Since moving off for the 1968. The athletics have now won seven that American League rookie of the year awards the trilogy in the mid and late eighties Canseco McGwire wise than a decade later. Is smooth swing to Ben grieve got one and 98 and now they've won three. The last six years Bobby Crosby you know for Houston straight and -- five and -- now the new closer. Andrew Bailey is your American League rookie of the year award winner. In 2000 now we're gonna take you out to the Oakland coliseum and bring in a Andrew Bailey has our chronicles conversation tonight so and drove. First of all welcome to chronicle live Greg -- in studio. How does that feel what I what I say Andrew Bailey American League rookie of the year you've had about a day and a half now to absorb it how does that sound yet. Comments. Something I'll never forget for sure it's it's an honor that you mentioned you just can't put in the words. When Jack O'Connell the president of baseball writers' association of America called you yesterday morning. What were your first reaction when you were told you won this award. I was actually on the wind from the gym and when Jack called I thought it was my mom calling from Mayo blocked ID number I worked so I had no don't ensuing I wasn't expecting anything in and obviously I was kind of shocked when I when I heard them himself. I was is something I'll never forget and and I won't take anything for granted. And most observers thought you would finish in the top three that very few had you actually winning the award be one of those guys that we're surfing the Internet trying to. Ascertain if you were to win the award you kind of put them on the back burner and his catalytic coach -- -- I'm not -- -- on the back burner you know I liked is that I like to control the things I can control you know I believe the numbers I put up -- success I had. I couldn't I couldn't add to it so I was worried about working out and get ready for 2010 and and let the chips fall where they may with the with the award obviously. Just be nominated is is it is an honor there's a number of candidates that now we're we're well deserved of the award as well and you know I won't you -- won't take anything -- -- and I think that. With the nominees in both fleets I think it I think has a bright future for Major League Baseball in general with such tough competition those leaks. Yeah I am I'm assuming there's no clause in your contract where you win 50000 dollars -- so for winning this award that -- -- that in their typically not a roster invite -- his spring training don't have that closet mean. Your story is just so amazing and -- look back because we had yeah and chronicle live right after the all star break. When you're obviously an American League all star the only rookie to go the only a's representative to go. Can you -- reflect on the type -- season that you've had from where you start nobody thought -- even make the roster out of spring training. Later in the year become the closer the all star you meet the president united states of fly back to the Bay Area. When Willie Mays and I in the American League rookie of the heatley of the award winner I mean how does that happen to someone and eight months. I have no idea how that happens I think it's a lot of hard work and dedication. Paying off and -- have talked to someone they get the the calendar that continues for another. Ten or eleven months for 2009 United's it's been a great year for me and then a fun ride day. Two you know to be obviously the man fronts so -- from spring training -- and now it's been a whirlwind then and I think that everything is kind of settling down now that when not you know you go out -- to work out. You know you always see him in the minor leagues he worked hard -- -- she's a big leagues. Now I guess are working out I was like -- what you know I reach my goal so now my my goal sustain our state here -- -- -- -- for athletics for years to come in and you know they can do that in this set my goals that had a at a higher level not -- state the big leagues and sticks out. -- yesterday crazy crazy year in and you know a lot of yeah individual -- spoke on the -- viewed the rookie years more of of a bullpen award. Looked okay thanks bullpen was was a top. The American League if not all based -- tougher for most of the year so sound without those guys like words and springer resolute ziglar. You know doing their jobs. You know I wanna be when you do -- Now Michael words and you're obviously very close and he was quoted as saying that he thinks your Jersey mentality. Help you can't assume the role because you know in the years ago in baseball Andrew. Rookies did not command and become the closer I mean that they were just got to Ming to limit that in the bullpen and now with guys being drafted disclosures out of college -- he Houston street. You are seeing more rookies commitment. That had to be daunting for you at the age of 24 you're not turn 25 to late in May. To be the guy down there I mean they're closers the centerpiece of the bullpen. You're just trying to fit in all of a sudden you know you're the anchored down their hot and yet how did you take on that role. Tom you know I think yeah I think it took it on just like as it took on my my mirrors transitions in the bullpen you take advantage of opportunities given to you all the way through high school through college than Miley is -- -- that and now on the big leads. -- an opportunity that I don't classless organization wanted to give me and obviously I was willing to take it. You know I just wanted to go in there and do my job and and you know coming out of camp. Pass from training -- I was I was a guy that we really know Hernando I didn't turn two or three innings being as a starter just -- just last year two years ago and you know then then the gradual. You know. The role that change into the into the closer something I jumped on an -- and they gave me opportunity and and now like court said you know my Jersey East Coast mentality may have. They helped me a little bit since being had no or no experience or or. You know not even. Couple months in the in the big leagues before I was a closer so I think the aggressive nature is that the my vision silent and my mentality out me should help me in my success. You know a lot of people are on the American -- are surprise you won the award but when you look at it yet you -- -- a losing team on the West Coast where your numbers were there I mean opponents had only won 67 against you. You at one point 84 earned run average he didn't blow a save after June the sixteenth. And I think you were pitching hurt towards the end of the year. Were you I mean I know you've had some problem with that he had surgery in the off season where were you you pitching hurt the last few weeks earlier Fairmont herself. Yet you know I hurt my hurt my knee in June. You know on the to set I had surgery after after the year. Actually. I think yards -- season ended Sunday -- -- Monday so since since June like fifth when I heard in Seattle as pitching all year pretty much you know pretty hurt Nawaz from the field early and don't some therapy and -- the surgery gets a caravan and I'm now getting ready for 2000 intent. Tell me about your offseason now we mentioned before you are from New Jersey -- are living in the state of Connecticut nearby and I hear you're getting married in the offseason is that correct. Next offseason yeah -- we got engaged in August are my fiance and and a guy and now we're just. You know taking the offseason the plan our wedding in and now I know some friends and family in and look forward to. To next year now -- she finishes up. You know schooled she's major and fitness nutrition and you know just hang in mountain and enjoying during the offseason together. As smart as they -- do -- say when -- when it comes to marriage set a date but don't set a year just just keep table everybody looking very June bad. I don't know what year will push it off a little an obvious getting congratulations to Indiana then let. Thank you very much every set the date for a November 20 and next year and now we look forward to it -- November of the twentieth 2000 intense so even if the a's win the World Series dates back to interfere with that at all with right right after the throughout downtown Oakland. Exactly that's why says so far back in Gaza we have big expectations on the next year necessity such a young team and now they just said before you seen in her last day eighty games that we -- -- year I think we're sorting and sore knee and and 500 baseball SE games -- once rookies on the field so I think with every with a year of experience and everyone's belt. -- high hopes here in Oakland and then now we're looking forward to to next year in and you know hopefully making the playoffs. That's why we love the sport of baseball brings us so many stories like Andrew Daly were probably the feel good story of the -- at 2009 summer congratulations stand Andrew on -- being named the American League rookie of the year that's pretty cool. Thank you very much I appreciate that.