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Marlins SS Ramirez tops Zimmerman to win NL Rookie of the Year
By TICKER
Nov 13, 2006 - 2:56:54 PM

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NEW YORK - The Florida Marlins had a surprising season led by a number of rookies. On Monday, Hanley Ramirez was recognized as the best of the bunch.

Florida Marlins' Hanley Ramirez of the Dominican Republic watches after hitting a home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Dolphin Stadium in Miami in this Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006 file photo. Ramirez won a tight race for NL Rookie of the Year Monday, Nov. 13, 2006. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, FILE)

The Marlins shortstop was named National League Rookie of the Year, edging Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman by just four points.

Ramirez received 14 first-place votes, 11 seconds and two thirds for 105 points. Zimmerman was on the top of 10 ballots and named second on 16 and third on another three for 101 points.

A total of 32 ballots were cast by two Baseball Writers Association of America members in each league city. The four-point difference marked the closest finish since the voting system was adopted in 1980. The closest margin prior to this season came in 1982, when Steve Sax of the Los Angeles Dodgers edged Johnny Ray of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 63-57.

Ramirez sparked the Marlins' lineup from the leadoff spot, batting .292 with 51 stolen bases, the third-highest total in the NL. The 22-year-old also showed surprising power, collecting 17 homers and 51 RBI, and ranked fifth in the league with 119 runs.

Ramirez becomes the second Marlin to win the award, joining pitcher Dontrelle Willis, who won it in 2003.

Despite playing in one of baseball's premier pitchers' parks and in a lineup without much protection, Zimmerman hit .287 with 20 homers and 110 RBI. He also proved to be outstanding defensively, making all the routine plays in addition to the occasional spectacular effort at the hot corner.

The fourth overall pick in 2005, Zimmerman ranked eighth in the NL with 47 doubles and 10th with 614 at-bats. He also was a model of consistency, batting .287 both before and after the All-Star break, while hitting .280 against lefthanded pitching and .289 against righthanders.

Ramirez's teammates Dan Uggla and Josh Johnson finished third and fourth in the voting, respectively.

Uggla, who received six first-place votes and 55 points, batted .282 with 27 homers - a major-league record for a rookie second baseman - and 90 RBI. He batted .307 with 13 homers and 51 RBI in the first half en route to earning a spot on the All-Star team.

Johnson received two first-place votes and 11 points after going 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 games - 24 starts - this season. The righthander limited his opponents to a .236 batting average.

Marlins pitchers Scott Olsen and Anibal Sanchez and left fielder Josh Willingham all received one third-place vote.


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