Rise of the Rays has recently become a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, AKA the BBA. The BBA is a group of 79 bloggers from every team in baseball. One of our duties as members of the BBA is to submit our ballots for the end of year awards for the American League in Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP. So, here is the Rise of the Rays ballot, compiled by myself and Michael Emdeyar.
Manager of the Year
1. Ron Washington
2. Don Wakamatsu
3. Mike Soscia
Ron Washington lead the Texas Rangers to 87 and 75 season following the rather dissapointing 79 and 83 season last year. They failed to make the playoffs this season, but they were in it up until the final week of the season. Don Wakamatsu led the Mariners through a great season after a terrible 2008 season and really turned the Seattle Mariners around. Mike Soscia worked through many injuries with the Angels through the season and still won the division by a landslide.
Rookie of the Year
1. Jeff Niemann ( 13-6, 3.94 ERA in 180 IP)
2. Andrew Bailey (6-3, 1.84 ERA, 26 SV in 83 IP)
3. Elvis Andrus (.267 AVG, 6 HR, 40 RBI in 145 games)
I may be a bit of a homer, but Jeff Niemann definitely deserves this award. He outpitched all other rookie starters in the American League, including Rick Porcello. Andrew Bailey put up a great season as the closer for Oakland. Some people may think we are crazy for not making him first, but Niemann pitched well for the Rays all season in big games, so he gets the nod. Andrus was a great shortstop for the Rangers all season, so he deserves third.
Cy Young
1. Zack Greinke ( 16-8 2.16 ERA in 229.1 IP)
2. Felix Hernandez (19-5 2.49 ERA in 238.2 IP)
3. Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45 ERA in 240.0 IP)
No surprise. Grienke pitched well all season for one of the worst teams in baseball. To pick up 16 wins for one of the worst offensive teams in baseball is a real feat. Hernandez quietly put up a great season in Seattle. Verlander put up an outstanding season in Detroit.
MVP: This is a long one, so get ready.
- Joe Mauer
- Miguel Cabrera
- Derek Jeter
- Mark Texiera
- Aaron Hill
- Jason Bay
- Ichiro
- Zack Greinke
- Kendry Morales
- Carl Crawford
Mauer put up a great season for Minnesota even after missing the first month of the season. He held the Twins together and lead the charge to the postseason in the final month, during the time when Justin Morneau was on the DL.
