Major League Baseball announces the World Champion Red Sox will take on the A’s in the 2008 season opener on March 25 at the Tokyo Dome. The Opening Day game will mark the third time the regular major league season has started in Japan.
Eric Wedge becomes the first Indians skipper to be selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America as the American League Manager of the Year. The 39 year-old skipper led the Tribe to the AL Central title, compiling a 96-66 record during the regular season.
Bob Melvin is named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The Diamondbacks skipper, who led the club to a league-best 90 victories, also was selected by his fellow managers for the same honor in The Sporting News poll.
Given their postseason match-ups of the CYA candidates, many baseball observers are surprised when CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21) beats out Red Sox ace Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27) for the American League Cy Young Award. In the ALCS, the 27 year-old Indian southpaw faced Beckett twice and lost each time, but voting takes place at the end of the regular season.
Dustin Pedroia (.317, 8, 50) becomes the sixth Red Sox player and the first to win the American League Rookie of the Year since Nomar Garciaparra’s selection in 1997. The 5’9″ second baseman, who was listed first on 24 of the 28 BBWAA ballots, easily outdistances Rays outfielder Delmon Young (.288, 13, 93).
In the closest election since 1980 when the current voting method was initiated (5 points for 1st, 3 points for second, and 1 point for third), the Baseball Writers’ Association of America selects Ryan Braun as the National League Rookie of the Year. The Brewers’ third baseman, by a margin of just two points, edges Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who was listed first on more than half of the BBWAA ballots.
The New York Yankees re-sign catcher Jorge Posada for $52.4 million over four years. This makes Posada the highest-paid catcher in major league history, edging out Mike Piazza’s $13 million average from 1999-2005.
In front of 7,000 fans at Straub Park, Tampa Bay announces the team is changing its name from the Devil Rays to the Rays, revealing uniforms featuring the colors of Columbia blue, Navy blue, and gold with a yellow sunburst logo, that will replace the 11 year-old franchise’s original hues of green and blue and its insignia of a cartilaginous fish. Other options considered for names included the ‘Aces,’ ‘Bandits,’ ‘Cannons,’ ‘Dukes,’ ‘Stripes,’ and the ‘Nine,’ the personal favorite of team owner Stuart Sternberg.
2007 – Ed Wade strikes a deal with Philadelphia, his former employer. Houston deals closer Brad Lidge and utilityman Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies for outfielder Michael Bourn, reliever Geoff Geary and minor leaguer Mike Costanzo. Bourn spent three years at the University of Houston before signing with the Phils. Costanzo is dealt to Baltimore later that winter.
Greg Maddux, breaking a tie with former Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson and veteran hurler Jim Kaat for the most Gold Gloves in a career, wins his 17th, an honor bestowed by managers and coaches in each league for fielding excellence at the player’s given position. The 41 year-old future Hall of Famer, now with the Padres, has been selected every year as the top fielding pitcher in the National League since 1990, except for 2003, when Mike Hampton of the Braves won the honor.
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