Congratulations go out to Kevin Youkilis, who was selected by baseball fans as the 2008 Hank Aaron Award winner for the most outstanding offensive performer in the American League. I may be delinquent in recognizing you, Youk, but I did not forget you.

Youk and Aramis Ramirez (the National League winner) received their awards before Game 4 of the World Series in Philadelphia - just like Prince Fielder picked up his trophy before the Sox-Rox Game 4 in Denver last year. (Alex Rodriguez won for the AL in 2007, but didn't show up to collect the trophy -- netting him a cascade of boos from the fans in Denver.)

From the Herald:

"When I heard I got the award, I said, 'That's great.' When I heard that I had to go to the World Series, I said, 'Oh, that's not good.' "

Youkilis wanted to be picking up his bat last night, not some hardware. And if the Sox starting rotation and some of the other members of the lineup had performed to their ability, he would have been.

Youkilis wasn't going to stay for the game, which he said would be too difficult, but rather he was heading for dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant in town and was to return to Boston. He said he plans to rest for the next four weeks before beginning his grueling offseason routine at Athletes Performance Institute in Arizona.

And here's video of Youk talking with MLB.com's Harold Reynolds about the award.