by Sports Xchange

--RHP Andrew Bailey, 25, was named the American League Rookie of the Year after recording 26 saves and finishing with a 1.84 ERA. Bailey topped Huston Street's franchise rookie save record (23), and his ERA was the third best among all AL relievers. Bailey had not pitched above Class AA before last season and had not pitched in relief until the middle of the 2008 season at Midland in the Texas League.

--RHP Fautino De Los Santos, a top prospect who has been slow to return from Tommy John surgery, pitched in a simulated game in the Dominican Republic, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. De Los Santos, obtained in the Nick Swisher deal with Chicago before the 2008 season, is likely to pitch in relief in the minors next season, the newspaper reported.

--1B Sean Doolittle, mentioned as a potential call-up next season, had surgery last month to repair a tear in his left patellar tendon, which might limit his availability during spring training. Doolittle, one of Oakland's top prospects, missed nearly the entire season with a variety of injuries.

--1B/OF Chris Carter went through a 3-for-20 stretch at Guasave of the Mexican Pacific League, dropping his average to .212. Carter, a good bet to make Oakland's roster at some point next season, had 27 strikeouts in his first 66 at-bats.

BY THE NUMBERS: 21 -- RHP Andrew Bailey's consecutive saves streak to end the season. The rookie didn't blow a save after June 16. The ongoing streak is the second-longest such streak in Oakland history behind Dennis Eckersley's 40 in 1991-92.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Andrew had a dominant year, whether he was a rookie or a 10-year veteran. Sometimes, this award is subject to who the other rookies are that year, but Andrew was also an All-Star. There's a difference." -- A's general manager Billy Beane on Andrew Bailey's Rookie of the Year award, in the San Francisco Chronicle.