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Brewers face stiff awards competition

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By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

11/11/09 3:10 PM EST

MILWAUKEE -- It's awards season in Major League Baseball. Will any Brewers walk the red carpet?

The announcement of American League Gold Glove Award winners on Tuesday begins a two-week run of honors that culminates Nov. 24 with the National League MVP. Here's a rundown, and where the Brewers might fit:

Tuesday, Nov. 10, AL Gold Gloves

Wednesday, Nov. 11, NL Gold Gloves

The Brewers haven't had a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner since Robin Yount won as a shortstop in 1982, and left fielder Ryan Braun figures to win a few before his career is over. But when the list was announced Wednesday, no Brewers were honored.

Thursday, Nov. 12, Silver Sluggers
The award, given to a player at each position in each league, was first presented in 1980 and is determined by a vote of baseball's managers and coaches. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. CT on MLB Network.

Prince Fielder was the most recent Brewers player to win a Silver Slugger Award, taking one home for his 50-homer season in 2007. Fielder put together an even better year in 2009, batting a career-best .299 with 46 home runs and 141 RBIs while playing all 162 games. He tied Philadelphia's Ryan Howard for the NL RBI crown, but Howard is also a first baseman and will draw notice. So will Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who led baseball with 47 homers and a 1.101 OPS.

Braun probably has a better chance to win among NL left fielders. He ranked second to Marlins rookie Chris Coghlan with a .320 batting average, second to the Phillies' Raul Ibanez with 32 homers and a .551 slugging percentage and led NL left fielders with 114 RBIs.

Monday, Nov. 16, Rookie of the Year
Both the AL winner and the NL winner will be announced this day, at 1 p.m. CT. The Brewers pushed hard for third baseman Casey McGehee, who emerged from the waiver wire to be a major contributor in 2009. McGehee started only one of the Brewers' first 38 games, but he finished with a .301 average, 16 home runs and 66 RBIs in 116 games. He led all Major League rookies in RBIs, including 27 over the final 31 games.

Unfortunately for McGehee, the NL had a number of impressive rookies in 2009. Florida's Coghlan, Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen or utility man Garrett Jones, Philadelphia pitcher J.A. Happ and Atlanta pitcher Tommy Hanson are among them.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, AL Cy Young Award

Wednesday, Nov. 18, Manager of the Year
Like the rookie honor, a manager from each league will be honored at 1 p.m. CT. Brewers skipper Ken Macha probably isn't a candidate after his team went 80-82 and finished third in the NL Central.

Thursday, Nov. 19, NL Cy Young Award
Pitchers from non-playoff teams who tied for the worst starters' ERA in baseball don't win Cy Youngs, so Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo is out. He did have a nice bounce-back year after missing most of 2008 with a knee injury, becoming the fourth Brewers pitcher to cross the 200-strikeout plateau. Catcher Jason Kendall predicted that Gallardo will win multiple Cy Young Awards before his career is over.

Monday, Nov. 23, AL MVP

Tuesday, Nov. 24, NL MVP
Minus Pujols' season for the ages, Fielder would be a strong candidate to be the Brewers' first league MVP since Yount in 1989. But with Pujols considered the clear front-runner for the award, Fielder may have to settle for a runner-up finish. Fielder finished third in MVP balloting in 2007. Braun, who finished third in MVP balloting in '08, will once again place in '09.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.