Andrus edged in rookie award balloting

ARLINGTON -- Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went into the offseason with a chance to win two major national awards.

He ended up going 0-for-2 when he finished second to Athletics reliever Andrew Bailey for American League Rookie of the Year in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Monday.

Andrus is the first Rangers player to finish as high as second in the voting since first baseman Mike Hargrove won the award in 1974. Bailey received 13 out of 28 first-place votes and 88 total points. Andrus received eight first-place votes and 65 total points. Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello received seven first-place votes and 64 total points to finish in third place just behind Andrus.

"I don't feel disappointed," Andrus said Monday. "It was a close race. Andrew Bailey is a great player and he had a great season. I'm sad they gave it to him, but I still had a great season. I know I have a lot to do to get ready for next year."

Andrus also missed out on winning the AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which was announced last week. That was won by Derek Jeter of the Yankees.

"I knew Jeter would win for sure," Andrus said. "He made like [eight] errors. He's Derek Jeter. He's my idol. If I don't win a Gold Glove, I want Derek Jeter to win the Gold Glove. I'm not mad about that. He's one of my idols."

Andrus, who was the Rangers Opening Day shortstop at age 20, hit .267 with 72 runs scored, 17 doubles, eight triples, six home runs and 33 stolen bases in 145 games and 480 at-bats. Defensively Andrus was second in the league among shortstops in range factor with 5.02 chances per nine innings and was tied for third in double plays.

But that didn't impress enough voters as much as Bailey going 6-3 with a 1.84 ERA and 26 saves. He was a member of the American League All-Star team before going on to become the Athletics' eighth Rookie of the Year winner.

Bailey and Andrus are quite familiar with each other. Andrus had seven at-bats against Bailey, the most of any opponent. He was 0-for-7 against him.

"I wanted to win the award," Andrus said. "Since I was 16, I had that in my mind as a challenge and this year I wanted to be Rookie of the Year. I didn't win the award, but that doesn't mean I can't get better. It just makes me work harder for next year, not for numbers or awards but to help my team get into the playoffs."

Andrus has been resting since the end of the season, but is expecting to play Winter Ball in Venezuela, beginning next week. He is hoping to play for about a month and shut it down right before Christmas.

"I talked to [general manager] Jon Daniels and [manager] Ron Washington and they wanted me to rest," Andrus said. "They knew I played a lot last year and they wanted me to rest my body for next year. But I do want to play for a month because I know that league helped me last year."

A year of Major League experience should also help.

"I think the best thing for me was just getting around the league," Andrus said. "I really didn't know what was going on or what to do so it was a big step forward. My teammates and Ron Washington helped me get comfortable."

Third baseman Michael Young and infielder Omar Vizquel were a big help, Andrus said. Young will be back in 2010 but it appears that Vizquel, who just finished his 21st season in the Majors, will leave as a free agent and not return to the Rangers.

"I was praying for the Rangers to take him back," Andrus said. "I learned a lot of things from Omar. He taught me at the best time. If you're going to have somebody like that, the best time for a guy is in his first year. I really needed to learn.

"Omar was very special and I learned a lot. I'm not going to forget it either."

Andrus has won one award this season. He was the Rangers Rookie of the Year in voting by the local chapter of the BBWAA. Scott Feldman was voted upon as the Pitcher of the Year while the club's Player of the Year as well as Harold McKinney Good Guy winner, have yet to be announced.

The only other award within reach of the Rangers was American League Manager of the Year. Washington finished fifth in the voting after the Rangers finished 87-75 and in second place in the AL West.