October 8, 1996

Hentgen named Sporting News pitcher of the year

SAN DIEGO (AP-CP) -- Blue Jays pitcher Pat Hentgen added to his resume when The Sporting News named the right-hander the American League's pitcher of the year.

"It's an honor, that's for sure," said Hentgen. "It's nice to know my efforts are being acknowledged in light of all the publicity Andy and his 21 victories received this year. Frankly I'd trade in these personal honors to be in the playoffs like him."

Hentgen, a 20-game winner, was among the leaders in all major pitching categories. Hentgen is also in the running for the Cy Young Award. His major competitor is Yankees ace Andy Pettitte. Baseball will hand out its own awards, including the Cy Young, following the World Series.

Hentgen was 20-10 with a 3.22 earned-run average, second in the league. He also completed a league-high 10 games and tied the league high with three shutouts.

Texas general manager Doug Melvin, the native of Chatham, Ont., who was the architect behind the first division title in Texas Rangers history, was named major league executive of the year. Johnny Oates was the publication's pick for AL manager of the year. The Rangers went 90-72 and led the AL West for all but four days this season. They beat New York in the opener of the playoff series, then were eliminated Saturday after blowing leads in three straight games. Melvin became a GM for the first time in October 1994. His first move was to fire manager Kevin Kennedy and replace him with Oates. Shortstop Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners was named player of the year. He received 260 votes, or 67 per cent, in the publication's poll of major league players. Rodriguez, 21, hit .358 and was the third-youngest player to ever win the American League batting title. He had 36 home runs and drove in 123 runs. "A lot of players had tremendous seasons this year, and for me to win this award in a year like this, is just amazing," Rodriguez said. "I'm very grateful." Bruce Bochy, who guided the San Diego Padres to their first playoff berth in 12 years, was named NL manager of the year. Bochy, 41, led the Padres to a 91-71 record and the second NL West title in the franchise's 28-year history. His two-year record is 161-145, placing him sixth on the team's career wins list. In a poll of NL managers, Bochy received 8 1/2 first-place votes, easily beating Atlanta's Bobby Cox, who had 2 1/2, and St. Louis' Tony La Russa and Montreal's Felipe Alou, who had one each.

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