Nov. 10 -- AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Over the next week, while players continue to file for free agency and Cole Hamels makes even more guest appearances on television, the Baseball Writers Association of America will unveil its annual postseason awards. Just today, in fact, the announcements began with the AL and NL Rookie of Year (no surprises: Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and Cubs catcher Geovanny Soto won in landslides that rivaled Barack Obama's).

Anyway, a few of the Phillies may pick up even more hardware.

On Tuesday, perfect closer Brad Lidge could cop the NL Cy Young Award, and on Wednesday, Charlie Manuel could be crowned NL Manager of the Year. And although neither is favored to win those awards, Ryan Howard has emerged as a leading candidate to be named NL MVP next Monday. If he wins the award, it'll be his second MVP trophy in the past three years and the third straight for a Phillies player.

Here's a quick look at the top competition for each award:

CY YOUNG
Leading candidates: Tim Linecum (Giants), Lidge, Johan Santana (Mets), CC Sabathia (Brewers), Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks).
Why Lidge will win: He went 41-for-41 in save opportunities during the regular season and was the only full-time closer in either league without a blown save (the Yankees' Mariano Rivera was the next-best at 39-for-40). If Lidge was with the Mets, they would've won the NL East.
Why Lidge won't win: Since 1989, only one closer (Eric Gagne in 2003) has won the NL Cy Young Award. In the AL, a closer hasn't won the Cy since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Leading candidates: Lou Piniella (Cubs), Joe Torre (Dodgers), Fredi Gonzalez (Marlins), Manuel.
Why Manuel will win: The ballots were due on the final day of the regular season, one day after the Phillies clinched the NL East. At the time, no team in the NL was hotter.
Why Manuel won't win: The ballots were due on the final day of the regular season, so the Cubs' playoff implosion hadn't occurred yet. At the time, the Cubs had the NL's best record (97-64) and were favored to go to the World Series.

MVP
Leading candidates: Albert Pujols (Cardinals), Howard, Manny Ramirez (Dodgers), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Carlos Delgado (Mets).
Why Howard will win: Few players finished stronger. In the final 31 games, Howard batted .354 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs.
Why Howard won't win: Few players started slower. Through May 7, Howard batted .163 with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 35 games. The lowest batting average for a non-pitching NL MVP was Marty Marion's .267 in 1944. Howard batted .251. Pujols batted .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs, likely the best all-around year for an NL player.