Friedman, Longoria and Maddon earn annual awards

The awards keep on piling in for the Rays. And the best may be yet to come.

Executive VP Andrew Friedman was honored as The Sporting News choice for Executive of the Year on Monday night at the GM meetings in Dana Point, Calif.

Friedman received the award for his role in helping to orchestrate the Rays' remarkable turnaround from worst to the World Series, where they lost in five games to the Phillies. Friedman and the Rays built through strong drafts, including first round picks Evan Longoria and David Price, but also benefited from a bold off-season trade last year that brought SS Jason Bartlett and RHP Matt Garza from the Twins for OF Delmon Young.

Bartlett became the anchor of a much-improved defense, and was tabbed as team MVP by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Garza went on to become the MVP of the ALCS against Boston.

Friedman also made some under-the-radar-pickups that came through, trading for OF Gabe Gross and INF Willy Aybar, each of whom played significant roles at times this season.

The Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards were also announced Tuesday, with Rays manager Joe Maddon tabbed as AL Manager of the Year and 3B Evan Longoria named AL Rookie of the Year.

Each year, the Internet Baseball Awards on baseballprospectus.com allows fans to vote on the postseason awards; thousands voted this year.

Coming next week, Longoria and Maddon are strong candidates to claim two of baseball's top awards, with the AL Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year set to be announced.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

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Comments

The problem with football is it isn't everyday. A game and then a week (two weeks this week) of would have, should have, and could have just isn't the same as going out the next day for another game. Major downtime each week after the summer of following each game of a great baseball team.

Football players need to man up and play everyday...(kidding...I know it's a different sport and impossible to do that)

Congrats to Friedman, Maddon, Longo, and Carlos...GO RAYS!

[Helene]

Me too Dave. The USF Bulls are in the throes of Midseason Choke Part Deux, so no fun for me there. Last week's Bucs game was entertaining, but I can't see a team that threatened to get embarassed by the craptastic Chiefs going deep into the playoffs (if they make it there at all.)

Oh yeah. Congrats to Friedman, Maddon and Longo!

[Dave]

Bored to tears without baseball.

[Einhard]

Think it over, Carl. Kazmir is a supremely talented young pitcher with a good contract who has had significant success for 3 years and who, despite some obvious problems this year, was still better than most AL pitchers in 2008.

By your logic, the Rays should have dealt Howell after 3 years with ERAs of 6.19, 5.10 & 7.59. And Navarro after a 2007 season that ended with a line of .227/.286/.356. And Upton who ended his 2006 campaign with a line of .246/.302/.291 line and 1 home run as well as a totally futile effort to play shortstop.

The difference, of course, is that Kazmir is almost certainly more talented than Howell and Navarro with a chance to be a true ace. And that despite his struggles with pitch counts and control this year, he still had a better year than Upton did in 2006. And of course seeking to trade him now would be doing so at the nadir of his value even though he will still be just 25 in 2009.

There is nothing in Kazmir's history or performance that suggests he cannot fix his problems, and you might note he still struck out better than a man an inning. Patience please.

[Gene]

I want to know what Hickey is doing with Kaz, Price and the rest of the staff in the off season to either iron out the problems they had or, in Price's case, prepare him to be a starter next year. They can take the rest of this week off, and they better get back to work!

[Mike S.]

Ho, hum... what to do without the Rays playing. I sure hope next season is as exciting as the last.
Trade Kazmir? Not too sure about that, there had to be something wrong with him.

[Carl]

Just trade Kazmir to someone and get a decent pitcher....

[todd]

Umm.....congrats to Evan,Joe and Andrew.
Next year I would be happy if no one wins any 'awards' per se. It's going to be a tough battle in the AL East so all I want is for the Rays to hit, pitch and field the ball just as well as they did this past season. Awards are great but it's a team sport.

[Scooter]

Merlot Joe!!

[Amanda]

"David won't be a rookie next year"?! Lord, thank goodness baseball doesn't actually work like that!

[Martha]

Joe is also Winemaster of the Year, too.

[Tom]

Shane,
Ummm... yes he will, was brought up late allowing him to be able for rookie of the year honors in 2009, its a very common practice.

[Gene]

Yes,Price is considered a rookie in '09.

[Mike Creyton]

Umm Shane. Yes David Price will be a Rookie next year. He did not pitch enough innings in September to lose his rookie status for 2009. So he will be eligible for 2009 ROY.

[Ron]

David will be a rookie next year. He did not have enough innings pitched in 2008 for this to be considered his rookie year

[david]

umm Shane, David Price will be a rookie next year. learn how baseball works...

[shane]

umm pete david won't be a rookie next year

[Pete]

Good for them! I truly believe that the Rays will be hungry and competitive next year. David Price for Rookie of the Year in 2009!

[Neal]

Joe the Manager!

[Dan]

2009 9=1