1.
American League
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The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League, is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a league based in the Great Lakes states. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season,25 years after the formation of the National League. At the end of season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion. Through 2016, American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903, the 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the history, followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Originally a minor league known as the Western League, the American League later developed into a major league after the American Association disbanded, in its early history, the Western League struggled until 1894, when Ban Johnson became the president of the league. Johnson led the Western League into major league status and soon became the president of the newly renamed American League, babe Ruth, noted as one of the most prolific hitters in Major League Baseball history, spent the majority of his career in the American League. The American League has one notable difference versus the National League, in 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. In 1902, The Cleveland Bluebirds were also renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1903, the Broncos were renamed the Cleveland Naps. In 1915, the Naps were renamed the Cleveland Indians, in 1903, the Baltimore Orioles moved to New York and were renamed the New York Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees, in 1904, the Chicago White Stockings were renamed the Chicago White Sox. In 1908, the Boston Americans were renamed the Boston Red Sox, in 1954, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and were renamed as the Kansas City Athletics, in 1961, the league expanded and added two teams as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, expanding the league to 10 teams. The original Senators team moved to Minneapolis/St, Paul in 1961 and were renamed as the Minnesota Twins. The Angels team name changed to the California Angels in 1966, then to the Anaheim Angels in 1997, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League, expanding the league to 12 teams. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee and were renamed the Milwaukee Brewers, in 1972, the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and were renamed the Texas Rangers. In 1977, the league expanded to fourteen teams, when the Seattle Mariners, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays was added to the American League and at the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers were switched to the National League, leaving the American League with 14 teams
2.
1969 Major League Baseball season
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The 1969 Major League Baseball season was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, honoring the first professional touring baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. It was the first season of what is now called the Divisional Era, the winners of each division would compete against each other in a League Championship Series, then best-of-five, to determine the pennant winners that would face each other in the World Series. In a year marked by the expansion of the decade, the New York Mets. East Division with a league-best 100–62 record, and sweeping the N. L, West Division Champion Atlanta Braves in three games in the first National League Championship Series, the Miracle Mets became the first expansion team to win a pennant. East Division Champion Orioles, holders of the best record in baseball, West Division Champion Minnesota Twins in three games in the first American League Championship Series. The upstart Mets upset the heavily favored Orioles and won the World Series title in five games, in an effort to counteract a trend of low-scoring games, Major League Baseball adopted two measures during the Baseball Winter Meetings held in December 1968. The strike zone was reduced to the area over home plate between the armpits and the top of the knees of a batter. Also, the height of the mound was reduced from 15 inches to 10 inches. A save became an official MLB statistic to reward relief pitchers who preserve a lead while finishing a game, MLB called for a four-team expansion to take place in 1971 at the 1967 Winter Meetings, the first expansion since 1962. However, there was a complication, influential U. S, the Leagues agreed and moved expansion up to 1969, with the AL putting one of its new franchises in Kansas City. Ewing Kauffman won the bidding for that franchise, naming it the Kansas City Royals, the other AL team was awarded to Seattle. A consortium led by Dewey Soriano and William Daley won the bidding for the Seattle franchise, and named it the Seattle Pilots, a salute to the harbor pilots of the Puget Sound maritime industry. In the NL, one franchise was awarded to San Diego, California, arnholdt Smith, former owner of the AAA Pacific Coast Leagues San Diego Padres, won the bidding for the San Diego franchise, also naming it the Padres. Charles Bronfman, owner of Seagram, won the bidding for the Montreal franchise, naming them the Expos and this was the last NL expansion until the 1993 season. As part of the 1969 expansion, each league was to be split into two divisions of six each, with each league holding a best-of-five League Championship Series to decide the pennant. The AL was divided purely along geographic lines, but when it came to assign divisions in the NL and this alignment also addressed concerns that putting the leagues three strongest clubs—St. Louis, San Francisco, and the Cubs—in the west would result in divisional unequity, the Padres and Expos each finished with 110 losses and at the bottom of their respective divisions. The Royals did better, finishing 69–93 and in fourth in the AL West, the legal fallout of the battle would lead eventually to the expansion for the 1977 season
3.
Oakland, California
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Oakland /ˈoʊklənd/ is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1852, Oaklands territory covers what was once a mosaic of California coastal terrace prairie, oak woodland, and north coastal scrub. Its land served as a resource when its hillside oak and redwood timber were logged to build San Francisco. In the late 1860s, Oakland was selected as the terminal of the Transcontinental Railroad. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many San Francisco citizens moved to Oakland, enlarging the citys population, increasing its housing stock and it continued to grow in the 20th century with its busy port, shipyards, and a thriving automobile manufacturing industry. Oakland is known for its sustainability practices, including a top-ranking for usage of electricity from renewable resources, in addition, due to a steady influx of immigrants during the 20th century, along with thousands of African-American war-industry workers who relocated from the Deep South during the 1940s. Oakland is the most ethnically diverse city in the country. The earliest known inhabitants were the Huchiun Indians, who lived there for thousands of years, the Huchiun belonged to a linguistic grouping later called the Ohlone. In Oakland, they were concentrated around Lake Merritt and Temescal Creek, in 1772, the area that later became Oakland was claimed, with the rest of California, by Spanish settlers for the King of Spain. In the early 19th century, the Spanish crown granted the East Bay area to Luis María Peralta for his Rancho San Antonio, the grant was confirmed by the successor Mexican republic upon its independence from Spain. Upon his death in 1842, Peralta divided his land among his four sons, Most of Oakland fell within the shares given to Antonio Maria and Vicente. The portion of the parcel that is now Oakland was called encinal—Spanish for oak grove—due to the oak forest that covered the area. In 1851, three men—Horace Carpentier, Edson Adams, and Andrew Moon—began developing what is now downtown Oakland, on May 4,1852, the Town of Oakland incorporated. Two years later, on March 25,1854, Oakland re-incorporated as the City of Oakland, with Horace Carpentier elected the first mayor, the city and its environs quickly grew with the railroads, becoming a major rail terminal in the late 1860s and 1870s. In 1868, the Central Pacific constructed the Oakland Long Wharf at Oakland Point, a number of horsecar and cable car lines were constructed in Oakland during the latter half of the 19th century. The first electric streetcar set out from Oakland to Berkeley in 1891, at the time of incorporation, Oakland consisted of the territory that lay south of todays major intersection of San Pablo Avenue, Broadway, and Fourteenth Street. The city gradually annexed farmlands and settlements to the east and the north, Oaklands rise to industrial prominence, and its subsequent need for a seaport, led to the digging of a shipping and tidal channel in 1902. This resulted in the town of Alameda being made an island
4.
Billy Beane
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William Lamar Billy Beane III is an American former professional baseball player and current front office executive. He is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Prior to his front office career, he played in MLB as an outfielder between 1984 and 1989 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and he joined the Athletics front office as a scout in 1990. He was named manager after the 1997 season, and promoted to executive vice president after the 2015 season. A first round pick in the MLB draft by the Mets, Beanes playing career failed to meet the expectations of scouts, in his front office career, Beane has applied statistical analysis to players, which has led teams to reconsider how they evaluate players. He is the subject of Michael Lewis 2003 book on economics, Moneyball. Beane grew up in Mayport, Florida and San Diego, California and his father, a naval officer, taught him how to pitch. Beane attended Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego, where he excelled at baseball, football, the high school coach added Beane to the varsity baseball team for the last game of his freshman season. Beane batted.501 during his sophomore and junior years of high school, in his senior season, his batting average dropped to.300. Despite the decrease in batting average, scouts were enamored with Beanes talent, Beane gave up football to avoid an injury that could prematurely end his baseball career. The New York Mets, who had the first overall selection of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft, were enamored with Beanes talent, after visiting the Mets clubhouse, Beane decided to sign with the Mets for a $125,000 signing bonus. Beane notes his decision to sign with the Mets instead of going to Stanford as the decision he would ever make in his life about money. Beane struggled in his first season, batting.210 and he was unable to make the adjustments that were necessary when playing tougher competition. The Mets promoted Beane to the Lynchburg Mets of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League in 1981, after a solid season, he was promoted to the Jackson Mets of the Class AA Texas League in 1982. While Strawberry was the leagues most valuable player, Beane batted.220, Beane began questioning himself, while his new roommate, Lenny Dykstra, succeeded with unwavering confidence and superior mental focus. Beane remained in Jackson until 1984, when he received his first promotion to MLB, in 1985, Beane spent most of the season with the Tidewater Tides of the Class AAA International League, getting called up to the 1985 Mets for eight games. He batted.284 for the Tides in 1985, leading the team with 19 home runs and 77 runs batted in. Following the season, the Mets traded Beane with Joe Klink and Bill Latham to the Minnesota Twins for Tim Teufel and Pat Crosby, a minor league player
5.
Ken Macha
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Kenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He managed the Oakland Athletics from 2003–2006, including American League Western Division championships in both his first and final seasons with the team, and later managed the Milwaukee Brewers. Previously, Macha played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and he was a first cousin to Hal Newhouser. In the offseason, he lives in Murrysville, Pennsylvania with his family, Macha frequently appears on Root Sports Pittsburgh as a postgame analyst for the Pirates. Macha is a graduate of Gateway High School in Monroeville, a suburb of Pittsburgh and he was selected by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 1972 June draft. He was the Eastern League batting champion in 1974 with the Thetford Mines Pirates, Macha made his major league debut on September 14,1974, going 1-for-1 in a 17-2 Pirates loss to the Expos at Jarry Park. He is one of only a handful of players to play for both the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays, Canadas two major league franchises and his last major league appearance was on September 30,1981 in a 3-0 Blue Jays loss to the Oakland Athletics. Macha hit a combined.258 in 180 Major League Baseball games, following his major league career, Macha spent four years playing in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons, from 1982 until 1985. Macha retired as a player in 1985 and joined the Expos as a major league coach in 1986 and he spent six seasons at Montreal before moving to coaching for the California Angels at bullpen and third base. He then joined the Boston Red Sox organization in fall 1994, the 1997 season marked Machas first as manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. In the previous two seasons he managed the Double-A Trenton Thunder to first-place finishes, including a league-best 86–56 record and he was chosen to manage the American League affiliates in the Double-A All-Star Game. Macha then joined the Oakland Athletics as bench coach, serving under former Pirates teammate Art Howe from 1999 through 2002, in March 2002, the As denied permission for the Red Sox to contact Macha about their managerial vacancy. Boston then hired Grady Little, while Macha spent a season as a coach until he was tapped to succeed Howe. He was later fired on October 16,2006 by general manager Billy Beane and he was then offered a position as a senior adviser to Mariners GM Bill Bavasi. However, in April 2007, Macha accepted a position as a pre- and post-game analyst for New England Sports Network. On October 30,2008, the Milwaukee Brewers announced Macha as the Brewers new manager, Machas Brewers finished below.500 in both 2009 and 2010. On October 3,2010, it was confirmed that Macha would not return for the 2011 season. com
6.
KICU-TV
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KICU-TV, virtual and UHF digital channel 36, is an independent television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area that is licensed to San Jose, California, United States. It is owned by the Fox Television Stations subsidiary of 21st Century Fox, the two stations share studio facilities located at Jack London Square on Washington Street in West Oakland, KICU maintains transmitter facilities located on Monument Peak in Milpitas. The Federal Communications Commission originally assigned the UHF channel 36 allocation in Northern California to Stockton and it was occupied by KTVU, a short-lived independent station that signed on the air on December 18,1953. At the time, most television sets did not have built-in UHF tuners, consequently, as it was hampered by low viewership, the KTVU ultimately ceased operations on April 30,1955. Shortly afterward, Capital City TV Corp. entered into negotiations to purchase KTVU, Channel 36 never returned to the air and its construction permit was deleted by the Commission less than a year later. KICU-TV first signed on the air on October 9,1967 and it is currently the longest continuously operating commercial UHF television station in the Bay Area, as well as the longest continuously operating independent station in the market. The two characters often made jokes about the movies being showcased, as well as engaged in banter with guests promoting local businesses. The format would eventually be revised, with the interstitial segments conducted by Moore, in the winter of early 1981, the station was sold to Ralph Wilson Enterprises, operated by Detroit businessman Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills NFL franchise. The on-air identifications used by the following the callsign change featured a breathy, husky voiceover by Doda reading, I see you. In addition to breathing the station IDs, Doda would also perform the stations editorial segments, the first take of the editorials was always broadcast, with any mistakes made by Doda when they were recorded left in the aired segments. Over the years, the station ran a number of series and older movies, it also added more classic sitcoms. However, the station gradually decreased the amount of programs it carried on its schedule between 1998 and 2002, outside of those it aired on Saturday mornings. On August 28,1999, after having rejected unsolicited bids to sell the station for the several years, NBC would ultimately reach an affiliation deal with San Jose-based WB affiliate KNTV, after then-owner Granite Broadcasting Corporation on February 18,2000. On November 29,1999, Wilson sold the station to the Cox Broadcasting subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The trade, which was part of Foxs pursuit of station acquisitions in the markets of NFL teams that are part of the National Football Conference, was completed on October 8,2014. On April 25,2016, KICU adopted the KTVU Plus brand, after the move, KICU began to broadcast its own programming over the feed. KICU-TV shut down its signal, over UHF channel 36, on February 17,2009. Syndicated programs broadcast by KICU-TV include Maury, Everybody Loves Raymond, Cops Reloaded, Elementary, KICU previously aired select NBC programs pre-empted by the networks designated Bay Area affiliates at three separate times throughout its history
7.
NBC Sports Bay Area
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NBC Sports Bay Area is an American regional sports network that is owned as a joint venture between NBCUniversal and the San Francisco Giants, and operates as an affiliate of NBC Sports Group. Headquartered in San Francisco, the channel broadcasts coverage of professional sports events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. NBCS Bay Areas sister channel is NBC Sports California, the president of the network is Ted Griggs. The two networks merged in July 1991 into SportsChannel Pacific, on April 30,2007, Comcast purchased a 60% interest in FSN Bay Area, along with a 50% stake in FSN New England, from Rainbow Media for $570 million. Then on December 10, the San Francisco Giants acquired a 30% stake in FSN Bay Area, shortly after the rebranding, in April 2008, Fox agreed to sell its interest in CSN Bay Area to Comcast. The revamp would also include interviews in addition to providing scores and highlights. The channel also broadcasts college sports sanctioned by the West Coast Conference, select high school sports events are also occasionally broadcast on the network. Until 2004, the network also broadcast games involving the NBAs Sacramento Kings, following the expiration of their contracts with the then-FSN Bay Area, the owners of the Kings partnered with Comcast to create CSN Bay Areas sister channel, Comcast SportsNet West. This arrangement was formed to secure coverage for its lineup of collegiate sports events. The channel also aired simulcasts of radio such as The Dan Patrick Show until those programs were inherited by NBC Sports Network
8.
Ray Fosse
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Raymond Earl Fosse is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher and he was drafted in the first round of the 1965 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Fosse also holds the distinction of being the Indians first ever draft pick and he has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics since 1986. Fosses career was marked by injuries and he made his Major League debut in Cleveland late in the 1967 season, but spent 1968 in the minor leagues. Returning to the Indians in 1970, he platooned alongside Duke Sims, in the first half of 1970 he posted a.313 batting average with 16 home runs and 45 runs batted in. Arguably, Fosse is best known for a violent collision with Pete Rose at home plate during the last play of the 1970 All-Star Game. Fosse went on to play 42 games in the half of the season, hitting.297. When he returned he tore a ligament in his hand during an at-bat against Denny McLain. He did manage to win his second consecutive Gold Glove Award. When Cleveland pitcher Gaylord Perry won the American League Cy Young Award in 1972, he gave Fosse credit for his success, Ive got to split it up and give part and he kept pushing me in games when I didnt have good stuff. Hed come out and show me that big fist of his when I wasnt bearing down the way he thought I should, in 1973 Fosse was traded along with Jack Heidemann to the Oakland Athletics for Dave Duncan and George Hendrick. He played in 143 games that season, the most of his career, the Athletics won the American League Western Division pennant by six games over the Kansas City Royals, then defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series. Fosse made his mark in the series, throwing out five would-be base stealers, the Athletics went on to win the World Series against the New York Mets. The Athletics repeated as champions in 1974, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. On June 5 he suffered a crushed disk in his neck attempting to break up a fight between teammates Reggie Jackson and Billy North, and spent three months on the disabled list. The Athletics won a fifth division title in 1975. Fosse did participate in a combined no-hitter in the game of the season, catching for Paul Lindblad. The Athletics traded Fosse back to the Indians in 1976 where he became the starting catcher
9.
2005 Oakland Athletics season
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The Oakland Athletics 2005 season was their 37th in Oakland, California. It was also the 105th season in franchise history, the team finished second in the American League West with a record of 88-74. The Athletics entered the 2005 season with low expectations, the team had won more than ninety games in each of the previous five seasons, despite this, there were concerns about the teams starting pitching. During the 2004–05 offseason, general manager Billy Beane traded two of the teams so-called Big Three starting pitchers. Beane traded two of the three, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, to the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals, the As retained All-Star starter Barry Zito, despite this, many worried about the quality of the teams remaining starters. Some even picked the Athletics to finish last in the American League West, the As seemed to validate these concerns in the early days of the 2005 season. On May 29, they were 17-32, moreover, the team trailed the division-leading Angels by 12.5 games, the Athletics would follow this poor start with a stunning turnaround. From May 30 to August 13, Oakland would go a league-best 50-17, the surge was brought about, in large part, by the strong pitching of young starters Dan Haren, Rich Harden, and Joe Blanton. The team stunningly erased their 12.5 game deficit over this span, Oakland would pace the Angels well into September, at their peak, on August 30, the As actually led the Angels by two games. In the end, though, the team fell short, a collapse in the half of the 2005 season, combined with a dramatic Angels surge. The 2005 season also saw Athletics closer Huston Street win the American League Rookie of the Year Award, Street earned the honor after posting a 1.72 earned run average in his first major-league season, he did so while recording 23 saves. The Rookie of the Year Award was Oaklands second in as many years, november 27,2004, Jason Kendall was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with cash to the Oakland Athletics for Mark Redman, Arthur Rhodes, and cash. December 16,2004, Tim Hudson was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Atlanta Braves for Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer, and Charles Thomas. December 18,2004, Dan Haren was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Daric Barton, july 13,2005, Eric Byrnes was traded by the Oakland Athletics with Omar Quintanilla to the Colorado Rockies for Joe Kennedy and Jay Witasick. Note, G = Games played, AB = At Bats, H = Hits, the Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball
10.
Oakland Athletics
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The Oakland Athletics are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League West division. The club plays its games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. The club has won nine World Series championships, the third most of all current Major League Baseball teams, the Athletics 2017 season will be the teams 50th season in Oakland. One of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Philadelphia and they won three World Series championships from 1910 to 1913 and two in a row in 1929 and 1930. The teams owner and manager for its first 50 years was Connie Mack and Hall of Fame players included Chief Bender, Frank Home Run Baker, Jimmie Foxx, the team left Philadelphia for Kansas City in 1955 and became the Kansas City Athletics before moving to Oakland in 1968. They won three World Championships in a row from 1972 to 1974, led by players including Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, ace reliever Rollie Fingers, after being sold by Finley to Walter A. Haas, Jr. The film Moneyball, and the book on which it is based, the As made their Bay Area debut on Wednesday, April 17,1968, with a 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at the Coliseum, in front of an opening-night crowd of 50,164. The Athletics name originated in the term Athletic Club for local gentlemens clubs—dates to 1860 when an amateur team, the team later turned professional through 1875, becoming a charter member of the National League in 1876, but were expelled from the N. L. after one season. A later version of the Athletics played in the American Association from 1882–1891, McGraw and Mack had known each other for years, and McGraw accepted it graciously. By 1909, the As were wearing an elephant logo on their sweaters, over the years the elephant has appeared in several different colors. In 1963, when the As were located in Kansas City and this is rumored to have been done by Finley in order to appeal to fans from the region who were predominantly Democrats at the time. Since 1988, the Athletics 21st season in Oakland, an illustration of an elephant has adorned the sleeve of the As home. Beginning in the mid 1980s, the on-field costumed incarnation of the As elephant mascot went by the name Harry Elephante, in 1997, he took his current form, Stomper. Through the seasons, the Athletics uniforms have usually paid homage to their forebears to some extent. Until 1954, when the uniforms had Athletics spelled out in script across the front, furthermore, neither Philadelphia nor the letter P ever appeared on the uniform or cap. The typical Philadelphia uniform had only a script A on the left front, in the early days of the American League, the standings listed the club as Athletic rather than Philadelphia, in keeping with the old tradition. Eventually, the city came to be used for the team
11.
Marco Scutaro
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Marcos Scutaro, better known as Marco Scutaro, is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder. Scutaro made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2002, since then, he has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants. Scutaro was named the most valuable player of the 2012 National League Championship Series while with the Giants, Scutaro was one of the primary subjects of the 2005 documentary A Player to be Named Later. Scutaro was born in San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela and he began playing baseball at age six. Scutaro originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent on July 26,1994. As a teenager, Scutaro considered fellow Venezuelan Omar Vizquel his favorite player, Scutaro was in the 2005 documentary film A Player To Be Named Later which followed various players from Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, for one season. He was waived at the start of the 2002 season by the Brewers who needed to make room for Nelson Figueroa on its roster, Scutaro was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on April 5,2002. He batted.336 with 20 doubles,7 home runs,25 runs batted in and 39 runs scored in 79 games with the Tides and he was also selected to the International League squad for the Triple-A All-Star Game that summer. Scutaros first promotion to the majors came on July 19 when the Mets recalled him from the Norfolk Tides to replace the injured Joe McEwing. Scutaro introduced himself to Mets manager Bobby Valentine that afternoon while the latter was eating lunch at the hotel in Cincinnati where the team was staying, Valentine reciprocated the greeting without knowing who Scutaro was. After completing his meal, Valentine inquired about why Scutaro was lingering, I just got called up, Scutaro responded. Scutaro was again selected off waivers, this time by the Oakland Athletics, Scutaro landed a starting second baseman position after Mark Ellis had a season-ending shoulder injury during 2004 spring training. In 2004, Scutaro reached career highs in batting average, runs batted in, runs, hits, doubles, at bats and he played multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, third base, and left field. Because of his Italian heritage, Scutaro was given the option of playing for either Italy or Venezuela in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and he chose to play for Venezuela as a utility infielder. He again represented Venezuela in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2013 World Baseball Classic, Venezuela won the bronze medal in 2009, but in 2013 earned an early exit after a loss to Puerto Rico 6–3. However, Venezuela won against newcomers Spain to earn a qualification for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. On November 18,2007, Scutaro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitchers Kristian Bell, shortly after Ecksteins return, Eckstein and Blue Jays teammate Aaron Hill collided trying to catch a fly ball. Hill suffered from symptoms, and Scutaro filled in at second base
12.
Ted Lilly
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Theodore Roosevelt Ted Lilly III is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. Lilly attended Yosemite High School in Oakhurst, California, and Fresno City College and he played in MLB for the Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Lilly was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft, after two seasons in the Dodgers farm system, he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Hiram Bocachica, Mark Grudzielanek and Carlos Pérez. Lilly made his Major League debut for the Expos on May 14,1999 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and he made his first start on September 19 against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched in nine games for the Expos, with three starts, Lilly was in the starting rotation for Oakland, and pitched in the American League Division Series in both 2002 and 2003. Lilly was traded from the Athletics to the Toronto Blue Jays for Bobby Kielty and he made the American League All-Star team in 2004 as the Jays lone representative that year. The highlight of his career as a Blue Jay was a start on August 23,2004 against the Boston Red Sox and he pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out 13 batters in a three-hit 3–0 victory. Lilly was 15–13 with a 4.31 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 2006 and he also equaled a career high for starts and nearly matched his career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. This season, he ranked first among the Jays pitching staff in strikeouts, on August 21,2006, in a game against the Oakland Athletics, Lilly was surrendering an early 8-0 lead in the 3rd inning when manager John Gibbons took him out of the game. With the score 8-5 and runners on 1st and 3rd, Lilly refused to him the ball. Eventually, he left the mound and later feuded with Gibbons in the locker room. On the morning of December 6,2006, he informed the Blue Jays that he would not be returning to the club, thus rejecting a four-year and he cited a change in scenery as his reasoning. Later on that day, Lilly agreed to an identical four-year, $40 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, officially ending his tenure with the Blue Jays. In his first start for the Cubs, Lilly defeated the Cincinnati Reds in an outing, taking a no hitter into the fifth inning. Lilly then was the pitcher for the Cubs home opening game at Wrigley Field on April 9,2007. Lilly gave up three runs in six innings, but did not factor into the decision, Lilly pitched well in April, lasting at least six innings in each of his five starts while never giving up more than three runs in a game posting a 2.18 ERA. Lilly was prominent in a series in Atlanta between the Cubs and the Atlanta Braves. In game one of the series, Alfonso Soriano hit three home runs in his first three at-bats as part of a Cubs 9-1 victory, in the next game, Tim Hudson hit Soriano with a first-pitch fastball triggering home-plate umpire Tim Tschida to issue warnings to both teams
13.
Mark Kotsay
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Mark Steven Kotsay is an American professional baseball coach and a former outfielder. In 2016, he served as the coach for the Oakland Athletics. During his active career, he appeared in 1,914 games for the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. Born in Whittier, but raised in Santa Fe Springs California, Kotsay spent the summer of 1994 playing for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 1995, Kotsay won the Golden Spikes Award and was the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series, in addition to being an outfielder, Kotsay was a closer in college, he pitched the final five outs to clinch his teams CWS title. Kotsay was a choice as an All-American in 1995 and 1996. Kotsay was selected by the Florida Marlins as the 9th pick of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, Kotsay appeared in 14 games for the Florida Marlins in 1997 before taking over as the teams center fielder in 1998. He was moved to field after Gary Sheffield was traded. As a rookie, he led all National League outfielders with 20 assists, in 2000, he led all right fielders with 13 assists. At the plate, Kotsay was an average hitter during these years, hitting around.280 with occasional power, Kotsay was traded in 2001, barely a week before Opening Day, to the San Diego Padres as part of a deal for Matt Clement and Eric Owens. Moved back to field, Kotsay improved his hitting. This can be attributed to the fact that few chose to run on Kotsay. Over the next two seasons, however, Kotsay was defensively back on form, leading all National League center fielders in that category, Kotsay hit.291 with a.807 OPS in 2001 and.292 with a.810 OPS in 2002. After his batting average slipped to.266 with a.726 OPS in 2003, Kotsay was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Terrence Long, with Oakland in 2004, Kotsay batted a career best.314 hitting second in the As lineup. Displaying his customary strong arm afield, he led American League center fielders with 11 assists, on July 9,2005, the Athletics announced that Kotsay and the team had come to terms on a three-year, $29 million contract extension. The extension kept Kotsay under contract with the Athletics through the 2008 season, news of the contract extension ended speculation that Kotsay would be traded to a team in need of a starting center fielder, such as the New York Yankees. On Mothers Day, May 14,2006, Kotsay was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation and he was one of a handful of players to hit a pink bat home run. The 2006 season marked Kotsays first-ever appearance in a postseason game, Kotsay underwent back surgery during spring training 2007, and missed the first two months of the 2007 campaign
14.
Road (sports)
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A road game or away game is a sports game where the specified team is not the host and must travel to another venue. Most professional teams represent cities or towns and amateur sports teams often represent academic institutions, each team has a location where it practices during the season and where it hosts games. When a team is not the host, it must travel to games. Thus, when a team is not hosting a game, the team is described as the team, the visiting team, or the away team. The venue in which the game is played is described as the stadium or the road. The host team is said to be the home team, major sporting events, if not held at a neutral venue, are often over several legs at each teams home ground, so that neither team has an advantage over the other. Occasionally, the team may not have to travel very far at all to a road game. These matches often become local derbies, a few times a year, a road team may even be lucky enough to have the road game played at their own home stadium or arena. This is prevalent in college athletics where many schools will play in regional leagues or groundshare. The related term true road game has seen increasing use in U. S. college sports in the 21st century, while regular-season tournaments and other special events have been part of college sports from their creation, the 21st century has seen a proliferation of such events. These are typically held at sites, with some of them taking place outside the contiguous U. S. or even outside the country entirely. In turn, this has led to the use of true road game to refer to contests played at one home venue. In some association football leagues, particularly in Europe, the teams fans sit in their own section. Depending on the stadium, they will either sit in a designated section or be separated from the home fans by a cordon of police officers. However, in the leagues in England, supporters may be free to mix. When games are played at a site, for instance the FA Cup final in England which is always played at Wembley Stadium. This results in each team occupying one half of the stadium and this is different from other sports, particularly in North America, where very few fans travel to games played away from their home stadium. Home and away fans are not separated at these games
15.
2004 Anaheim Angels season
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The Anaheim Angels 2004 season was the franchises 44th since its inception. The regular season ended with a record of 92-70, resulting in the Angels winning their fourth American League West division title and their playoff run was short, as they were quickly swept by the Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series. October 27,2003, Adam Riggs was signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels, november 24,2003, Kelvim Escobar was signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels. January 14,2004, Vladimir Guerrero was signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels, may 30,2004, Raúl Mondesí signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels. August 4,2004, Raúl Mondesí was released by the Anaheim Angels, june 7,2004, Pat White was drafted in the 4th round, 113th overall in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. White opted to play quarterback at the University of West Virginia, june 7,2004, Freddy Sandoval was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 8th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Note, G = Games played, AB = At Bats, R = Runs, H = Hits, Avg. baseball-almanac. com
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2004 Boston Red Sox season
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The 2004 Boston Red Sox season was the 104th season in the franchises Major League Baseball history. Managed by Terry Francona, the Red Sox finished with a 98–64 record, the Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card, swept the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, and faced the Yankees in the ALCS for the second straight year. The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, november 28,2003, Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge de la Rosa, and Michael Goss were traded by the Red Sox to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Curt Schilling. December 16,2003, Mark Bellhorn was acquired by the Red Sox from the Colorado Rockies as part of a conditional deal, december 22,2003, Gabe Kapler was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox. During the 2003–04 off season, the Red Sox acquired a starting ace pitcher, Curt Schilling, as well as a closer, many visitors at their Spring training at Fort Myers, Florida were very enthusiastic about the 2004 Red Sox team. Expectations once again ran high that 2004 would finally be the year that the Red Sox ended their championship drought. The regular season started well in April, but through midseason the team struggled due to injuries, inconsistency and defensive woes, and fell more than eight games behind New York. A bright point came on July 24, when the Red Sox overcame a deficit as Bill Mueller hit a game-winning home run to right-center off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The game also featured the infamous brawl between Yankee superstar Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek, in a separate transaction, the Red Sox also traded AAA outfielder Henri Stanley to the Los Angeles Dodgers for center fielder Dave Roberts. The team played its games at Fenway Park, before a regular season total attendance of 2,837,294 fans. Note, Pos = position, G = Games played, AB = At bats, H = Hits, the Red Sox blew out the Angels 9–3 in Game 1, scoring 7 of those runs in the fourth inning. However, the Sox 2003 off season prize pickup Curt Schilling suffered a tendon when he was hit by a line drive. The injury was exacerbated when Schilling fielded a ball rolling down the first base line, the second game, pitched by Pedro Martínez, stayed close until Boston scored four in the ninth to win 8–3. In game three, what looked to be a blowout turned out to be a nail-biter, as Vladimir Guerrero hit a grand slam off Mike Timlin in the top of the inning to tie it at six. However, David Ortiz, who was noted for his hitting, delivered in the 10th inning with a game winning two-run homer, off Jarrod Washburn. The Red Sox advanced to a rematch in the 2004 American League Championship Series against their bitter rivals, despite high hopes that the Red Sox would finally vanquish their nemesis from the Bronx, the series started disastrously for them. Curt Schilling pitched with the tendon sheath in his right ankle he had suffered in Game 1 of the Division Series against Anaheim. Yankee starter Mike Mussina had six innings, and held an 8–0 lead
17.
2004 Minnesota Twins season
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The 2004 Minnesota Twins met their goal of three-peating as American League Central Division champions. The team was able to do this in spite of new players. The season had both highs – such as Johan Santana winning the Cy Young Award – and lows, such as highly anticipated rookie catcher Joe Mauer injuring his knee and playing for only 35 games. For the second year in a row, the team was not able to carry its regular season success into the post-season, the New York Yankees eliminated the Twins for the second year in a row in four games in the 2004 American League Division Series. November 14,2003, Traded catcher A. J. Pierzynski, received Pitchers Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser. November 20,2003, Selected pitcher Matt Guerrier off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, december 3,2003, Traded pitcher Eric Milton to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received pitcher Carlos Silva, IF Nick Punto, and a player to be named later, the Philadelphia Phillies sent Bobby Korecky to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade. December 18,2003, Signed Henry Blanco as a free agent, january 8,2004, Signed Aaron Fultz as a free agent. February 6,2004, Signed José Offerman as a free agent, for a playoff team, the offense was not strong. This was partly due to injuries and starters absent from the lineup, lew Ford surprised many by batting.299 in his first full year in the major leagues. Free agent acquisition José Offerman saw a majority of time in the designated hitter spot, Shannon Stewart did hit.304, but injuries limited him to 378 at bats. In 107 at bats, Mauer was able to hit.307, in his absence, catcher Henry Blanco hit only.206. First baseman Doug Mientkiewiczs hitting continued to decline, as he hit.246 with five runs before being dealt to the Boston Red Sox. Nine players hit ten or more home runs, when the Twins hit their record 225 homers in 1963, only eight players reached double figures. Brad Radke was the opening day starter, but he was overshadowed by Johan Santanas Cy Young year. Radke, Santana, and Carlos Silva anchored the starting rotation, unfortunately, Kyle Lohse had a bad year that saw his ERA balloon to 5.34, while the fifth spot in the rotation was nebulous. The Twins set their record of 32 consecutive scoreless innings in June. In the bullpen, Joe Nathan blew everyone away during his first year as a closer at any level, romero continued playing as excellent set-up men, while the rest of the bullpen was weaker
18.
2004 New York Yankees season
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The New York Yankees 2004 season was the 102nd season for the Yankees. The Yankees opened the season by playing two games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Japan on March 30,2004, the team finished with a record of 101-61, finishing 3 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The 2004 season was the Yankees third straight season of 100+ wins, New York was managed by Joe Torre. In the playoffs, the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins,3 games to 1, in the ALDS, before losing to the wild card Boston Red Sox,4 games to 3, in the ALCS. The 2004 Yankees are notable as the team in MLB history to lose a 7-game playoff series after taking a 3 games to none lead. October 27,2003, Luis Sojo was released by the New York Yankees, december 16,2003, Nick Johnson was traded by the New York Yankees with Randy Choate and Juan Rivera to the Montreal Expos for Javier Vázquez. December 23,2003, Buddy Carlyle was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees, january 6,2004, Kenny Lofton signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees. February 5,2004, Mike Lamb was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for Jose Garcia. February 16,2004, The New York Yankees sent Alfonso Soriano, the New York Yankees sent Joaquin Arias to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade. March 25,2004, Mike Lamb was traded by the New York Yankees to the Houston Astros for Juan DeLeon. Derek Jeter dives into stands chasing and catching a pop up in the 12th inning of a 3 to 3 game against the Boston Red Sox, on August 31 the Yankees had their worst loss in history by run differential, losing 22–0 to the Cleveland Indians. On September 30 the Yankees clinched their division, june 7,2004, Phil Hughes was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round of the 2004 amateur draft. July 22,2004, Donzell McDonald was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees, july 31,2004, Esteban Loaiza was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for José Contreras and cash. August 3,2004, John Olerud was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees, August 17,2004, Shane Spencer signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees. Note, G = Games played, AB = At bats, H = Hits, Avg
19.
Joe Blanton
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Joseph Matthew Blanton is an American professional pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, after playing college baseball for the University of Kentucky, Blanton was drafted by the Athletics. While pitching for the Phillies in the 2008 World Series, Blanton hit a home run, Joe Blanton was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but grew up in Chalybeate, Kentucky. He graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 1999 and he pitched three seasons for the University of Kentucky, with a 13–12 record from 2000 to 2002, and led the Southeastern Conference with 133 strikeouts in his final season, finishing with a 4.59 ERA. The Oakland Athletics selected Blanton in the first round, with the 24th overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, This draft was chronicled by Michael Lewis in his book, Moneyball. In 2003, while pitching for the Kane County Cougars and the Midland RockHounds, the next season, he helped the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats win the Pacific Coast League Championship with an 11–8 record and a 4.19 ERA. He struck out 143 batters in 176 innings, tossing one complete game in 26 starts, Joe Blanton made his debut on September 21,2004, against the Texas Rangers. He made three appearances and pitched eight innings and he posted a 5.63 ERA, but did not get a decision in any of his games. In 2005, Blanton joined the rotation that had lost pitchers Mark Mulder. He made his first start on April 8 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, pitching five innings, after losing his first five decisions, he picked up his first win when he worked seven innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 4. Blanton was third on the team in innings pitched, but still exceeded 200 innings in his first full season. He posted a 12–12 record with a 3.53 ERA in 33 starts and his ERA was best among all rookies with 100 or more innings pitched. He also tied the Oakland rookie record for most wins in a season with 12 and his first career complete game came as a 1–0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on April 24,2005, he was the only rookie to post two complete games in 2005. Blantons high loss total was attributed to poor run support, as the As only posted six runs total in all twelve of his losses combined, while posting 62 runs in his 12 wins. Blanton was also named the American League Rookie of the Month for June, as he tied with teammate Dan Haren for the AL lead in wins and finished third in ERA in June. In 2006, Blantons ERA rose over a point to 4.82 and gave up the fifth highest number of hits in the American League. However, he had four more wins than the year, posting a 16–12 record, striking out 107 batters. He pitched his first career complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals on May 31
20.
Chad Bradford
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Chadwick Lee Chad Bradford is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was well known for his extreme submarine-style pitching, and his success in MLB despite his unconventional delivery and this led to him figuring prominently in the Michael Lewis book Moneyball, which in 2011 was made into the film of the same title. Bradford is played by actor Casey Bond in the film, Bradford was born in Byram, Mississippi. His father had suffered a stroke left him partially paralyzed. Author Michael Lewis speculates that memories of his fathers throwing motion may have contributed to the development of Bradfords pitching style, Bradford went to Byram High School. Unlike most players who become major leaguers, he had not exhibited outstanding athletic talent through the years of high school. But his high school coach suggested he try sidearm pitching after learning some tips about the approach from a professional player and this technique brought him enough success to get a spot on the teams of Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1994, the White Sox—the only major league team that had even scouted him—re-drafted him in the 13th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his league debut in 1998 while 23 years old. In 1999, Bradford made only a stop in the majors with the rest of the season spent with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. He was successful as a September call-up in 2000 and pitched in the American League Division Series, following the season, the White Sox traded him to the Oakland Athletics for catcher Miguel Olivo. From 2001 to 2004, Bradford was a specialty reliever for the Athletics and his ERA stayed around 3.00 for his entire career until 2004 when he had a setback. It was said to be because of his back pain which eventually forced him on to the disabled list. In July,2005, the Boston Red Sox acquired Bradford from Oakland in a trade for outfielder Jay Payton, Bradford, on the disabled list since undergoing lower back surgery March 7, was activated after the All-Star break. For Boston, Bradford had a 3.86 ERA with a 1.414 WHIP in 23⅓ innings, after the season, he became a free agent and was signed by the New York Mets where he was reunited with Rick Peterson, his pitching coach from the Athletics. He had a solid year in 2006 as a right-handed specialist out of the bullpen. On November 28,2006 Bradford signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, on May 31,2008, Manny Ramirez hit his 500th career home run off of Bradford. On August 7,2008, Bradford was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later, with a lot of postseason experience under his belt, Bradford shined in the 2008 playoffs and played a big part in Tampa Bays world series run
21.
Santiago Casilla
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Santiago Casilla is a Dominican professional baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants, Casilla throws four pitches, a fastball, slider, curveball, and a changeup. Casilla was originally signed by the Oakland As on January 31,2000, as a free agent. Casilla pitched small parts of 2004,2005, and 2006 for the Athletics as a reliever, in 2007, Casilla was recalled by the Athletics from Triple-A after going 2–1 with a 4.13 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings. He stepped into a bullpen that had Huston Street, Justin Duchscherer, Casilla started off well, going 2–1 with 2 saves and a 0.45 ERA in his first 16 games. But he wound up finishing the season with a 3–1 record and he pitched in the As bullpen in the 2008 and 2009 seasons with mixed success. At the end of 2009, he was granted free agency by the As and he made his Giants debut on May 21,2010 against his former team in Oakland and remained with the team for the remainder of the season until they won the World Series. He returned to the Giants for 2011 as a member of the bullpen, Casilla picked up his first career base hit, a bases loaded, two out RBI ground ball single between Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Hill on September 14,2012. Casilla was the pitcher in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series as the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers. On December 17,2012, Casilla re-signed with the Giants for 3 years at $15 million, on May 28,2013, Casilla underwent knee surgery to remove a cyst and was placed on the 15-day DL. Casilla is the third San Francisco Giant in franchise history to pitch an inning, joining Trevor Wilson. On April 25,2016, Casilla successfully logged his 100th save, on January 20,2017, Casilla signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Oakland Athletics. Casilla works with a power pitcher repertoire, chiefly throwing a low to mid-90s two-seam fastball. He also occasionally mixes in a curveball and changeup, however, at times, he struggles with control of his pitches. Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference
22.
Octavio Dotel
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Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He was a member of the Houston Astros for 5 seasons, Dotel made his MLB debut on June 26,1999, for the New York Mets and lost. His first MLB win came July 1,1999, against the Florida Marlins and he ended the season as the winning pitcher in the 1999 National League Championship Series game five against the Atlanta Braves. He was voted Player of the Week for the week of July 25,1999, Dotel won the 2011 World Series as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Dotel graduated from Liceo Cansino Afuera in the Dominican Republic and was signed by the New York Mets as a free agent in 1993. He played for their minor league affiliate in the Dominican Summer League through 1994, on December 23,1999, Dotel was traded by the Mets with Roger Cedeño and minor leaguer Kyle Kessel to the Houston Astros for Mike Hampton and Derek Bell. In 2000 Dotel amassed three wins in 16 games started as well as 16 saves as his role converted from starter to relief pitcher for the Astros and this season marked the first time in National League history that a pitcher had over 15 starts and 15 saves. In 2001, Dotel again began the season as a starter, Dotel had an excellent season in 2002, he led all relievers with 118 strikeouts, helping secure a well-reputed bullpen for the Astros at that time. After the 2003 season, Wagner was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, Dotel served as closer for the Athletics and finished the 2004 season with a career-high 36 saves. Dotel began 2005 as closer for the Athletics again, but had a rough start and he underwent Tommy John surgery on June 1, ending his season after just 15 games. Dotel signed a deal with the New York Yankees in December 2005. He missed the first four months of the 2006 season, recovering from his Tommy John surgery, Dotel had a setback after developing tendinitis in his elbow while on a rehab assignment with the Trenton Thunder. This pushed his return into August as he went through minor league assignment with the Columbus Clippers. Dotel pitched his first game in a Yankees uniform on August 16, coming into the game in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles and he finished the season playing in 14 games with no record and an ERA of 10.80. Dotel became an agent at the end of the 2006 MLB season. On December 8,2006, he agreed to a contract with the Kansas City Royals for $5 million. On July 31,2007 the Royals traded Dotel to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Kyle Davies and he made his Braves debut on August 1, throwing a scoreless ninth inning in a 12–3 rout of the Astros. On August 10, Dotel was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain
