Pat Burrell among TYIB nominees

SAN FRANCISCO -- In a season that brought the Giants the National League West championship, it's fitting that they should have multiple nominees for the 2010 This Year in Baseball Awards presented by Toyota.

The Giants are represented by nominees in five different categories: Brian Wilson (closer), Buster Posey (rookie), Pat Burrell (X-factor), Bruce Bochy (manager) and Brian Sabean (executive).

For the ninth straight year, fans will help decide the top hitters, pitchers, plays and moments from the MLB season. In 2009, more than 12 million votes were cast by fans around the world.

The 2010 This Year in Baseball Awards presented by Toyota features nominees in 18 categories. Individual honors will go to the top Hitter, Starter, Rookie, Closer, Setup Man, Defensive Player, Manager, Executive, Breakout Player, X-Factor and Dependable Player.

Fans can also vote on the year's top Play, Moment, Performance, Oddity, Game, Fan Moment and Postseason Moment from MLB.com's Must C video highlight vault.

The Giants didn't exactly know what Burrell could provide when they signed him following his release from Tampa Bay in mid-May. They soon learned that Burrell still had the power that made him a feared hitter with Philadelphia. Moreover, he demonstrated considerable patience at the plate by working deep counts, a trait that eluded many Giants hitters yet provided an admirable example.



(mlb.com)