Cabrera, Posey named baseball's MVPs
NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera of Detroit and San Francisco catcher Buster Posey won the MVP awards of their respective leagues Thursday.
Cabrera, the Tigers' power-hitting third baseman, won the American League award in what had been expected to be a close battle with Los Angeles Angels rookie Mike Trout.
Cabrera became the first player in 40 years to lead a league in batting average (.330), home runs (44) and RBI (139).
Despite those numbers, Trout was favored by some due to his batting prowess combined with his defensive skills.
Balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America easily favored Cabrera, who received 22 out of a possible 28 first-place votes. Trout received the other six. Cabrera wound up with 362 points to 281 for Trout.
It was the second straight year a Detroit player was named MVP with Cabrera following pitcher and 2011 winner Justin Verlander.
Cabrera, however, is the first Detroit position player to capture the honor since Hank Greenberg 72 years ago. He is also the first Venezuelan-born player to be named MVP.
Posey led the National League and the majors in batting average with a .336 mark. He helped pace the Giants to their second World Series title in three years thanks to a four-game sweep of the Tigers.
Posey was named No. 1 on 27 ballots and totaled 422 points. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun was second with 285.
D'Antoni 'shocked' to be new Lakers coach
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- New Los Angeles Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni admitted Thursday to being surprised that he was selected for the job over Phil Jackson.
D'Antoni was hired earlier this week to replace the dismissed Mike Brown and will take over his new position on Friday when the Lakers host Phoenix.
Los Angeles is off to a 3-5 start despite a roster filled with superstar players.
Brown was fired just five games into the season and assistant Bernie Bickerstaff then coached the Lakers for two games.
Speculation concerning Brown's replacement had focused on Jackson, who retired as the Lakers' coach following the 2010-11 season. Jackson had indicated he was interested in returning to the Los Angeles bench.
Instead, D'Antoni was given the position after having previously been the head coach with the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets.
D'Antoni, 61, went through an introductory news conference Thursday and when asked for his reaction to his being chosen over Jackson, he said:
"I was shocked before, but now that's wearing off."
"Phil's a great, great coach," D'Antoni said. "The reality is I'm extremely fortunate that we went this direction and I can't wait to get started.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to make it a good decision."
D'Antoni is recovering from knee replacement surgery, but he said he was ready for the full-time load of coaching.
"I don't need a crutch, I'm just a little stiff," D'Antoni said. "By this weekend I should be fine."
49ers coach Harbaugh has heart procedure
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh underwent a procedure Thursday for an irregular heartbeat but is expected to rejoin the team Friday, the NFL team said.
Harbaugh, who turns 49 next month, reported to Stanford Hospital for what the team said was a minor procedure.
"Coach Harbaugh is not at the facility today under doctor's orders," a statement on the 49ers' website stated. "He is having a minor procedure done at Stanford Hospital today for an irregular heartbeat.
"We anticipate that he will be back at the facility [Friday] but do not have any further information to share at this time.
"Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Brad Seely will be overseeing today's practice and meetings."
San Francisco plays the Chicago Bears at home Monday night. The 49ers lead the NFC West with a 6-2-1 record after tying St. Louis on Sunday. Chicago is an NFC North-leading 7-2.
Three share lead at LPGA Titleholders event
NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Suzann Pettersen, Ryu So-yeon and Yoo Sun-young all shot 6-under-par 66 Thursday and are tied for the lead at the LPGA's CME Group Titleholders tournament.
Yoo had nine birdies while Ryu had seven and Pettersen shot a bogey-free round in earning shares of first place.
Choi No-yeon, Karine Icher, Cristie Kerr and Lindsey Wright are tied for fourth, one stroke behind the leaders, with four more players at 4-under and another four at 3-under.
Pettersen had the most consistent round Thursday. She was 2-under after 11 holes and then had back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 and birdies at 16 and 18 for her 6-under round.
Ryu's lone bogey came at the par-4 10th and she had four birdies the rest of the way, including at 13 and 14 -- both par 5s -- and 18.
Yoo was 3-under after seven holes but gave back all those strokes with a double bogey 5 at the 8th hole and a bogey at No. 9. She opened her second nine with a birdie before running off three straight birdies over Nos. 12-14. Like Pettersen, she had birdies at 16 and 18.
Michelle Wie shot an 81 and was last in the 73-player field.
