Baseball Capsules: Choo voted Indians' man of year
CLEVELAND — 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.
Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera were the only players nominated for the award.
Utilityman Jamey Carroll received the Good Guy Award from the writers for being helpful to the media. Carroll, who is likely to sign elsewhere as a free agent this winter, was always accessible even as the Indians staggered to a 65-97 record — their worst since 1991.
International Baseball Federation elects new chief
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Riccardo Fraccari of Italy has been elected president of the International Baseball Federation during its weeklong meetings.
Fraccari replaces Dr. Harvey W. Schiller, who has led the organization since 2007. Fraccari ran for the office unopposed and vowed Sunday to build better relationships with the world's top professional leagues.
Paul Seiler is the only member elected to the executive committee from the United States. He takes over as first member at large.
Also during the meetings, Texas Rangers minor leaguer Justin Smoak was honored as the federation's top senior athlete. Smoak played last season for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and helped Team USA win its second straight Baseball World Cup.
Castro's son elected to baseball federation
HAVANA — A son of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's has been elected one of three vice presidents of the International Baseball Federation after a vote Sunday in Lausanne, Switzerland, Cuban sports officials said.
Antonio Castro, a 39-year-old doctor, was elected to the post along with Japan's Kazuhiro Tawa and Mexico's Alonso Perez. Ricardo Fraccari of Italy was selected the federation's new president. The IBAF administers baseball outside the major pro leagues.
Fidel Castro, who stepped down as Cuba's president in February 2008, is a lifelong fanatic of sports — particularly baseball. His son has been vice president of the Cuban Baseball Federation since 2000, and also is the national team doctor.
The Cuban Sports Institute called the younger Castro's election "a vote of confidence in Cuban sports in general and especially in baseball on the island."
