Jim Tracy Wins Award, Gets New Contract

When Jim Tracy took over the Colorado Rockies, anyone who even suggested the team could make the playoffs would have been laughed at. The Rockies were 18-28 and looked like one of the worst teams in the league. But with Tracy at the reins, Colorado went 74-42 to finish the season and make the playoffs in the National League.

As a result, Tracy was awarded the 2009 National League Manager of the Year award. He received 29 first place votes, with Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals finishing second with two first place votes.

To reward Tracy for a job well done, the Rockies announced a few hours after the Manager of the Year award that Tracy and the team had agreed on a new three-year contract. Tracy will now have a chance to build off the great play of the 2009 season.

Over in the American League, Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels won the American League Manager of the Year award. He got 15 first place votes, while Ron Gardenhire of the Minnesota Twins got six and Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees got four.

Scioscia led the Angels to the playoffs even though the team dealt with a number of injuries in addition to the death of starting pitcher Nick Adenhart early in the season.

Jim Tracy - Colorado Rockies (Image: Zuma Press)