Phillies no stranger to awards

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ fell just short of the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday. Charlie Manuel finished sixth in the NL Manager of the Year Award voting on Wednesday.

Both were solid candidates.

The Phillies should have at least one more candidate get votes next week when the NL Most Valuable Player Award is announced.

Ryan Howard is a strong candidate for MVP, although he is not a favorite to win.

Howard hit .279 with 37 doubles, four triples, 45 home runs, 141 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He tied with Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder for the Major League lead in RBIs.

Howard set a career high in doubles and stolen bases and tied his career high in triples.

The Phillies have had their share of major award winners in the past.

The most recent came in 2007, when Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins earned NL MVP honors when he hit .296 with 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 home runs, 94 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.

Rollins became the first player in baseball history to have 200 hits, 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season. He set career highs in games (162), runs (139), hits (212), triples, home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits (88) and at-bats (716). He led the league in at-bats, runs and triples. He set NL records for runs and extra-base hits for a shortstop. He set Major League records for plate appearances (778) and at-bats (716). His 212 hits were the most by a Phillies player since Dave Cash had 213 in 1975.

The Phillies have not had a NL Cy Young Award winner since 1987, when Steve Bedrosian won the award.

Howard won the NL MVP in 2006 and NL Rookie of the Year in '05.