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Boston Red Sox News:

The one night that best symbolized the year Mike Lowell had on defense was Aug. 11, when Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets Lowell threw his entire body into the stands down the third-base line Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets to track down a foul ball off the bat of Baltimore's Nick Markakis. Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets That play was a combination of skill, fearlessness and Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets determination, which Lowell showcased at the hot corner all year long.

Fans noticed, judging Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets by the fact that Lowell has been named the Defensive Player of the Year in MLB.com's fifth annual This Year in Baseball Awards.

If not for Lowell's superb fielding at third base, the Red Sox would not have been able to Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets set the all-time record for fielding percentage with a glittering mark of .981.

There didn't seem to Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets be a play Lowell didn't master, whether it was snaring a liner, making a diving stab, gobbling up grounders, starting a 5-4-3 double play Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets with precision, or the occasional trek into the dugout or stands for that foul ball.

The night Lowell Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets robbed Markakis, he had been struck in the batting helmet in the bottom of the first inning. Many players would leave the game Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets after such a beaning. Not Lowell, who produced one of his best all-around games of the year that night.

"He wants to win so bad, and he shows up every day with the same demeanor," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He cares about his Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets teammates and plays the game correctly."

In 153 games, Lowell committed just six errors, his lowest total since Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets becoming an everyday player in 2000.

Playing at a position where there is always a lot of action, Lowell went 70 games without Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets an error -- a span which began on May 24 and ended on Aug. 18.

Defense is just part of what makes Lowell so invaluable to the Red Sox. For a guy who has Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets only played one year in Boston, Lowell is thoroughly respected Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets within the confines of the clubhouse.

Leadership is something Lowell takes as seriously as defensive gems. What is leadership?

"I think it's backing your team Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets all the time," Lowell said. "I think you earn respect by just coming every day to play. Whether things are good or bad, or whether you're hurt or whether you're feeling 100 percent, I respect guys that Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets grind it out. I've never really felt like I shouldn't play a day that I'm at the park.

Minnesota Twins News:

There was one goal in Johan Santana's mind when he became a full-time starter for the Twins Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets during the middle of the 2003 season -- to prove that he deserved the role.

Over the past three seasons, Santana has certainly done much more than that, as the Twins ace has Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets proven himself to be among an elite group of pitchers. That was reaffirmed Thursday afternoon when he became just the 14th pitcher in Major League history to win at least two Cy Young Awards.

Santana was chosen as the unanimous winner of the 2006 American League Cy Young Award, Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets given out by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The Twins ace received all 28 first-place votes for the award to give him the maximum total of 140 points. Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang was second with 51 points, and Toronto's Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets Roy Halladay was third with 48. Twins closer Joe Nathan also received three third-place votes.

Santana is only the fourth Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets pitcher to be chosen unanimously for the honor twice. The others in the AL were Roger Clemens (with the Red Sox in 1986 and Toronto in 1998) and Pedro Martinez (with Boston in 1999 and 2000). Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets In the National League, Atlanta's Greg Maddux was unanimous in 1994 and '95.

"It's definitely an honor," Santana said. "Pedro is one of my heroes as a pitcher. He's a great guy and I like the way that he pitches. And with Roger, there is no Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets doubt about it, the kind of pitcher he is. It's definitely an honor to be comparable to those guys. But, I mean, I still have a long way to go."

Modesty may be one of Santana's strong suits, but he's correct in that all of his success has Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets come quite quickly, as both of his Cy Young Awards have come in the past three seasons. Santana won his first Cy Young during his Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets first full season as a starter in 2004, when he won 20 games, including 13 straight to finish the season. And though he didn't win the award in 2005, he still finished third in the voting.

Santana is now regarded as one of the most dominant pitchers in the Major Leagues. His Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets accomplishments in 2006 prove that he was nothing short of that. The Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets left-hander finished the year first in the Majors with ERA (2.77), strikeouts Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets (245) and tied for first in wins (19) to give him the pitching Triple Crown. He also led the AL in innings pitched with Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets 233 2/3.

Santana's efforts have earned him plenty of recognition already this offseason. Before being named the Cy Young winner, Santana won the Players Choice Award as the AL's Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets Outstanding Pitcher. He was named AL Pitcher of the Year by the Boston Reds Sox vs. Minnesota Twins tickets Sporting News as well as Baseball America's Player of the Year.