Happy New Year to everybody out there. I gorged myself on college football today, watching more ball in a single afternoon than I had all season long. But the day wasn’t completely wasted. I put together a page I’ve been itching to do for some time: the Futility Infielder of the Year Award.

Though I’ve bestowed the title before (on Luis Sojo at some point last year), this is the first time I’ve ever devoted a page to it, or explained my reasoning. The purpose of the award, if you need it spelled out, is to honor achievement among futility infielders both past and present, on or off the field. The voting body consists of my lazy butt and the idiot who brushes my teeth, and the decision of the judges is final. The award carries no cash value and may not be exchanged even with a receipt.

The 2002 winner is Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who in the face of contraction led his team to the AL Central title. For more on Ron’s award, see his new page in my Wall of Fame. And yeah, I’ll get around to Looie’s page pretty soon as well. In the meantime, best wishes to everybody for a great 2003!