BASEBALL Rookie Gerut named Tribe's Man of the Year

The outfielder is the second rookie to win the honor, and the first since 1948.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Rookie outfielder Jody Gerut, who led Cleveland in several offensive categories this season, was a unanimous choice as the Indians' Man of the Year.
Gerut received the honor from the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America -- the second rookie and first since pitcher Gene Bearden in 1948 to win the award.
Ellis Burks, who missed most of the season with an elbow injury, was voted the Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy Award for his cooperation with the media, the chapter announced Sunday.
Gerut led the Indians with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs despite playing the first month of the season at Triple-A Buffalo. The outfielder was the first rookie to lead the team in both categories since Joe Charboneau did it on the way to winning the 1980 Rookie of the Year Award.
AL's top rookie
Gerut recently was picked the AL's top rookie by The Sporting News and is expected to get strong consideration for the BBWAA honor that was to be announced today.
New York's Hideki Matsui, Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli and Kansas City's Angel Berroa are expected to be Gerut's main competition.
The 26-year-old batted .279 and played solid defensively after his call-up in late April.
Burks was a steadying influence for the young Indians, who used 25 rookies this season. After elbow surgery in June, the 39-year-old designated hitter continued to travel with the club to give leadership and advice to Cleveland's young players.
Declined his option
The Indians recently declined to pick up his $5 million option for next season, but the club is hoping it can re-sign him.
Also nominated for the Good Guy Award were general manager Mark Shapiro, third baseman Casey Blake, pitchers C.C. Sabathia and Danys Baez and utility infielder John McDonald.
The Good Guy Award is named for Steve Olin, a former Indians pitcher who was killed in a 1993 boating accident, and Gibbons, a columnist for the Cleveland Press.