NewsLongoria adds Gold, Silver to mantel
Niemann's fourth place in ROY voting also highlight for 2009
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
11/20/09 11:30 PM EST
ST. PETERSBURG -- Despite finishing out of the money in 2009, the Rays have added to their fledgling list of postseason award winners.
Evan Longoria won his first Gold Glove in 2009 to become the second player in team history to win the award. First baseman Carlos Pena became the first Rays player to win a Gold Glove when he did so in 2008.
Nationwide, many know Longoria just for his explosive bat, which has led him to two All-Star Game appearances and American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2008. But those who watch Longoria daily know that the 24-year-old is the complete package, which includes an above-average glove.
Longoria had the second-best fielding percentage among AL third basemen with a .970 mark, trailing Baltimore's Melvin Mora's .971. His 43 double plays led all Major League third basemen, and his 302 assists ranked second in the AL. He became the first player in club history to start more than 120 games in a season at third base. The Rays had used 34 starters there before his arrival in 2008.
Longoria was also recognized for his bat in 2009 when he won the organization's first Silver Slugger Award. Silver Slugger Awards are given annually to the best offensive player at each position in both leagues based on several different offensive categories and voted on by the coaches and managers.
In his second Major League season, Longoria never came close to experiencing the sophomore jinx as he hit .281 with 33 home runs and 113 RBIs.
The season saw him sprint from the starting blocks to a torrid beginning. Longoria hit .369 during April, with six homers and 24 RBIs -- which tied him for the league lead and equaled the Tampa Bay record for the month. His dominating month also included Major League-highs for doubles (11), extra-base hits (17) and total bases (60).
The Rays had a viable candidate to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in the form of Jeff Niemann following his stellar 2009 season. But Niemann finished fourth in the voting behind Andrew Bailey of the A's, Elvis Andrus of the Rangers and Rick Porcello of the Tigers.
Niemann, 26, went 13-6 with a 3.94 ERA in 31 games during his rookie campaign. His winning percentage of .684 was the second highest winning percentage for a rookie since 1969; CC Sabathia had a .773 winning percentage in 2001.
In 2009, the AL Manager of the Year Award went to the Angels' Mike Scioscia, a former compatriot of Rays manager Joe Maddon. In '08, Maddon won the award following the Rays' magical run, one that saw them go from the cellar to winners of the AL East and AL pennant.
| National Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL ROY | Rawlings Gold Glove | AL Manager of Year | |||
| Evan Longoria | 2008 | Carlos Pena | 2008 | Joe Maddon | 2008 |
| Evan Longoria | 2009 | ||||
| Silver Slugger | Comeback Player | ALCS MVP | |||
| Evan Longoria | 2009 | Matt Garza | 2008 | Carlos Pena | 2007 |
| Local Awards | |||||
| Paul C. Smith Champion | Most Valuable Rays | Outstanding Rookie | |||
| John Flaherty | 1998, '99, 2002 | Quinton McCracken | 1998 | Rolando Arrojo | 1998 |
| Greg Vaughn | 2000 | Roberto Hernandez | 1999 | Ryan Rupe | 1999 |
| Russ Johnson | 2001 | Gerald Williams | 2000 | Steve Cox | 2000 |
| Al Martin | 2003 | Tanyon Sturtze | 2001 | Joe Kennedy | 2001 |
| Tino Martinez | 2004 | Randy Winn | 2002 | Carl Crawford | 2002 |
| Toby Hall | 2005 | Aubrey Huff | 2003 | Rocco Baldelli | 2003 |
| Carl Crawford | 2006 | Carl Crawford | 2004, '06 | Jorge Cantu | 2004 |
| Carlos Pena | 2007, '09 | Jorge Cantu | 2005 | Jonny Gomes | 2005 |
| Cliff Floyd | 2008 | Carlos Pena | 2007 | James Shields | 2006 |
| Jason Bartlett | 2008 | Delmon Young | 2007 | ||
| Ben Zobrist | 2009 | Evan Longoria | 2008 | ||
| Jeff Niemann | 2009 | ||||
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
