New York ? Eric Hinske and Jason Jennings were worried about jobs, not prizes. Now they have both.

Hinske was voted AL Rookie of the Year on Monday and Jennings was voted the NL honor as the Baseball Writers’ Association of America began announcing its awards for the 2002 season.

“I just wanted to be staying in the big leagues the whole year,” Hinske said. “The success I had was pretty surprising for me.”

Hinske, acquired by Toronto from Oakland last December in the deal that sent closer Billy Koch to the Athletics, won the Blue Jays’ third-base job in spring training and hit .279 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs. He received 19 of 28 first-place votes and nine seconds to finish with 122 points.

Baltimore right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, who went 15-9 with a 3.57 ERA, was second. Orioles reliever Jorge Julio was third after going 5-6 with a 1.99 ERA and 25 saves.

Jennings, a 24-year-old from Baylor, went 16-8 with a 4.52 ERA and became the first Colorado player to win the award. He had 27 firsts and five seconds for 150 points.

Montreal outfielder Brad Wilkerson, who batted .266 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs, was second in the voting. Cincinnati outfielder Austin Kearns was third after hitting .315 with 13 homers and 56 RBIs.

l
Mariners: Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin was the latest candidate to interview for the manager’s job in Seattle. Melvin, who met Monday with team officials, was the 11th candidate to visit. Anaheim third base coach Ron Roenicke will be interviewed today.

l
Phillies: Free agent Jim Thome will visit Philadelphia on Thursday. Thome, who hit a club record 52 homers this season for Cleveland, is the most coveted hitter in this winter’s free agent market.

l
Reds: Hamilton County commissioners accepted a contractor’s proposal on Monday to blow up most of Cinergy Field on Dec. 29. The multipurpose stadium was completed in 1970. The Bengals played football there until two years ago, and the Reds played baseball there through September. The Reds move into their new ballpark next season.

l
Pirates: Gerald Perry was hired Monday as Pittsburg’s hitting coach, the same job he held the last three seasons with Seattle. Perry, 42, hit .265 with the Braves, Royals and Cardinals from 1983-95.

l
Courts I: Jose Canseco’s baseball career wasn’t an issue for many of the 25 people interviewed Monday as jury selection began in the former AL MVP’s trial on felony battery charges. Canseco and his twin brother, Ozzie, are accused of aggravated battery for fighting with two California men at a Miami Beach nightclub on Oct. 31, 2001.

l
Courts II: Two former college basketball players were each sentenced to four years in prison Monday for robbing Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia at gunpoint last spring. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph D. Russo sentenced Damon Stringer, 25, and Jamaal Harris, 23, on their guilty pleas to aggravated robbery with a gun. Harris also pleaded guilty to robbery. The two had been teammates at Cleveland State University.

l
Courts III: The son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams is being sued by a promoter who contends he is owed more money from the sale of NBA sports memorabilia. Jury selection began Monday. Lane Forman is suing John Henry Williams for his portion of the profits for the sale of products bearing pictures of Charles Barkley and Larry Bird.