Hideki Matsui's experience in Japan didn't keep the vast majority of voters from including him on their ballots; most just voted that Angel Berroa had a better rookie season.

In the closest balloting since 1980, Berroa, the Kansas City Royals shortstop, edged the New York Yankees outfielder Monday for American League Rookie of the Year. Berroa got 88 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and Matsui 84.

Dontrelle Willis, who won 14 games for the World Series champion Florida Marlins, was the top National League rookie, easily beating Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Scott Podsednik.

Berroa and Matsui had similar numbers. Each batted .287, and Berroa out-homered Matsui 17-16. Matsui had a rookie-leading 106 RBI. Berroa stole 21 bases.

Two of the 28 BBWAA voters left Matsui off their ballot, at least one of which did so because Matsui, 29, was a 10-year veteran of the Japanese Central League.

Hideo Nomo (1995), Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001) have won rookie awards, but whether Matsui should be eligible was a topic of debate.

"The writers do not determine what a rookie is. We vote on the rookies," said Jack O'Connell, secretary-treasurer of the BBWAA. "The writers have been told anyone in his first season in the majors is a rookie."

The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram and Gazette's Bill Ballou, who left Matsui off his ballot, disagreed.

"I don't think Matsui is a rookie in the traditional sense," Ballou said. Excluding Matsui, he said, "was not a (vote on) performance. I thought he had a fine season. He's just not a rookie in the traditional way. Baseball is going to have to do something about this. It will become more and more of an issue as Japanese players come over here and perform at very high levels."

Meanwhile, the Marlins keep bringing home hardware.

The latest trophy is left-hander Dontrelle Willis' Rookie of the Year award in the National League.

Willis, 21, was 14-6 with 3.30 ERA and was the only player named on every ballot. He won nine of his first 10 decisions to spark the Marlins' in-season turnaround that ended with the World Series championship. His enthusiasm, exotic high-kick delivery and success made him a charismatic figure.

Willis was 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA after the All-Star break, a decline voters ignored at the expense of other contenders, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Scott Podsednik and Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Webb.

Podsednik became one of four rookies, including Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1911, Jimmy Barrett in 1900 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001, to bat .300 or better, steal 40 bases or more and score 100 runs or more.

But Willis received 17 first-place votes and 118 points, while Podsednik got eight firsts and 81 points.

Willis was a big factor as the Marlins posted the best record (72-42) in baseball from May 23.

"At one point we were dead last, and we climbed back," Willis said. "It was kind of storybook."