America's pastoral sport.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 20 Nov 2008 3:50:02 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43123/mariners-hire-baseballs-first-asian-american-manager.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDon Wakamatsu is the first Asian-American manager of a major league baseball team, AP reports, hired today by the Seattle Mariners. Wakamatsu, 45, played catcher, mainly in the minors, before coaching stints with Texas and Oakland. The Oregon native—who says he knows just a little Japanese—inherits a Mariners team that lost 101 games last season.http://www.newser.com/story/43123/mariners-hire-baseballs-first-asian-american-manager.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 19 Nov 2008 12:56:28 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43031/bostons-pedroia-wins-american-league-mvp.html?refid=rss_all_defaultBoston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player today, the Globe reports, beating out Minnesota’s Justin Morneau and Red Sox teammate Kevin Youkilis. Pedroia, 25, was the AL’s top rookie last season, and finished 2008 with a league-leading 213 hits, batting .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs. He also won the Gold Glove at his position.http://www.newser.com/story/43031/bostons-pedroia-wins-american-league-mvp.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 18 Nov 2008 13:14:59 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42932/cardinals-pujols-wins-second-nl-mvp-award.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAlbert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award today, the Post-Dispatch reports, taking the honor for the second time despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injury. The first baseman hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBI. Ryan Howard, who led the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBI for the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, took second.http://www.newser.com/story/42932/cardinals-pujols-wins-second-nl-mvp-award.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 17 Nov 2008 15:16:44 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42753/yankees-pitch-sabathia-record-breaking-deal.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Yankees opened free-agent season yesterday by offering CC Sabathia the highest bid in major league history for a pitcher, ESPN reports. The 6-year offer for the southpaw, believed to be in the ballpark of $140 million, tops the $137.5 million deal Johan Santana signed with the Mets last season. The Yankees are also planning offers for righty pitchers AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe.http://www.newser.com/story/42753/yankees-pitch-sabathia-record-breaking-deal.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 14 Nov 2008 21:49:30 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42614/indians-lee-cruises-to-al-cy-young.html?refid=rss_all_defaultLeft-hander Cliff Lee, who had to compete just to get on the Cleveland Indians’ regular-season roster, became the team’s second consecutive American League Cy Young Award winner today, easily outdistancing Toronto’s Roy Halladay, MLB.com reports. Lee led the league with a 22 wins and a 2.54 ERA; he follows CC Sabathia (since traded to Milwaukee) in bringing the hardware to Cleveland.http://www.newser.com/story/42614/indians-lee-cruises-to-al-cy-young.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 13 Nov 2008 13:23:22 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42607/red-sox-freeze-ticket-prices.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTimes are tough, and the Boston Red Sox know it—in a nod to fans, the team froze ticket prices at Fenway yesterday for the first time in 14 years, the Globe reports. At an average $48.80, tickets are still some of baseball's most expensive, but "We do not want to be the ballpark of the rich and famous," says a team exec.http://www.newser.com/story/42607/red-sox-freeze-ticket-prices.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 13 Nov 2008 11:59:58 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42507/cubs-piniella-rays-maddon-voted-top-managers.html?refid=rss_all_defaultLou Piniella and his Tampa Bay successor, Joe Maddon, have been voted baseball’s managers of the year, MLB.com reports. Maddon’s first-ever recognition is no surprise after he led the Rays to their first-ever winning season and the American League pennant. Chicago’s Piniella won the honor—his third, after two with the Seattle Mariners—after leading the Cubs to a National League-best 97 wins.http://www.newser.com/story/42507/cubs-piniella-rays-maddon-voted-top-managers.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 12 Nov 2008 14:36:46 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42388/giants-lincecum-wins-nl-cy-young.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSan Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum won the National League’s Cy Young Award today, the Chronicle reports. The 24-year-old, in his first full season in the big leagues, led the majors in strikeouts with 265, and posted an 18-5 record with a 2.62 ERA. Lincecum got 23 of 32 first-place votes from writers; Arizona’s Brandon Webb was second.http://www.newser.com/story/42388/giants-lincecum-wins-nl-cy-young.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 11 Nov 2008 14:10:18 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42272/cubs-soto-rays-longoria-named-top-rookies.html?refid=rss_all_defaultChicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria were named the rookies of the year today in the National and American leagues, respectively. Soto, 25, was voted an All-Star Game starter and finished the season with a .285 batting average, 23 home runs, and 86 RBI, the Tribune reports. He easily beat out Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto.http://www.newser.com/story/42272/cubs-soto-rays-longoria-named-top-rookies.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 10 Nov 2008 13:40:53 CST