Tampa Bay's Maddon wins AL manager honors; Guillen 5th

Posted November 11, 2008 10:00 pm

Associated Press

NEW YORK - Joe Maddon early won the American League Manager of the Year after guiding the Tampa Bay Rays from baseball's basement to the World Series.

Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs won the National League honor.

Maddon succeeded Piniella as Tampa Bay manager in 2006. In balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Maddon received all but one of the 28 first-place votes - the other went to Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire.

In all, Maddon's votes accounted for 138 points, followed by Gardenhire with 58 points and Mike Sciosia of the Los Angeles Angles with 45 points.

Ozzie Guillen of the White Sox, who won the award in 2005, finished fifth overall with 3 third-place votes and 6 points.

Piniella led the NL Central champion Cubs to the league's best record and beat out Charlie Manuel of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies to earn his third Manager of the Year award and first in the NL.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon beat the White Sox on his way to winning the American League crown. Maddon also picked up the AL Manager of the Year honors on Wednesday. Rick West | Staff Photographer