Dodgers lead NL with 16 GIBBY nominations
Kershaw finalist for MVP, best starting pitcher; Puig well-represented
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have a National League-high 16 nominees for the 2013 Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Awards.
Major League Baseball's A-listers will take home 2013 GIBBY trophies -- the ultimate honors of the industry's awards season -- based on votes by media, front-office personnel, MLB alumni, fans at MLB.com and the Society for American Baseball Research.
In the past five years, fans have cast more than 50 million votes across the various GIBBY categories, none of which was restricted to individual league affiliation. Fan voting runs through Dec. 1.
This year's GIBBY Awards feature nominees in 22 categories. Individual honors will go to the MLB MVP, in addition to the year's best starting pitcher, hitter, closer, setup man, rookie, breakout hitter, breakout pitcher, comeback player, defensive player, manager, executive and postseason performer.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is a finalist for MLB MVP and best starting pitcher. His competition for MVP: Baltimore's Chris Davis, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, the Angels' Mike Trout, St. Louis' Matt Carpenter, Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen and Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt.
Kenley Jansen and Paco Rodriguez are listed in the best closer and best setup categories, respectively. Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu are best rookie nominees. Don Mattingly and Ned Colletti are listed for best manager and general manager, respectively.
GIBBY trophies also will be awarded for the year's top play, storyline, hitting performance, pitching performance, oddity, walk-off, Cut4 topic, regular-season moment and postseason moment, from MLB.com's Must C highlight reels.
Puig's powerful throw from right field on June 8 to nail Andrelton Simmons at third base is nominated for the year's top play. The club's remarkable comeback from last place in June to runaway division winner is nominated for top storyline. Kershaw's July 2 Coors Field shutout against the Rockies contends for top pitching performance. Puig's July 28 homer in the 11th inning is in the running for best walk-off. And Puig's Major League debut on June 3, which ended when he doubled Chris Denorfia off first base with a throw from the warning track, is a finalist for best regular-season moment.
Three Dodgers moments are listed for best Cut4 topic: Dodgers Go Gangnam Style, NLCS Standoff (shared between Scott Van Slyke and Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly ) and the Kiss Cam Controversy.
Winners will be presented their GIBBY trophies at the MLB.com Greatness in Baseball Yearly Awards extravaganza during the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla (Dec. 9-12).