My Picks for MLB's 2008 Awards

Analyst Written on September 30, 2008

(Page 3 of 4)

I'm not a proponent of relievers winning the Cy Young; that's why I'm excluding K-Rod here and Lidge above. To me, a pitcher who succeeds over 200 innings is more accomplished than a pitcher who works 70. Tear apart that argument if you'd like, but relievers fit better in MVP discussions.

Wish I could justify including Mike Mussina in my top three.

NL Manager

My picks

1. Lou Piniella, Cubs
2. Tony La Russa, Cardinals
3. Joe Torre, Dodgers

Lou Piniella isn't simply managing a baseball team, he's managing the entire Cubs monster—the mood swings among fans and media, the turbulent emotions of Carlos Zambrano, the relentless questions about Alfonso Soriano's hip, Rich Harden's health, etc.

For all the money the Cubs have spent, Piniella has done an outstanding job incorporating young talent, from Geovany Soto to Ryan Theriot, Carlos Marmol to Jeff Samardzija.

Tony La Russa did one of his best jobs this season, transforming the injury-depleted, seemingly outmanned Cardinals into a surprise contender. Joe Torre's steady hand had a similar calming effect on the Dodgers as it did on the Yankees, and the Marlins' Fredi Gonzalez should get a few votes—you try finishing above .500 with a $22 million payroll.

AL Manager

My picks

1. Joe Maddon, Rays
2. Ron Gardenhire, Twins
3. Mike Scioscia, Angels

One veteran Ray tells me that Joe Maddon never mentions performance when talking to players. He'll simply tell players to relax and play their game, occasionally suggesting some type of adjustment. Maddon's confidence and communication skills are unusual, particularly for a first-time manager. He made the Rays believe.

Ron Gardenhire lost Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, and Carlos Silva in the offseason, then set-up man Pat Neshek and right fielder Michael Cuddyer to injuries. Delmon Young underperformed, and the left side of the infield is a patch job, but the Twins enter the final weekend in first place. Wow.

AL Rookie

My picks

1. Evan Longoria, Rays
2. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
3. Armando Galarraga, Tigers

I'm tempted to go with Alexei Ramirez, the Cuban defector who had to adjust to an entirely new culture, as well as major-league pitching. Two rival GMs who bid for Ramirez told me in Spring Training that they considered him too raw for the majors and planned to start him at Class AA. What a waste that would have been.

While Ramirez is worthy, Evan Longoria is otherworldly. The five weeks he missed due to a fractured right wrist is all that prevented him from a 30-homer, 100-RBI season, and his defense at third base has been a revelation. Like all the great ones, he simply slows the game down.

Armando Galarraga, a 12-game winner whom the Tigers acquired from the Rangers, rates a slight edge over Royals shortstop Mike Aviles for the final spot on the ballot.

NL Rookie

My picks

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written on September 30, 2008 Rankings/List