Coghlan, 24, batted .321, with 9 home runs, a .390 on-base percentage and .460 slugging percentage. His 113 hits and .370 batting average after the all-star break led the major leagues. Coghlan received 17 of the 32 first-place votes, and finished with 105 points. Happ collected 10 first-place votes and 94 points. Last month, he was named the Sporting News' NL rookie of the year, an award determined by major-league players.

Happ's season, though defined by success in the rotation, was bookended by stints in the bullpen. The Phils selected Chan Ho Park as their fifth starter to begin the season, a disappointing conclusion for Happ to a spring training competition.

But Park foundered, and Happ was promoted in late May. His success was immediate, though he found himself the subject of intense trade rumors in July involving Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

The Phils' organization was willing to include Happ in a package to acquire Halladay but ultimately traded for Cleveland Indians lefthander Cliff Lee without sacrificing Happ. Despite the distraction - Happ did not want to be dealt - he continued to pitch well by training his focus on work.

"It bothered me," Happ told The Inquirer last month. "I just started spending more time at work, getting there earlier and trying to focus on that."

Soon after the July 31 trade deadline, veteran Pedro Martinez arrived in Philadelphia, ready to claim a spot in the rotation. Happ again seemed headed for the bullpen, but his performance forced the Phils to demote lefthander Jamie Moyer instead. With his starting job possibly at stake, the rookie threw a complete-game shutout Aug. 5 against the Colorado Rockies.

"Was there motivation there?" he said in a September interview. "Absolutely."

But Happ, after a September marred by injury, could not will himself into the playoff rotation. After straining a side muscle on Labor Day weekend, Happ posted a 4.84 earned-run average in his shakiest month.

That dip in performance coincided with lefty reliever J.C. Romero's season-ending elbow surgery, which created a need in the bullpen. Though manager Charlie Manuel granted Happ one playoff start during the division series against Colorado (he allowed three runs in three innings on a frigid night in Denver on Oct. 11), the rookie was relegated to the bullpen during the National League Championship Series and World Series.

Used sparingly in October and November - some might say Happ was misused during the postseason - the pitcher allowed four runs, walked six, and struck out eight in 61/3 playoff innings.

For the season, Happ went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA.

The team remains excited about the lefthander's future. "Jay has proven what he can do," pitching coach Rich Dubee said in October, using the pitcher's nickname. "And he is still improving."

Bruntlett off roster

The Phillies yesterday removed utilityman Eric Bruntlett, righthander Tyler Walker, catcher Paul Hoover, first baseman Andy Tracy, and righthander John Ennis from their 40-man roster. All are now free agents.

Contact staff writer Andy Martino at 215-854-4874 or amartino@phillynews.com.