POSTSEASON AWARDS Showalter, Cox selected as managers of the year

Both the Rangers and Braves made unexpectedly good showings.
DALLAS (AP) -- Buck Showalter won his first American League Manager of the Year award 10 years ago after leading the New York Yankees back into contention.
He's also off to a fast start with the Texas Rangers, and has his second AL Manager of the Year award to show for it.
"Hopefully, there is a story to be continued with our team. We still have some strides we have to make," Showalter said Wednesday. "We don't want to get satisfied with what we accomplished this season."
Following four straight last-place finishes, the Rangers were in playoff contention until the final week in their second season under Showalter. And they did it after MVP Alex Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees.
Bobby Cox was selected NL Manager of the Year after leading the Atlanta Braves to an unexpected 13th straight division title.
Third time for Cox
It is the third time Cox has been honored as a top manager by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He won the AL award with Toronto in 1985 and his first in the NL came after Atlanta started its record run in 1991.
"This year was pretty special. We needed every single player to chip in, and they did," Cox said. "I think I'm as thrilled this year as I ever have been with one single team."
After the departures of pitcher Greg Maddux and sluggers Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla, the Braves were expected to finish third or lower in the NL East. And they were 33-39 on June 25 after being struck by injuries to several key players.
The Braves went 63-27 the rest of the way, and finished 10 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia. They lost to Houston in the opening round of the playoffs.
Slashed payroll
Rodriguez wasn't the only high-priced veteran missing in Texas, which also let two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez and 500-home run hitter Rafael Palmeiro go after last season. The Rangers slashed payroll and committed to younger players.
The Rangers went 89-73, winning 18 more games than the year before and their most since 1999. They were third in the AL West behind Anaheim and Oakland, just three games out of first.
Because of the strike that ended the 1994 season, Showalter didn't get a chance to go to the World Series with the Yankees. He led them to the AL wild card the next year before being replaced by Joe Torre, who took New York to six World Series in the next eight seasons.
Showalter received 14 first-place votes, nine seconds and four thirds for 101 points, finishing ahead of Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire, who got 11 firsts, 11 seconds and three thirds for 91 points.
Gardenhire managed the Twins to their third straight AL Central title, and finished second in the voting for the second straight season.
La Russa second
Cox received 22 first-place votes and 10 seconds for 140 points in balloting. Tony La Russa of St. Louis, who has won four manager of the year awards, was second with 62 points after leading the Cardinals to a major league-best 105-57 record.
"I thought Tony deserved it, to be honest," Cox said. "I would be more than happy to split that trophy and have both our names on it."