Chip Caray: American League Award Winners

Big news out of Atlanta this week.   Twenty-one years and counting for Braves skipper Bobby Cox.  He agreed Wednesday to return to the Atlanta Braves dugout for what is billed as his last season as manager. 
Cox, the longest-tenured manager in Braves history, has won 2,408 games as manager, including 2,053 with the Braves.  14 Division titles, 5 NL Pennants, and 1 World Series with Atlanta are his legacies with the Braves.  With a drastically improved pitching staff, and an offense that could feature baseball's top minor league prospect Jason Heyward next year, the Braves look to be a good bet to return to Postseason play next year for the first time since 2005.

I promised you my American League award winners last week, and I am a man of my word.  Sometimes too many words, so I will be brief this week.  Here goes:

AL Manager:  Mike Scioscia.  Forget managing the games.  Leading the Halos through the grief over the unspeakably tragic death of Nick Adenhart wins the award.  Scioscia allowed his team the time to grieve together, grow together, and move on together.  They have done so with class and dignity, traits that for me, far supersedes mere wins and losses.

AL MVP:  The Captain, Derek Jeter.  He quite simply is the heart and soul of the Yankees.  Again, in an era where what players "don't do" is pointed out more than their successes, Jeter shines.  He's in the top 4 in the AL in batting, hits, runs, and multi-hit games.  He leads off, has an on-base percentage of .399.  By the way, passing Lou Gehrig this year on the all-time Yankee hit list doesn't hurt either.  A tough race, with honorable mentions to Mark Teixiera, Mariano Rivera, Joe Mauer (missing a month hurts), and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera.

AL Cy Young:  Easy.  Zach Greinke.  15 wins and a 2.04 ERA for the Royals.  The only choice harder than this is Arthur Bryant's or Gates BBQ after a Sunday Game at Kauffman Stadium. 

AL Rookie:  3-way tie between Gordon Beckham, Nolan Reimold, and Elvis Andrus.
Three terrific young players who have made great impacts on their teams.  Beckham is a converted SS playing 3B in Chicago and leads the AL rookie class in extra base hits, doubles, and RBI.  Reimold is 3rd in average, 1st in HR, walks, and on base percentage, 2nd in hits, RBI, and assists.  Andrus is a superstar shortstop who really knows how to play, and is learning at the right hand of Omar Vizquel in Texas.  He leads in runs scored, hits, and total bases, and I really like the idea of another Elvis winning an award.  So there.

Love, by the way the new Porcupine Tree CD "The Incident."   It rocks.  Great melody, awesome lyrics, superb stuff.  Love the guitar work...it's very thoughtful music.  Not a grand slam, but a sure 3-run HR from your erstwhile music critic.

National League highlights next week.  See you in New York for Yankees/Red Sox tonight at 7:00pm ET on TBS

Chip Caray is the lead play-by-play announcer for TBS' coverage of Major League Baseball.