Former Redbird named top MLB setup man

[DEC. 16, 2005]  NORMAL -- In the wake of a World Series championship, former Redbird pitcher Neal Cotts received an early Christmas present, when MLB.com fans voted the Chicago White Sox reliever the Setup Man of the Year in the "This Year in Baseball" awards for 2005. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, announced the winners in 10 award categories on Thursday.

Cotts collected 21.7 percent of the vote, finishing three points ahead of World Series foe Dan Wheeler of the Houston Astros, who had 18.2 percent. Former White Sox reliever Tom Gordon garnered 12.8 percent of the vote, and Cotts’ teammate Cliff Polite finished fourth with 9.7 percent of the vote. In addition, Cotts’ manager, Ozzie Guillen, was named Manager of the Year in the voting.

The 25-year-old left-hander put together a career year in 2005 and helped the White Sox to the team’s first World Series championship in 88 years. Cotts finished the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record and a 1.94 ERA in 69 appearances on the mound. He continued his solid pitching into the postseason as well, not allowing an earned run in six appearances and earning the win in Game 2 of the World Series in Chicago.

MLB.com started the This Year in Baseball awards in 2002 to give fans the opportunity to express their opinions on the top players, managers and moments from each season. This year, over 3.3 million votes were cast by fans on MLB.com, up from 800,000 votes from 2004.

Awards will be presented to the winners during pre-game, on-field ceremonies early in the 2006 season.

[Illinois State University news release from Mike Williams]

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