe by being the lone voice not to have him No. 1.”

Pluto said, “I’m glad Joe won. Clearly after what he did in the playoffs, he deserves it. It’s just how it is.”

Pluto said he’s trying to respond to every email he’s received, which have included a one-word, “Idiot,” and even some from fans in Cleveland who love his work but were wowed by his vote.

Thanks to sm.