MLB

• BBWAA set to name top rookies

  
  

  (Sports Network) - The Baseball Writers' Association of America will hand out their first two postseason awards on Monday, as the American and National League Rookies of the Year will be announced.

  The awards don't figure to be landslide victories as they were a year ago when Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria was a unanimous choice in the AL and Chicago's Geovany Soto placed first on 31 of the 32 NL ballots.

  In the American League Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus and Chicago infielder Gordon Beckham figure to be the favorites, while Detroit righty Rick Porcello should also get some votes.

  Andrus, trying to become the first Ranger to win this award since Mike Hargrove in 1974, hit .267 with 72 runs scored, 17 doubles, eight triples, six home runs and 33 stolen bases in 145 games and 480 at-bats.

  Beckham, meanwhile, didn't make his 2009 season debut until June 4, but finished the campaign with 14 homers, 63 runs batted in and a .270 batting average in 103 games. He played primarily at third base for the White Sox this season, but his future is at second, where he will play next season from day one.

  Should Beckham win this award, he would become the first White Sox player to do so since his current skipper Ozzie Guillen in 1985.

  Beckham, who led all AL rookies in RBI and doubles and was second in home runs, was already named the AL Rookie of the Year by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

  Porcello, though, can make a strong case for his candidacy as well, as the 20- year-old hurler went 14-9 with 3.96 ERA, pitching big game after big game for the Tigers down the stretch.

  Other players who will nab some votes include Oakland closer Andrew Bailey (26 saves, 1.84 ERA), Jeff Niemann (13-6, 3.94) of the Rays and Ricky Romero (13-9, 4.30) of the Blue Jays.

  The National League is a little less congested, as the award should go to either Philadelphia lefty J.A. Happ or Atlanta right-hander Tommy Hanson.

  Happ started the 2009 season in the Phillies' bullpen and joined the starting rotation in late May. He finished the year with a record of 12-4 and a 2.93 earned run average for the National League champions. The 27-year-old lefty struck out 119 batters in 166 innings and posted a pair of shutouts, while pitching to a major league best 1.99 ERA on the road.

  Happ, who like Beckham, was rewarded with the MLBPA's Rookie of the Year Award, will be trying to become the first Phillie to win the award since Ryan Howard in 2005.

  Hanson finished 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 21 starts for the Braves and struck out 116 batters in 127 2/3 innings. The Braves, two games under .500 when he was called up, finished with 86 wins at season's end.

  Also expected to get some votes will be Florida outfielder Chris Coughlan, whose 47 hits during August were the most by an NL rookie since Wally Moon had 52 hits in a month with the Cardinals in 1954. He also led all rookies in several categories, such as batting average, on-base percentage, hits and runs.

  The BBWAA will hand out the American League Cy Young Award on Tuesday.

  11/16 02:29:13 ET