2011-2012 MLB Important Dates

Nov. 1, 2011
Gold Gloves will be announced at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.

Nov. 1, 2011
Taiwan All-Star Series, MLB All-Stars vs. Chinese Taipei national team, New Taipei City (Xinzhuang Stadium)

Nov. 2, 2011
Silver Slugger award will be announced at 6 p.m.

Nov. 3, 2011
The 2011 Players Choice Awards Presented by 2K Sports, MLB Network, 8-9 p.m. ET

Nov. 3-4, 2011
Taiwan All-Star Series, MLB All-Stars vs. Chinese Taipei national team, Taichung (Intercontinental Stadium)

Nov. 5-6, 2011
Taiwan All-Star Series, MLB All-Stars vs. Chinese Taipei national team, Kaohsiung (Chengcing Lake Stadium)

Nov. 14, 2011
AL, NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards announced

Nov. 15, 2011
AL Cy Young Award announced

Nov. 16, 2011
AL, NL Manager of the Year Awards announced

Nov. 17, 2011
NL Cy Young Award announced

Nov. 18, 2011
Day to file reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels.

Nov. 21, 2011
AL Most Valuable Player Award announced

Nov. 22, 2011
NL Most Valuable Player Award announced

Nov. 23, 2011
Last date for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation. Deadline is midnight.

Dec. 1, 2011
Last day to request outright waivers to assign player prior to Rule 5 Draft

Dec. 5, 2011
5 p.m. ET is last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft

Dec. 7, 2011
Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club. Deadline is midnight ET

Dec. 5-8, 2011
Baseball Winter Meetings, Dallas, TX

Dec. 8, 2011
Major League Rule 5 Draft, Dallas, TX

Dec. 12, 2011
Last date to tender contracts is midnight ET

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Jan. 9, 2012
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee class of 2012 announced

February 19
Pitchers and catchers report

February 20
Pitchers and catchers first workout

February 24
First full-squad workout

March 2-3, 2012
Spring Training games begin

March 28-29, 2012
Japan Opening Series, Mariners vs. Athletics, Tokyo

April 4, 2012
Opener between Marlins and Cardinals at new Marlins ballpark

April 5, 2012
Opening Day


April 15, 2012
Jackie Robinson Day

May 18, 2012
Interleague Play begins

June 4-6, 2012
First-Year Player Draft

July 9, 2012
Home Run Derby, Kansas City (Kauffman Stadium)

July 10, 2012
83rd All-Star Game, Kansas City (Kauffman Stadium)

Oct. 3, 2012
End of 2012 MLB regular season

Dec. 3-6, 2012
Baseball Winter Meetings, Nashville, Tenn.

Last Updated: October 31. 2011 6:27PM
Tigers Austin Jackson, Alex Avila finalists for Gold Gloves
Tony Paul/ The Detroit News

Detroit — The Tigers could have their first Gold Glove outfielder since Gary Pettis in 1989.

Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson is a finalist for a Gold Glove, according to ESPN, which will air its results show at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Jackson is up against Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox and Peter Bourjos of the Angels.

Tigers catcher Alex Avila also is a finalist, along with Matt Wieters of the Orioles and A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox. The last Tigers catcher to win a Gold Glove was Pudge Rodriguez, who won in 2004, '06 and '07.

Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta was thought to be a strong candidate, too, but he's not among the three finalists at his position. Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians, J.J. Hardy of the Orioles and Erick Aybar of the Angels are the three.

Nationally, Ichiro Suzuki's streak of 10 consecutive Gold Gloves will come to an end; he's not a finalist. That also means that for the first time since 1987, the Mariners won't have a Gold Glove winner.

One difference in the awards this year: The outfield winners are broken down by position for the first time, so no longer can three center fielders, for instance, win all three outfield Gold Gloves.

Gold Gloves are voted on by managers and coaches; they are not allowed to vote for their own players.

After the ESPN show announced the 18 winners in the American League and National League, the 18 winners will be eligible for the inaugural Platinum Glove, determined by fan voting. Voting starts Tuesday and concludes Nov. 7.

Here are the Gold Glove finalists:

Pitcher

AL — Mark Buehrle (White Sox), Dan Haren (Angels), Fausto Carmona (Indians)

NL — Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Hiroki Kuroda (Dodgers), Kyle Lohse (Cardinals)

Catcher

AL — Matt Wieters (Orioles), A.J. Pierzynski (White Sox), Alex Avila (Tigers)

NL — Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Brian McCann (Braves), Carlos Ruiz (Phillies)

First base

AL — Adrian Gonzalez (Red Sox), Casey Kotchman (Rays), Mark Teixeira (Yankees)

NL — Joey Votto (Reds), Gaby Sanchez (Marlins), James Loney (Dodgers)

Second base

AL — Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox), Robinson Cano (Yankees), Ian Kinsler (Rangers)

NL — Brandon Phillips (Reds), Neil Walker (Pirates), Omar Infante (Marlins)

Shortstop

AL — Erick Aybar (Angels), J.J. Hardy (Orioles), Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians)

NL — Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), Ronny Cedeno (Pirates), Alex Gonzalez (Braves)

Third base

AL — Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), Evan Longoria (Rays)

NL — Placido Polanco (Phillies), Daniel Descalso (Cardinals), Pablo Sandoval (Giants)

Left field

AL — Alex Gordon (Royals), Brett Gardner (Yankees), Sam Fuld (Rays)

NL — Gerardo Parra (Diamondbacks), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Matt Holliday (Cardinals)

Center field

AL — Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox), Austin Jackson (Tigers), Peter Bourjos (Angels)

NL — Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Shane Victorino (Phillies), Chris Young (Diamondbacks)

Right field

AL — Nick Markakis (Orioles), Torii Hunter (Angels), Jeff Francoeur (Royals)

NL — Andre Ethier (Dodgers), Carlos Beltran (Mets/Giants), Jay Bruce Reds)

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From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111031/SPORTS0104/110310412/Tigers-Austin-Jackson--Alex-Avila-finalists-for-Gold-Gloves#ixzz1cQmIowvM

Nine first-time winners highlight Gold Gloves
Red Sox, Dodgers garner trio of awards apiece
By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 11/02/11 12:00 AM ET

A season's worth of highlight-reel plays and steady hands were honored Tuesday evening, as winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced.

The Gold Glove Awards are given annually for the best individual fielding performances at each position in the National and American Leagues, as voted by managers and coaches.

There was plenty of fresh blood among this year's honorees. Nine players won their first Gold Gloves, and the Dodgers and Red Sox were the most decorated clubs with three Gold Glovers each.

For catchers, St. Louis' Yadier Molina won his fourth straight NL Gold Glove, while Baltimore's Matt Wieters won the AL Gold Glove for backstops, becoming the first Orioles catcher to do so.


AL GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

The American League winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, with the number of Gold Gloves each has won.

POS.	______PLAYER________	NO.
C	Matt Wieters, Orioles	1
1B	Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox	3
2B	Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox	2
3B	Adrian Beltre, Rangers	3
SS	Erick Aybar, Angels	1
LF	Alex Gordon, Royals	1
CF	Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox	1
RF	Nick Markakis, Orioles	1
P	Mark Buehrle, White Sox	3

The two pitching awards were handed out to a pair of left-handers, as White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle won the AL Gold Glove for the third consecutive year. He is the first pitcher in White Sox history to win three Gold Glove Awards and the first Sox player to garner three straight honors since Robin Ventura from 1991-93.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, also one of the favorites for the NL Cy Young Award, was the NL winner.

"It's awesome, I didn't expect to win an award like this," Kershaw said in an interview on the announcement show on ESPN. "To look and see your name with guys like Greg Maddux, who won it (18) years, it's pretty special."

Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez -- the NL Gold Glove winner in 2008 and 2009 -- unseated New York's Mark Teixeira, the two-time reigning winner, for his first AL Gold Glove and the third of his career.

Gonzalez's teammate, Dustin Pedroia, also won the AL Gold Glove at second base. It was Pedroia's second award, the other coming in 2008.

"It feels great. It's pretty awesome that Dustin won it, as well," Gonzalez said on ESPN. "It's fun playing alongside him and we had great communication this year. It's pretty special to win one in both leagues now. I'm pretty grateful to everyone who voted for me."

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips also won his third Gold Glove in four years, while teammate Joey Votto earned his first career NL Gold Glove at first base.

"It just shows that my hard work really paid off and managers, they love they way I play," Phillips said.


NL GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

The National League winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, with the number of Gold Gloves each has won.

POS.	______PLAYER________	NO.
C	Yadier Molina, Cardinals	4
1B	Joey Votto, Reds	1
2B	Brandon Phillips, Reds	3
3B	Placido Polanco, Phillies	3
SS	Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies	2
LF	Gerardo Parra, D-backs	1
CF	Matt Kemp, Dodgers	2
RF	Andre Ethier, Dodgers	1
P	Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers	1

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki won his second consecutive award after leading all NL shortstops in fielding percentage.

The AL third-base winner also was a familiar face, as Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre won his third career Gold Glove. Beltre's previous awards came in 2007 and 2008 while with Seattle.

Two others added to their Gold Glove collections: Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp won his second award, with the previous coming in 2009, while Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco won his third Gold Glove, his first at the hot corner. He previously won the AL Gold Glove at second base in 2007 and 2009.

The AL outfield winners were all first-timers, as Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis were honored. Gordon's Gold Glove came in his first season as an outfielder, during which he led AL outfielders with 20 assists, while Markakis completed the first error-free season of 150-or-more games by an outfielder in franchise history.

Elsewhere in the AL, Angels shortstop Erick Aybar unseated Yankees captain Derek Jeter -- winner in five of the last seven years -- for his first career award. Aybar, who turned 102 double plays in 2011, is only the third Angels shortstop to win the award.

The NL outfield also saw two first-time winners, as D-backs left fielder Gerardo Parra and Dodgersright fielder Andre Ethier were honored. Parra committed only two errors in 281 total chances, with 12 assists in 125 games (117 starts) in left field.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Top boppers earn Silver Slugger Awards
McCann, Ortiz snag fifth trophies; nine hitters win for first time
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 11/02/11 7:30 PM ET

The postseason honor roll expanded on Wednesday, when the American League and National League distributed Silver Slugger Awards to the best offensive players at each position. Nine players received the honor for the first time, and only six players were repeat winners from last year.

The Silver Slugger, which was first awarded in 1980, is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team. There were only five repeat winners last season, which tied for the low in the history of the award.

Both leagues had three players qualify as a repeat winner this year, and two players continued streaks that saw them win the Silver Slugger for the fourth straight season. Two players -- one from each league -- have won the Silver Slugger at their respective position five times.

Atlanta catcher Brian McCann has emerged as the dean of NL Silver Sluggers, as he won for the fourth straight time and the fifth time in his seven-year career. The 27-year-old, who tied a career high with 24 home runs, has won the Silver Slugger in all but one of his years as a full-time starter.

McCann was joined on the other side by designated hitter David Ortiz, who won the Silver Slugger for the fifth time, but it was his first since 2007. Ortiz batted .309 -- his best average since hitting .332 in '07 -- and he delivered 29 home runs and 96 RBIs for Boston, the highest-scoring team in the league.


STERLING STICKS


There were nine first-time Louisville Slugger Silver Sluggers, while Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Brian McCann each picked up their fifth such honor.

American League
Pos.	______Player_____	Team	Silver Sluggers
1B	Adrian Gonzalez	BOS	1
2B	Robinson Cano	NYY	3
SS	Asdrubral Cabrera	CLE	1
3B	Adrian Beltre	TEX	3
OF	Curtis Granderson	NYY	1
OF	Jose Bautista	TOR	2
OF	Jacoby Ellsbury	BOS	1
C	Alex Avila	DET	1
DH	David Ortiz	BOS	5
National League
Pos.	_____Player_____	Team	Silver Sluggers
1B	Prince Fielder	MIL	2
2B	Brandon Phillips	CIN	1
SS	Troy Tulowitzki	COL	2
3B	Aramis Ramirez	CHC	1
OF	Ryan Braun	MIL	4
OF	Matt Kemp	LAD	2
OF	Justin Upton	ARI	1
C	Brian McCann	ATL	5
P	Daniel Hudson	ARI	1

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun -- who has recorded at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs for four straight years -- won a Silver Slugger for the fourth straight season. Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who won for the second straight time, was the only other repeat winner in the NL. Tulowitzki had to fend off a special season from Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who won the batting title.

"You never run out of shelf space," said Braun. "It's always a tremendous honor. Incredible to be recognized for something like this at the end of the year and something I'm really proud of, for sure."

Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista led the Majors in home runs for the second straight season, and he fittingly received his second consecutive Silver Slugger. Other repeat winners include Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre, along with ex-teammate Jacoby Ellsbury, was one of two AL players who won both the Silver Slugger and the Gold Glove. Three NL players -- Tulowitzki, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp -- pulled off that accomplishment.

"I feel like 2011 was probably my best all-around year. I won the Gold Glove, the Silver Slugger and [made] the All-Star team," said Phillips, who had previously hoped to win the Silver Slugger in 2007. "I really thought this day would never happen. I'm very happy. A lot of hard work really paid off."

Perhaps the most gratifying win came for Adrian Gonzalez, who made a highly publicized switch from the NL to the AL before the season. Gonzalez, who had been blocked by Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder in the NL, moved to Boston and led the league in hits en route to his first Silver Slugger.

Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera came into the season with 18 career home runs, but he knocked 25 this year to set a new career high and win his first Silver Slugger. Detroit catcher Alex Avila, just 24 years old, hit 19 homers and was the youngest of the AL Silver Sluggers.

Ellsbury, who won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award after playing in just 18 games in 2010, drilled 32 homers and knocked in 105 RBIs. The AL Silver Slugger squad was rounded out by Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson, who led the league in runs (136) and RBIs (119).

Kemp, considered by many to be a favorite for the NL's Most Valuable Player trophy, earned his second Silver Slugger after leading the league in runs (115), home runs (39) and RBIs (126). Kemp, who turned 27 in September, won his first Silver Slugger in 2009.

Two NL teams -- Milwaukee and Arizona -- had at least two Silver Slugger Award winners. Braun was joined by Fielder, who finished second in the league in walks (107), RBIs (120) and on-base percentage (.415). Arizona was represented by outfielder Justin Upton and by pitcher Daniel Hudson, who batted .277 and paced the league's pitchers with 14 RBIs.

"This is awesome to be considered in that group of guys that have received this award this year and in the past," said Upton. "It's fun to see myself with those guys and I really appreciate the award."

Phillips, a two-time All-Star who has hit at least 18 home runs in five straight seasons, was rewarded with his first career Silver Slugger. Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez batted .306 and hit 26 home runs this season to win his first Silver Slugger. Washington's Ryan Zimmerman and New York's David Wright had combined to take the last four straight Silver Sluggers at third base.

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Verlander takes home Player of the Year honors
Tigers ace second pitcher to win Players Choice award
By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 11/03/11 9:00 PM ET

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander kept repeating a phrase all year when reporters asked: If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you. The recognition of that greatness, though, might be a surprise for a few people.

As badly as Tigers right-hander might want MVP-type recognition, he couldn't be sure he was going to get it, a question more of precedence than performance. His first chance came from his peers, who decided he was the best player in baseball this year -- not just best pitcher, best player.

As a result, Verlander became the second pitcher to win MLB Player of the Year honors in the annual Players Choice Awards on Thursday. Whether it was a surprise for Verlander, it was clearly meaningful as he talked about it on a conference call with reporters.

"Coming from your peers makes it all the more special," said Verlander, who joined Boston's Pedro Martinez (1999) as the only hurlers to win the award. "I think with all the talk about should a pitcher be able to win MVP or a top player award, I think it shows a lot of support for my fellow players to be able to vote me for that. I think it means a lot. When it comes from your peers, the guys you're playing with, the guys you're playing against, it's special."

The Player of the Year Award covers both leagues, and dates back to 1998. Before then, the MLB Players Association had one award for each league's best pitcher, and one for each league's best position player, with no mixing.

The last pitcher to win MVP honors from baseball writers, Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, did it in 1992, six years before the Players Choice Awards added their equivalent. Some pitchers made their case since, from Martinez in 1999 to Arizona's Randy Johnson in 2002 to Minnesota's Johan Santana in 2006. They all won pitching triple crowns and led their teams into the postseason, but they still didn't have the resume Verlander posted in 2011.

Though Verlander didn't allow himself to reflect on his season until the Tigers' run through October ended in the AL Championship Series, his fellow players had to reflect a lot sooner than that.

"Obviously, from a personal standpoint, it was an amazing year," Verlander said. "I worked extremely hard for this, and I told you guys a few times, if you expect greatness it shouldn't surprise you. I've always expected myself to be able to pitch this way. It still doesn't surprise me that I did."

Yet, it still surprised him to be mentioned with Martinez, Santana, Johnson and others among the greatest single seasons in baseball history.

"Looking back and seeing how the numbers stack up, even to be mentioned in that category, I know it doesn't measure up to some of them, it's still pretty special," Verlander said. "I think it'll be a season I remember for a long time."

So will Tigers fans. He topped all AL pitchers with 24 wins, a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, becoming the first American Leaguer to do that since Santana in 2006 and the first Tiger since Hal Newhouser in 1945. No AL pitcher had won that many games in a season since Bob Welch won 27 for the 1990 powerhouse Oakland Athletics. No Major League pitcher had posted that combination of strong Triple Crown stats in the same season since the Big Unit in 2002, no American Leaguer since Vida Blue in 1971.

Verlander also led AL pitchers with 251 innings, a .192 opposing batting average and a 0.92 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) ratio.

Verlander easily beat out Angels All-Star Jered Weaver and Rays ace James Shields for AL Outstanding Pitcher. His competitors for MLB Player of the Year were his former Detroit teammate Curtis Granderson, who hit 41 homers with 119 RBIs for the Yankees while leading the league with 136 runs scored, and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez, who finished second to Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera in batting average at .338 while driving in 117 runs and posting a .410 on-base percentage.

To beat them out was big. Verlander tried to match that with what he did with his winnings. The Player of the Year honor comes with a $50,000 grant to the winner's charity of choice. AL Outstanding Pitcher brings another $20,000. Verlander took that $70,000, added $30,000 of his own and split the total between two veterans hospitals in metro Detroit.

The John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Ann Arbor will receive donations of $50,000 each. Both took part in the Verlander's Victory for Veterans program this summer, allowing veterans who sustained injuries or illness serving in Iraq or Afghanistan to enjoy a game from Verlander's luxury suite at Comerica Park on days when Verlander started.

"I added a little bit to make it a nice round number," Verlander said. "I wanted to donate some of my own money because it's a personal cause. It's something I believe in. This is something I feel greatly, so I wanted to give some of my own money."

Verlander allowed himself to bask in his awards victory during the ceremony on Thursday. He'll gladly do the same if he can repeat the honor when AL MVP results are announced Nov. 21. By then, however, he'll already be at work for next year.

"I start working out next week, man," Verlander said. "I can't say it was any different than before, than the last two seasons. Just take it as it comes.

"I'm just trying to take it as normal. It hasn't really sunk in yet, to be honest with you. I don't know if it will."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.