TSN's Baseball 2000 Awards

Sporting News, The, Oct 30, 2000

Major League Player of the Year

CARLOS DELGADO, Blue Jays

Carlos Delgado, Toronto's cleanup hitter and first baseman, led the American League with 99 extra-base hits, hit .384 with runners in scoring position and raised his average 72 points over 1999. In position for the Triple Crown before experiencing a September slide, he still finished with 41 homers, 137 RBIs and a .344 batting average.

Those numbers added up to overwhelming support in voting by his fellow players for THE SPORTING NEWS Player of the Year Award. Delgado received 164 1/2 votes. Todd Helton, who finished second, got 38; Frank Thomas 34 1/2; Barry Bonds 22 1/2; Jeff Kent 12 1/2, and Mike Piazza 10.

"When your peers recognize what you have done on the field, that is pretty sweet," says Delgado, who last week signed a four-year, $68-million contract.

Delgado, 28, has increased his total bases each of the past five years: 239, 274, 314, 327 and 378. One key to his development has been more consistent contact, a function, Delgado says, of understanding pitching patterns (he keeps a book), using all fields and becoming more mature. Two years ago, Delgado struck out once every 3.8 at-bats and homered every 13.9 at-bats. This season, he reduced his strikeout ratio dramatically (1 every 5.5) while maintaining the same home run ratio.

"Before, I had good streaks and bad streaks," he says, "but this year, I can say I was locked in for most of the season." --Tom Maloney

A.L. Manager of the Year

JERRY MANUEL White Sox

When Jerry Manuel arrived at Comiskey Park on December 4, 1997, to be announced as the White Sox's new manager, not many outsiders knew who he was.

Time and a breakthrough 2000 season have put Manuel's talents in the spotlight. Manuel, 46, was a near unanimous choice by his fellow A.L. managers for the award, receiving every vote but one, which went to Oakland's Art Howe.

"I feel that this is an honor not only for myself, but for the entire coaching staff," Manuel says. "This award identifies the kind of job they did."

After the Sox finished 21 1/2 games behind the Indians in the A.L. Central in 1999, Manuel & Co. guided them to the most wins (95) in the league this year and their first playoff appearance since 1993.

With his easy-going nature and penchant for laughter, Manuel comes across as a player's manager, but he says that is not quite accurate.

"I always try to be honest and open," says Manuel, who was a third-base coach for six seasons in Montreal and the bench coach for the 1997 World Series champion Marlins. "I look to be honest and open and hopefully they respond." --Scot Gregor

N.L. Manager of the Year

DUSTY BAKER Giants

Dusty Baker does not hold team meetings to berate his players. He does not rip them in the media. Nor does he play political games. What he does do is make his players believe in their abilities. That's why a team with a medium-sized payroll won more regular-season games (97) than anybody else in the majors this season.

For that performance, Baker 51, hits been named THE SPORTING NEWS National League Manager of the Year, the second time he has been so honored in a vote by his fellow N.L. managers. He also won in 1997. Baker received nine votes; Bobby Cox finished with three and John Boles two. "It's very flattering and comes at a good time," says Baker, who endured criticism over the Giants' first-round playoff exit. "It's been a little rough around here lately." A few strategic moves that backfired can't detract from the work Baker has done in San Francisco, where he is signed at least through 2002 under a deal worked out last week. Many players around baseball have said they would like to play for the Giants just because of Baker's presence.

"He's a great manager," says pitcher Kirk Rueter. "He's part of the big family atmosphere here. I couldn't see myself playing for the Giants with a different manager." --Henry Schulman

TSN All-Stars

AMERICAN LEAGUE                     NATIONAL LEAGUE

Carlos Delgado, Toronto        1B   Todd Helton, Colorado
Roberto Alomar, Cleveland      2B   Jeff Kent, San Francisco
Travis Fryman, Cleveland       3B   Chipper Jones, Atlanta
Alex Rodriguez, Seattle        SS   Edgar Renteria, St. Louis
Darin Erstad, Anaheim          OF   Barry Bonds, San Francisco
Bernie Williams, New York      OF   Sammy Sosa, Chicago
Magglio Ordonez, Chicago       OF   Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal
Jorge Posada, New York          C   Mike Piazza, New York
Pedro Martinez, Boston        RHP   Greg Maddux, Atlanta
David Wells, Toronto          LHP   Tom Glavine, Atlanta

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Pedro Martinez, Boston              Tom Glavine, Atlanta

ROOKIE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mark Quinn, Kansas City             Rafael Furcal, Atlanta

ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Kazuhiro Sasaki, Seattle            Rick Ankiel, St. Louis

FIREMAN OF THE YEAR

Todd Jones, Detroit                 Antonio Alfonseca, Florida

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Frank Thomas, Chicago               Andres Galarraga, Atlanta

TSN will announce its Executive of the Year award at the general managers meetings November 5 in Amelia Island, Fla.