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It’s team awards time, folks.  And while the Indians were not represented amongst the MVP or Cy Young voting this season, Shin-Soo Choo and Jamey Carroll took home team-related awards of their own this past weekend.  Per the Associated Press:

Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, one of the few bright spots in Cleveland’s worst season in nearly two decades, was named Man of the Year for 2009 by Cleveland’s chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Choo batted .300 with 20 homers and 86 RBIs and 21 steals. He was the only AL player to hit .300 with at least 20 homers and steals. In a season in which Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore were hurt, Choo carried much of Cleveland’s offensive load. [...]

Utilityman Jamey Carroll received the Good Guy Award from the writers for being helpful to the media.

When a team trades a good chunk of their roster away in a matter of one season, postseason awards can severely limit the pool from which the Baseball Writers Association of America gets to choose.  Thankfully, Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo provided voters with a solid candidate for their “Man of the Year” award regardless of what players came and went through 2009.

Choo’s only competition for the MotY award was infielder Asdrubal Cabrera.  While it isn’t good to only have two players eligibile for an award, the fact that Cabrera was recognized for his progress is a great sign.

Both players will be finding their names atop the Indians batting order more often than not this season.  And if all goes as planned, we may even get another Choo-1980s bobblehead thrown our way.