American League Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria won Monday. Here are my picks: 1. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay; 2. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago; 3. Armando Galarraga, Detroit

It isn’t often that a rookie is a key player on a pennant winner, but it isn’t often that a player with Longoria’s package of talent comes along.

Ramirez — the Alfonso Soriano play-alike — emerged after not having an every-day spot coming out of spring training. Several players could get votes in the third slot, but Galarraga gets the nod for going 13-7 on a team that lost 88 games.

National League Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto was chosen Monday. Here are my selections: 1. Geovany Soto, Chicago; 2. Joey Votto, Cincinnati; 3. Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta

Soto very well could be a unanimous winner, as well as pick up some MVP votes for a season of strong offense and surprisingly good handling of the Cubs’ pitching staff.

Votto’s rookie teammate Jay Bruce started out on fire, but it was Votto who had the best numbers at the end. Jurrjens and prospect Gorkys Hernandez were a steal for Edgar Renteria.

American League Manager of the Year: 1. Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay; 2. Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota; 3. Ozzie Guillen, Chicago

This is another no-brainer, and quite possibly will be unanimous. We may never see another worst-to-first story like the Rays’, and Maddon set the tone.

Gardenhire and Guillen both benefited from disappointing seasons in Detroit and Cleveland, but that shouldn’t take away from what they did with their overachieving teams (especially Gardenhire’s picked-for-last-place Twins).

Mike Scioscia and Terry Francona could get a few votes, and don’t forget what Cito Gaston did after taking over the Blue Jays in midstream.

National League Manager of the Year: 1. Joe Torre, Los Angeles; 2. Lou Piniella, Chicago; 3. Fredi Gonzalez, Florida

Torre took a roster of disparate parts, and sorted and sifted his way through despite some key injuries to land a playoff spot — granted, with a big boost from Manny Ramirez.

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The Cubs were the best team in the NL all season, thanks to Piniella’s guidance (and remember, the postseason doesn’t count here). Gonzalez got the dirt-cheap Marlins to overachieve behind strong young pitching and a home-run-dominant offense.

Still, he’s a tough call over world champ Charlie Manuel, as well as Cecil Cooper and Tony La Russa, who kept their teams hanging around despite big obstacles.

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