Royals minor leaguer Luis Mendoza has been named the PCL Pitcher of the Year for the 2011 season. The award is based on voting by the league’s field managers and media members. This is the third honor in as many days for Mendoza, who was selected to the 12-member All-PCL Team on Monday and named Omaha Pitcher of the Year by the Royals organization yesterday. Mendoza, 27, has dominated hitters all season, posting an 11-5 record with a league-leading 2.15 ERA in 32 games (17 starts). The native of Mexico originally signed with the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent on June 12, 2000. He made 32 appearances (14 starts) with the Rangers from 2007 to 2009 and pitched in four games for Kansas City in 2010 after being acquired from Texas on April 2 that season.

Sports Illustrated writer Jon Heyman has picked New York's Curtis Granderson and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun as his Most Valuable Players for the 2011 season. "He has been a run-generating machine, whether he's batting second or third in the star-studded Yankees lineup," Heyman writes. "He leads the majors in runs by a wide margin (he has scored 26 more times than Jacoby Ellsbury, who's second), and also leads the majors in home runs and RBIs, and the speedster's slugging percentage is higher than anyone but [Jose] Bautista. He also has turned himself into a major threat against left-handers." About Braun, Heyman added: "Terrific all-around players gets slight nod over teammate Prince Fielder. His .999 OPS is tops in the NL," he wrote.

Bobby Cox, who retired last year after 29 years as a manager, including 25 with Atlanta, said Wednesday he still watches every Braves game. Now there are no umpires around to hear his protests. “Just the wife,” Cox said with a laugh. The Braves will retire his No. 6 before Friday night’s game against the Cubs.