"When the topic of his candidacy for the National League Manager of the Year award was broached by a reporter in September, Kirk Gibson bristled and got angry, perhaps the first time in sports history that an interview subject was upset by a positive question.

Gibson might have to grudgingly accept some praise Wednesday.

The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce its Managers of the Year at noon (Arizona time) Wednesday, and it is widely expected that Gibson will take home some hardware. Already last month he was named the Sporting News Manager of the Year.

Gibson, attempting to keep the focus on the team and on winning, was reluctant to endorse any of his players for national awards and took the same approach when anyone suggested he were a candidate."