Sporting News names Mike Scioscia, Jim Tracy AL, NL managers of the year

Mike Scioscia's steady leadership helped the Angels' players overcome the death of a teammate.

The Los Angeles Angels' Mike Scioscia and the Colorado Rockies' Jim Tracy are Sporting News' 2009 managers of the year, as selected by a panel of 22 major league managers.
 
Scioscia's Angels went 97-65 and won their fifth AL West title in the past six seasons. They advanced to the ALCS for the third time since 2002.
 
"Mike wants you to play loose. He lets you be you. He stays on top of everything that's going on," Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu(notes) told Sporting News. "After the Nick Adenhart(notes) tragedy, it was very tough for us. Mike understood that and didn't talk a lot about our play for about two weeks. Then he said, 'We are going through a horrible time, but we have to go out and play the game. So let's enjoy playing and get back to our normal game.' He not only kept us together but he helped bring us closer together as a team." 

The Rockies responded to the straight-shooting Jim Tracy and made the playoffs.

Tracy took over for the fired Clint Hurdle on May 29 and led the Rockies to a 74-42 finish and the NL wild card.
 
"When he took over the job, we had a meeting and he told us, 'Here is what I expect, and if I don't get this, there are going to be changes and I will find people.' Then we lost our first three games in Houston, and he came in that next day and said, 'Guys, I want to just let you guys play the game. But if you all force me to come out here, I'm going to come out here,'" Rockies closer Huston Street(notes) told SN. "He let us know full well what he thought and wasn't shy about naming names. But he did it in such a classy manner. It could have been a catastrophe, but the way he stuck to his word, he earned that trust and respect."
 
Sporting News will unveil its award winners throughout the week on sportingnews.com. On Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ(notes) and Chicago White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham(notes) were named SN's 2009 rookies of the year. On Wednesday, Kansas City Royals right-hander Zack Greinke(notes) and San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum(notes) were named pitchers of the year. The upcoming schedule:

• Thursday morning: Player of the year, all-star teams 

• Friday morning: Comeback players of the year, relievers of the year
 
SN's entire 3-page awards package can be found in the new issue of the magazine, which arrives later this week at all Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

Chris Bahr is Sporting News' baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.

More from Sporting News: Girardi too smart for his own good in Game 3