AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay: There is no shortage of quality candidates, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Joba Chamberlain, David Murphy, Nick Blackburn, Armando Galarraga and Greg Smith. But nobody has had a bigger impact on his team’s improved fortunes than Longoria since his April 12th recall.

Longoria leads the majors’ surprise team in homers, RBI, slugging percentage, doubles and total bases. But that might not even be his biggest area of contribution, as his defense already is drawing raves as Gold Glove-caliber.

NL Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto, Chicago. If the NL is ever going to narrow the current talent gap that leads to the heavily tilted interleague results, it’s going to come through talent influxes such as the one taking place this season. Everywhere you look — but especially in Chicago and Cincinnati — there is big-time first-year talent on display.

Soto’s All-Star Game start is the result of the Cubs’ popularity, but that shouldn’t take away from his first-half accomplishments. He leads in six offensive categories in a rookie class that also includes Kosuke Fukudome, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, John Bowker, Blake Dewitt, Edgar Gonzalez, Chase Headley and Gregor Blanco. Meanwhile, Jair Jurrjens is in the top three among rookie pitchers in seven pitching categories, dueling Johnny Cueto in most of them.

AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay. Most everybody forecasted solid improvement for the Rays, a team filled with on-the-rise young talent. But what’s taken place in the first half has been beyond even Maddon’s expectations. Name an area — starting pitching, bullpen, speed, defense — and the Rays are vastly improved from a year ago.

You can makes cases for others to get consideration — Dave Trembley, Ozzie Guillen, Ron Gardenhire and Bob Geren — but Maddon could be a unanimous choice if the Rays make the playoffs.

NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella, Chicago: Things have fallen into place very nicely for the Cubs, and you can point to Piniella’s key spring decisions as a big reason why. The closer controversy was squelched early, and Ryan Dempster has been a revelation in the rotation. Piniella’s calmer demeanor also has set the right tone for a team with long-standing issues.

Tony La Russa has done a masterful job keeping the Cardinals in contention despite several pitching injuries, and if they reach the playoffs, La Russa could be the right choice here. Fredi Gonzalez is keeping the Marlins close, but can that last?

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