Monday, October 15, 2007

A-Rod wins Sporting News Player of the Year, Utley, Rowand make NL All-Star team

ST. LOUIS (October 15, 2007) – Sporting News has announced its 2007 Major League Baseball awards. Voting by major league players and managers was conducted and results will appear in the October 22 issue of the magazine on newsstands this week.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was named Major League Player of the Year. Rodriguez received 353 out of 488 votes cast by major league players. His closest competition was Magglio Ordonez who received 39 votes from his peers. Rodriguez finished the regular season with a .314 batting average, 183 hits, 54 home runs and 156 RBIs.

Both Sporting News Managers of the Year have extended their teams’ seasons by taking them to their respective league championship series.

The Manager of the Year award for the American League goes to Cleveland Indians Manager Eric Wedge. Wedge, 39, led his squad to a 96-66 regular-season record, a four games to one victory over the Yankees in the ALDS and a trip to the ALCS Championship against the Boston Red Sox. Wedge, who is in his fifth season with the Indians, was named Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year in 2002 while with the Buffalo Bisons. In the voting by A.L. managers, Wedge received 6 votes, with the Angels’ Mike Scioscia placing second in the voting with four votes.

National League Manager of the Year honors go to Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Bob Melvin. After a 90-72 regular-season record, Melvin and the Diamondbacks swept the Cubs in the NLDS and are facing the Colorado Rockies for the National League Championship. Melvin, 44, beat out the Phillies’ Charlie Manuel by only one vote.

National League Rookie of the Year honors belong to Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun. Braun finished the regular season with a .324 batting average, 146 hits, 34 home runs and 97 RBIs.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was named American League Rookie of the Year. Pedroia finished the regular season with a .317 batting average, 165 hits, 8 homeruns and 50 RBIs.

Also appearing in the October 22nd issue of Sporting News are the A.L. and N.L. All-Star Teams.

N.L. All-Star Team
P Jake Peavy (San Diego Padres)
1B Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
2B Chase Utley (Phildelphia Phillies)
SS Hanley Ramirez (Florida Marlins)
3B David Wright (New York Mets)
OF Matt Holliday (Colorado Rockies)
OF Carlos Lee (Houston Astros)
OF Aaron Rowand (Philadelphia Phillies)
C Russell Martin (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Comeback: Dmitri Young (Washington Nationals)
Relief Pitcher: Jose Valverde (AZ Diamondbacks)

A.L. All-Star Team
P C.C. Sabathia (Cleveland Indians)
1B Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
2B Placido Polanco (Detroit Tigers)
SS Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)
3B Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees)
OF Magglio Ordonez (Detroit Tigers)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)
OF Vladimir Guerrero (LA Angels of Anaheim)
C Jorge Posada (New York Yankees)
DH David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox) -----------------------
Comeback: Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
*Relief Pitcher: Joe Borowski (Cleveland Indians)

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