Young talent saluted
NEW YORK — Even with a broken hand, Dustin Pedroia kept a firm grip on the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
The little Boston second baseman with the big swing won in a runaway Monday, while Ryan Braun barely edged Troy Tulowitzki for the NL honor.
Generously listed at 5-foot-9 and playing far over his head, Pedroia's all-out style made him popular at Fenway Park. Plus, few knew he had a broken left hand while helping the Red Sox win the World Series.
"Everyone doubted me at every level I've been to, saying I'm too small, I'm not fast enough, my arm's not strong enough," Pedroia said. "There's a lot of people that have stuck by me and knew deep down in, that there's something about me that makes me a winning baseball player."
Pedroia hit .317 with eight home runs and 50 RBI. He got 24 of the 28 first-place votes to outdistance Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Braun's brawn earned him the NL Award. The slugging third baseman from Milwaukee finished two points ahead of Tulowitzki, Colorado's sparkplug shortstop.Braun said he had trouble sleeping Sunday night, then woke up early at his condo in Santa Monica, Calif., and went for a jog to ease his "nervous energy.""I had no idea what the vote would be based on," he said. "I knew that it would be a close vote."Braun received 17 of 32 first-place votes and finished with 128 points. Tulowitzki got 15 first-place votes and 126 points. Ballots were completed by the end of the regular season, before Pedroia and Tulowitzki met in the World Series."To show you how good Ryan was, in any other year Troy Tulowitzki would have won hands down," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.The AL Cy Young Award will be announced today. Boston's Josh Beckett and Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia are considered favorites.Called up from Triple-A in late May, Braun hit .324 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. The Brewers led the majors in homers this season and stayed in contention for the NL Central championship until the final week.
Braun's .634 slugging percentage led NL players and was the highest by a rookie in major league history. He did not have enough plate appearances, however, to qualify for the title.
