Markakis in the running for Man of the Year?

It's approaching that time of year when awards will start getting handed out left and right, and the fan voting for the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is now open and runs through this Sunday, September 13 - So don't miss your chance to help make Nick Markakis Man of the Year! The players on each of the 30 MLB ballclubs have nominated one of their own for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which honors players who have significantly contributed to their communities. With the launch of his Right Side Foundation, which reaches out to underprivileged children across the state of Maryland with its Fun for 21 initiatives and 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk, Markakis was an obvious nomination from this year's O's team. Nick and his wife Christina also made a generous $75,000 donation to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation, sending funds to several OriolesREACH efforts in and around Baltimore. Now that the players have nominated a player from each club, fans can vote for a player from each division to reduce the pool down to six finalists for the Award. Once fans have chosen the finalists, the vote will be volleyed back to the players who will choose the winner as part of the annual Players Choice Awards balloting. So click here to vote and help send Nick Markakis to the final six. Then stay tuned to see if he's named the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year. In the meantime, thanks to Nick and Christina for their work in so many communities across Maryland throughout the year!