AL Rookie of the Year
1) Huston Street, Oakland: It’s no coincidence that the A’s posted the best record in the league once he became the closer. The numbers are very impressive: 5-1, 1.72 ERA, 53 hits and 72 strikeouts in 78.1 innings, .194 opponents’ batting average, 23 saves. 2) Tadahito Iguchi, Chicago: He was an invaluable part of the White Sox’s great season, especially with his situational hitting and occasional power in the No. 2 spot behind Scott Podsednik. Don’t be surprised if he moves down in the order and his home-run total rises next season. 3) Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay. You can flip a coin among Kazmir, Oakland’s Joe Blanton, Toronto’s Gustavo Chacin and Texas’ Chris Young. But Kazmir’s numbers came under more-trying circumstances.

NL Rookie of the Year
1) Ryan Howard, Philadelphia: His 22 homers and 63 RBI in 88 games project to 40 and 116 over a full season -- to go with a .288 batting average. That’s more than enough, especially considering the fact that he replaced Jim Thome in the midst of a wildcard race. 2) Willy Taveras, Houston: Yes, you can make the argument that he did it over a full season. But 70 infield hits don’t add up to Howard’s monumental blasts hit in key games down the stretch. 3) Garrett Atkins, Colorado: A .287 average, 89 RBI and 31 doubles have more meaning now that Coors Field is playing bit more fairly due to balls being stored in a humidor. Jeff Francouer’s 70-game totals are impressive, but not quite enough.

AL Manager of the Year
1) Ozzie Guillen, Chicago: He’s colorful. He’s controversial. He speaks his mind. But you know what? He can manage, too. He set the emotional tone for his team, and successfully remade it in his image and style of play. 2: Eric Wedge, Cleveland: He would be the winner if his team had been able to hang on and grab a playoff spot. But a final-week collapse leaves him as the runner-up. 3. Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles. You can’t give this guy enough credit for the quality program he has put together. His team won a division title by a comfortable margin, and did it with about half the payroll of the Yankees, so he gets the edge over Joe Torre.

NL Manager of the Year
1) Bobby Cox, Atlanta: As we’ve said before in this column, only the regular season counts in the balloting. That makes this one a no-brainer, as he was forced to break in more rookies than the record number of consecutive division titles his team has strung together. 2) Phil Garner, Houston: He didn’t let his team quit despite the deep hole it had dug through the first month and a half. The patience he showed with the Astros’ young regulars was rewarded with a second consecutive playoff appearance. 3) Ned Yost, Milwaukee: A Cox protégé, he has learned his lessons well. His team improved by 14 games and three spots in the standings, and he’s as big a reason why as all their young talent.

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