Tracy named NL manager of the year

NEW YORK, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Colorado's Jim Tracy, who took over a sub-.500 team and guided it into the playoffs, was named the National League manager of the year Wednesday.

Tracy was listed first on 29 of the 32 ballots and totaled 151 points in the voting. St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa got two first-place votes and finished second with 55 points. Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Joe Torre got the other first-place vote and 33 points in ending up third.

Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager May 29 with the Rockies a lethargic 18-28 and the team responded with 17 wins in its next 21 games to get back into playoff contention. Colorado was 74-42 under Tracy over the rest of the season and wound up with a wild-card slot in the playoffs.

The overall 92 victories was a record for the Rockies, who appeared in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

The award is decided on a vote by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America representing each NL city.