Ser vs. estar and preterit vs. imperfect question

Question

I'm trying to finish a homework assignment and have read many of the previously answered ser vs. estar questions on here but still am unsure.

This a newspaper sports article detailing the MVPs of the Grand Leagues or something.

Sammy y Alex ______ escogidos entre los mejores jugadores. Is the answer son or están? I put son.

Johnson, quien ayudó a los Diamondbacks a coronarse en la Serie Mundial, _____ segundo con 98,25 puntos.
Is the answer fue or era? I put fue. Forms of estar are a possible choice although ser seems to me the better choice. Or could it even be in present tense?

Here is another part of it: El también dominicano Manny Ramírez, de los Medias Rojas de Boston ____ (I put era) los primeros tres jardineros de la Liga Americana... Again, the choices are ser or estar, conjugated properly.

The exercise doesn't give instructions other than choosing ser or estar and conjugating it properly

Wow, you stumped me! I am looking forward to your answers to give me a grammar refresher! - missy8888, Apr 12, 2012

Answer 1

Wriu509,

Welcome to the forum. We would be glad to help you, but we do not do your homework assignments for you. What you should do is try on your own first. Post the questions again with what you think the correct answers should be. Then we will correct the mistakes. In that way, everybody will benefit from the excercise.

I am definitely not trying to have anyone do my homework for me. I have completed the exercise but I am simply unsure of my answers. I will post them above - wrl1509, Apr 12, 2012

Answer 2

Sammy y Alex fueron escogidos entre los mejores jugadores. Is the answer son or están?

Although using "son" may be correct in some context (as in a chronological description of events), it is not usual. "Fueron" would be my first choice. "Han sido" would also work there.

Johnson, quien ayudó a los Diamondbacks a coronarse en la Serie Mundial, fue segundo con 98,25 puntos.

This is correct. I don't want to confuse you, but "está" would also be correct here, depending on context (if the serie is still running, "está" can be used because is not a permanent state).

El también dominicano Manny Ramírez, de los Medias Rojas de Boston ____ los primeros tres jardineros de la Liga Americana.

This sentence cannot be completed with one word as it is. Please check it.

If I had to complete, my choices would be: El también dominicano Manny Ramírez, de los Medias Rojas de Boston fue uno de / esta entre los primeros tres jardineros de la Liga Americana.