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First impressions Sasaki, Quinn and Long favored for AL ROY honors
NEW YORK (AP) -- At age 32, Kazuhiro Sasaki had 37 saves in his first season in the United States, putting himself in position to contend for the American League Rookie of the Year award. "Anybody would love to get an honor like that," Sasaki said late in the season. He was looking to follow the path of Hideo Nomo, who became a star in Japan, then won the 1995 National League Rookie of the Year award for the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I really didn't look at what Nomo did," Sasaki said through interpreter Allen Turner. "But I had accomplished all I wanted to do in Japan and I decided to give baseball a try over here." Kansas City outfielder Mark Quinn and Oakland outfielder Terrence Long are the other top candidates. Athletics manager Art Howe didn't want to get drawn into the debate over whether Sasaki, who pitched 10 years in Japan, should be eligible.
"I just know our kid deserves it," Howe said. "I don't have a vote, but I'd vote for my kid if I did. But I'm sure Lou (Seattle manager Lou Piniella) would say the same thing about Sasaki." Sasaki was 2-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 37 saves, third-most in the AL. Long hit .288 with 18 homers and 80 RBI as the A's beat out Seattle for the AL West title. Quinn batted .294 with 20 homers and 78 RBIs for the Royals, who finished fourth in the AL Central. In Japan, Sasaki had a Japanese-record 229 saves in 10 seasons for Yokohama, becoming a six-time All-Star. He beat out Jose Mesa in spring training to become the Mariners' closer. "All his experience pitching in Japan is paying big dividends here," Piniella said. "He doesn't get rattled out on the mound." His consistency was a big reason the Mariners got to the playoffs as the AL wild card, then swept Chicago in the first round before losing to the New York Yankees. "He's a pretty good dude," teammate Jay Buhner said. "You know, what he's done isn't easy. It's tough going from the National League to the American League and vice versa. Can you imagine going from one country to another?"
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