NEW YORK — Joe Maddon had a good reason for interrupting his honeymoon.
About an hour after he landed in Rome, the newly married Maddon easily won the American League manager of the year award Wednesday for guiding the Tampa Bay Rays from baseball’s basement to the World Series in one astonishing season.
“I really don’t think they care about the World Series over here,” said Maddon, who received all but one of the 28 first-place votes — the other went to Minnesota’s Ron Gardenhire.
Lou Piniella took the National League honor after leading the Chicago Cubs to the league’s best record.
Piniella got 15-of-32 first-place votes and totaled 103 points to 67 for Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, listed first on eight ballots.
• Center fielder B.J. Upton had surgery on his left shoulder and the Rays expect him to be ready by opening day.
• The chances of the Los Angeles Angels retaining record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez went from slim to virtually none, with owner Arte Moreno saying: “We’re turning the page on this one.”
• Former major-leaguers Al Leiter and Harold Reynolds were hired as studio analysts for the MLB Network, which launches Jan. 1.
DEI, Ganassi to combine teams
MIAMI — Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi will combine their sponsorship-strapped race teams next season, an effort to stabilize their organizations in a tough economic time.
The combined team will be called Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and will field cars for Martin Truex, Aric Almirola, Juan Pablo Montoya and a driver to be named.
Marshall sets another record
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Peter Marshall of the United States has done it again, this time breaking the short-course record in the 50-meter backstroke at a World Cup meet.
Marshall, who regained the 100-meter backstroke record in 49.94 seconds Tuesday, clocked 23.05 seconds in the 50-meter event, beating Australian Robert Hurley’s mark of 23.24. Another American, Randall Bal, also went under Hurley’s time for second place at 23.07.
Footnotes.
Andy Roddick withdrew from the Masters Cup in Shanghai, China, after spraining his right ankle during practice.
• Charlotte Bobcats scoring leader Jason Richardson will be out about a week following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
• Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Kevin Durant (ankle) and forward Chris Wilcox (knee) are day to day with injuries.
• Miami Heat forward Shawn Marion (groin) is out indefinitely.
• North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams said reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough (shin) is “extremely doubtful” for Saturday’s season opener against Pennsylvania.
• Texas junior center Chris Hall will miss Saturday’s football game at Kansas after spraining his left knee in practice. Freshman David Snow will get his first start in Hall’s place.
Denver Post wire services
