Lou Piniella wins the National League Manager of the Year award after leading the Cubs to the postseason for the second consecutive season. The fiery skipper also won the AL honor in 1995 and 2001 while managing in Seattle.

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Lou Piniella wins the National League Manager of the Year award after leading the Cubs to the postseason for the second consecutive season. The fiery skipper also won the AL honor in 1995 and 2001 while managing in Seattle.

Joe Maddon, receiving 27 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, easily wins the American League Manager of the Year award. The Rays skipper, who succeeded Lou Piniella in 2006, this year’s NL’s choice for the honor, led Tampa Bay to a pennant after the team posted the worst record (66-96) in baseball last season.

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Joe Maddon, receiving 27 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, easily wins the American League Manager of the Year award. The Rays skipper, who succeeded Lou Piniella in 2006, this year’s NL’s choice for the honor, led Tampa Bay to a pennant after the team posted the worst record (66-96) in baseball last season.

Tim Lincecum wins the 2008 National League Cy Young Award in his first full season in the majors. Lincecum led the league in strikeouts and was second in both wins and ERA. Brandon Webb finishes second for the second consecutive season. The NL Western Division has now produced 8 of the last 10 NL Cy Young Award winners.

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Tim Lincecum wins the 2008 National League Cy Young Award in his first full season in the majors. Lincecum led the league in strikeouts and was second in both wins and ERA. Brandon Webb finishes second for the second consecutive season. The NL Western Division has now produced 8 of the last 10 NL Cy Young Award winners.

The Nationals pick up outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen from the Marlins for prospect Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean.

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The Nationals pick up outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen from the Marlins for prospect Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean.

The Nationals, which posted baseball’s worst record last season, begin revamping their team, sending second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers to the Marlins in exchange for right-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham. The trade gives Washington much-needed starting pitching and adds a left-fielder to an outfield corps which consists of Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, and Austin Kearns.

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The Nationals, which posted baseball’s worst record last season, begin revamping their team, sending second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers to the Marlins in exchange for right-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham. The trade gives Washington much-needed starting pitching and adds a left-fielder to an outfield corps which consists of Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, and Austin Kearns.

Evan Longoria (.272, 27, 85), the unanimous choice of the BBWAA, wins the American League Rookie of the Year award. The Rays’ slugging third baseman becomes the first player in franchise history to win a major postseason award.

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Evan Longoria (.272, 27, 85), the unanimous choice of the BBWAA, wins the American League Rookie of the Year award. The Rays’ slugging third baseman becomes the first player in franchise history to win a major postseason award.

Cubs’ freshman Geovany Soto (.285, 23, 86), garnering 31 of 32 first-place votes, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 25 year-old catcher becomes the first backstop to be selected since Mike Piazza won the freshman honor while playing for the Dodgers in 1993.

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Cubs’ freshman Geovany Soto (.285, 23, 86), garnering 31 of 32 first-place votes, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 25 year-old catcher becomes the first backstop to be selected since Mike Piazza won the freshman honor while playing for the Dodgers in 1993.

Participants in a team-sponsored high school program aimed at helping Bronx youths pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction, along with a few players, remove rain-soaked dirt from the former Yankee Stadium and bring it across the street to the site of the team’s new $1.3 billion field. The soil is mixed with the new stadium’s dirt around home plate and pitcher’s rubber, which were also removed during the ceremony from the ‘House that Ruth Built’.

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Participants in a team-sponsored high school program aimed at helping Bronx youths pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction, along with a few players, remove rain-soaked dirt from the former Yankee Stadium and bring it across the street to the site of the team’s new $1.3 billion field. The soil is mixed with the new stadium’s dirt around home plate and pitcher’s rubber, which were also removed during the ceremony from the ‘House that Ruth Built’.

Barack Obama, a long-time White Sox fan, is elected as the 44th president of the United States. The junior senator from Illinois, the first African-American to become the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, is friendly with the team’s general manager Kenny Williams, also a prominent member of Chicago’s black community.

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Barack Obama, a long-time White Sox fan, is elected as the 44th president of the United States. The junior senator from Illinois, the first African-American to become the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, is friendly with the team’s general manager Kenny Williams, also a prominent member of Chicago’s black community.

The Brewers exercise their $10 million option on Mike Cameron (.243, 25, 70). The 35 year-old three-time Gold Glove outfielder committed only one error in 119 starts for the Brew Crew last season.

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The Brewers exercise their $10 million option on Mike Cameron (.243, 25, 70). The 35 year-old three-time Gold Glove outfielder committed only one error in 119 starts for the Brew Crew last season.