José Mesa: Difference between revisions
m update link to use template |
Stonecold415 (talk | contribs) Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
==Baseball career== |
==Baseball career== |
||
Initially, Mesa was signed as an amateur free agent by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in 1981, originally as an [[outfielder]]. He was sent from the Blue Jays to the [[1987 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]] on September 4, 1987 to complete a transaction from four days prior on August 31 when [[Oswaldo Peraza]] was traded to Baltimore for [[Mike Flanagan (baseball)|Mike Flanagan]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/09/01/orioles-trade-flanagan/08af54b8-7cce-4ab2-811c-fa548df2f8e3/ Justice, Richard. "Orioles Trade Flanagan," ''The Washington Post'', Tuesday, September 1, 1987.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/09/04/Baseball-Central/9561557726400/ "Baseball Central," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Friday, September 4, 1987.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref> Mesa began his major-league career as a starting pitcher with the Orioles, who hoped that Mesa's superior fastball would earn him success in the starting role. After 48 starts of below-average results during four seasons, Mesa was traded from the [[1992 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]] to the [[1992 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]] for minor-league outfielder Kyle Washington on July 14, 1992.<ref>[https://www.mlb.com/guardians/news/cleveland-indians-all-time-top-5-in-season-trades/c-53970992 Bastian, Jordan. "Indians' all-time Top 5 in-season trades," MLB.com, Thursday, July 18, 2013.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref> Cleveland continued to use Mesa as a starter through the end of {{mlby|1993}}; that year, Mesa pitched a career-high {{frac|208|2|3}} [[innings pitched|innings]], although his [[earned-run average]] was worse than the league average ERA for the fifth consecutive season. |
Initially, Mesa was signed as an amateur free agent by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in 1981, originally as an [[outfielder]]. He was sent from the Blue Jays to the [[1987 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]] on September 4, 1987, to complete a transaction from four days prior on August 31 when [[Oswaldo Peraza]] was traded to Baltimore for [[Mike Flanagan (baseball)|Mike Flanagan]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/09/01/orioles-trade-flanagan/08af54b8-7cce-4ab2-811c-fa548df2f8e3/ Justice, Richard. "Orioles Trade Flanagan," ''The Washington Post'', Tuesday, September 1, 1987.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/09/04/Baseball-Central/9561557726400/ "Baseball Central," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Friday, September 4, 1987.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref> Mesa began his major-league career as a starting pitcher with the Orioles, who hoped that Mesa's superior fastball would earn him success in the starting role. After 48 starts of below-average results during four seasons, Mesa was traded from the [[1992 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]] to the [[1992 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]] for minor-league outfielder Kyle Washington on July 14, 1992.<ref>[https://www.mlb.com/guardians/news/cleveland-indians-all-time-top-5-in-season-trades/c-53970992 Bastian, Jordan. "Indians' all-time Top 5 in-season trades," MLB.com, Thursday, July 18, 2013.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref> Cleveland continued to use Mesa as a starter through the end of {{mlby|1993}}; that year, Mesa pitched a career-high {{frac|208|2|3}} [[innings pitched|innings]], although his [[earned-run average]] was worse than the league average ERA for the fifth consecutive season. |
||
Mesa became a [[relief pitcher]] for the [[Cleveland Indians]] in {{mlby|1994}}, and for the first season of his career, he posted an ERA better than the league average. In the role of [[closer (baseball)|closer]] during the {{mlby|1995}} season, Mesa pitched superbly; in 64 innings pitched over 62 appearances, Mesa had a 1.13 ERA, saved 46 games in 48 chances, and earned three wins. Thirty-eight of Mesa's 46 saves were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations; this was a major-league record at the time. Mesa's performance in 1995 was critical in the Indians' 100–44 regular-season record and their first [[World Series]] appearance since {{mlby|1954}}. That year, Mesa finished second in AL [[Cy Young Award|Cy Young]] voting and fourth in AL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting. |
Mesa became a [[relief pitcher]] for the [[Cleveland Indians]] in {{mlby|1994}}, and for the first season of his career, he posted an ERA better than the league average. In the role of [[closer (baseball)|closer]] during the {{mlby|1995}} season, Mesa pitched superbly; in 64 innings pitched over 62 appearances, Mesa had a 1.13 ERA, saved 46 games in 48 chances, and earned three wins. Thirty-eight of Mesa's 46 saves were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations; this was a major-league record at the time. Mesa's performance in 1995 was critical in the Indians' 100–44 regular-season record and their first [[World Series]] appearance since {{mlby|1954}}. That year, Mesa finished second in AL [[Cy Young Award|Cy Young]] voting and fourth in AL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting. |
||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
In {{mlby|1997}}, Mesa's 2.40 ERA, 16 [[Save (baseball)|saves]], and four wins helped the Indians to their second World Series appearance in three seasons; however, he failed to hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the [[1997 World Series]], and Cleveland traded him midway through the following season. Following his departure from Cleveland, he pitched for the [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Seattle Mariners]], but without much success. In 2001, he signed with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] and enjoyed a two-year run of success. However, in 2003 his ERA more than doubled, and he was granted free agency at the end of the season. He spent 2004 and 2005 pitching for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], and pitched for the [[Colorado Rockies]] in 2006. |
In {{mlby|1997}}, Mesa's 2.40 ERA, 16 [[Save (baseball)|saves]], and four wins helped the Indians to their second World Series appearance in three seasons; however, he failed to hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the [[1997 World Series]], and Cleveland traded him midway through the following season. Following his departure from Cleveland, he pitched for the [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Seattle Mariners]], but without much success. In 2001, he signed with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] and enjoyed a two-year run of success. However, in 2003 his ERA more than doubled, and he was granted free agency at the end of the season. He spent 2004 and 2005 pitching for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], and pitched for the [[Colorado Rockies]] in 2006. |
||
On December 10, {{mlby|2006}}, he signed with the [[Detroit Tigers]]. He was released by the team on June 3, {{mlby|2007}}. In 16 appearances with the team, he was |
On December 10, {{mlby|2006}}, he signed with the [[Detroit Tigers]]. He was released by the team on June 3, {{mlby|2007}}. In 16 appearances with the team, he was 1–1 with a 12.34 ERA. On June 8, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. He appeared in 40 games for the Phillies, compiling a 1–2 record with a 5.54 ERA, and retired following the 2007 season. |
||
==Highlights== |
==Highlights== |
||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
==Controversies== |
==Controversies== |
||
Mesa was involved in a longstanding feud with former teammate [[Omar Vizquel]] following the publication of Vizquel's autobiography, ''Omar! My Life On and Off the Field''. In the book, Vizquel criticized Mesa's performance in [[1997 World Series#Game 7|Game 7 of the 1997 World Series]], in which Mesa came in with the Indians leading 2-1 and 3 outs away from their first championship in 49 years, only to blow the save and allow Florida to tie the game: "The eyes of the world were focused on every move we made. Unfortunately, Jose's own eyes were vacant. Completely empty. Nobody home. You could almost see right through him. Not long after I looked into his vacant eyes, he blew the save and the Marlins tied the game." Mesa reacted furiously, pledging to hit Vizquel upon every subsequent opportunity: "Even my little boy told me to get him. If I face him 10 more times, I'll hit him 10 times. I want to kill him."<ref>[http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1521918.html ESPN.com: MLB – Vizquel-Mesa feud hits a high point]</ref> |
Mesa was involved in a longstanding feud with former teammate [[Omar Vizquel]] following the publication of Vizquel's autobiography, ''Omar! My Life On and Off the Field''. In the book, Vizquel criticized Mesa's performance in [[1997 World Series#Game 7|Game 7 of the 1997 World Series]], in which Mesa came in with the Indians leading 2-1 and 3 outs away from their first championship in 49 years, only to blow the save and allow Florida to tie the game: "The eyes of the world were focused on every move we made. Unfortunately, Jose's own eyes were vacant. Completely empty. Nobody home. You could almost see right through him. Not long after I looked into his vacant eyes, he blew the save and the Marlins tied the game." Mesa reacted furiously, pledging to hit Vizquel upon every subsequent opportunity: "Even my little boy told me to get him. If I face him 10 more times, I'll hit him 10 times. I want to kill him."<ref>[http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1521918.html ESPN.com: MLB – Vizquel-Mesa feud hits a high point]</ref> |
||
By the end of the 2007 season, Mesa had hit Vizquel on three separate occasions. Vizquel expressed regret in 2014 about what happened due to his comments about Mesa (which he also stated were misinterpreted) but Mesa and Vizquel have never reconciled, to the point where Mesa said he hadn't spoken to Vizquel in over a decade and had no plans to ever talk to him again. |
By the end of the 2007 season, Mesa had hit Vizquel on three separate occasions. Vizquel expressed regret in 2014 about what happened due to his comments about Mesa (which he also stated were misinterpreted) but Mesa and Vizquel have never reconciled, to the point where Mesa said he hadn't spoken to Vizquel in over a decade and had no plans to ever talk to him again. |
||
| Line 75: | Line 75: | ||
==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
||
Mesa's son, José Mesa Jr., is also a |
Mesa's son, [[José Mesa Jr.]], is also a professional baseball pitcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/640118/Mesa-Jr--following-in-father-s-footsteps.html?nav=5415|title=Mesa Jr. following in father's footsteps|date=July 23, 2015|first=John|last=Vargo|work=Tribune Chronicle|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2017-mlb-rule-5-draft-results/c-263351580|title=2017 MLB Rule 5 Draft results|website=MLB.com|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref> |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
Latest revision as of 01:19, 5 May 2024
 |
| José Mesa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mesa with the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 22, 1966 Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 10, 1987, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 2007, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games pitched | 1,022 |
| Win–loss record | 80–109 |
| Earned run average | 4.36 |
| Strikeouts | 1,038 |
| Saves | 321 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
José Ramón Nova Mesa (Spanish: [xoˈse ˈmesa]; born May 22, 1966) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1987 through 2007. He played for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers. He retired with 321 career saves.
Mesa was a two-time MLB All-Star and won the American League (AL) Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1995, when he led the AL in saves. His nickname was "Joe Table", the literal translation of his name in the English language.[1]
Baseball career[edit]
Initially, Mesa was signed as an amateur free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981, originally as an outfielder. He was sent from the Blue Jays to the Orioles on September 4, 1987, to complete a transaction from four days prior on August 31 when Oswaldo Peraza was traded to Baltimore for Mike Flanagan.[2][3] Mesa began his major-league career as a starting pitcher with the Orioles, who hoped that Mesa's superior fastball would earn him success in the starting role. After 48 starts of below-average results during four seasons, Mesa was traded from the Orioles to the Indians for minor-league outfielder Kyle Washington on July 14, 1992.[4] Cleveland continued to use Mesa as a starter through the end of 1993; that year, Mesa pitched a career-high 208+2⁄3 innings, although his earned-run average was worse than the league average ERA for the fifth consecutive season.
Mesa became a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in 1994, and for the first season of his career, he posted an ERA better than the league average. In the role of closer during the 1995 season, Mesa pitched superbly; in 64 innings pitched over 62 appearances, Mesa had a 1.13 ERA, saved 46 games in 48 chances, and earned three wins. Thirty-eight of Mesa's 46 saves were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations; this was a major-league record at the time. Mesa's performance in 1995 was critical in the Indians' 100–44 regular-season record and their first World Series appearance since 1954. That year, Mesa finished second in AL Cy Young voting and fourth in AL MVP voting.
In 1997, Mesa's 2.40 ERA, 16 saves, and four wins helped the Indians to their second World Series appearance in three seasons; however, he failed to hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, and Cleveland traded him midway through the following season. Following his departure from Cleveland, he pitched for the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners, but without much success. In 2001, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and enjoyed a two-year run of success. However, in 2003 his ERA more than doubled, and he was granted free agency at the end of the season. He spent 2004 and 2005 pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and pitched for the Colorado Rockies in 2006.
On December 10, 2006, he signed with the Detroit Tigers. He was released by the team on June 3, 2007. In 16 appearances with the team, he was 1–1 with a 12.34 ERA. On June 8, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. He appeared in 40 games for the Phillies, compiling a 1–2 record with a 5.54 ERA, and retired following the 2007 season.
Highlights[edit]
- American League All-Star (twice, 1995–96)
- Relief Man of the Year Award (1995)
- TSN Reliever of the Year Award (1995)
- Led AL in saves (46, 1995)
- Led AL in games finished (57, 1995)
- His 321 career saves rank him 13th on the all-time list
- His 112 career saves ranks second all-time in Philadelphia Phillies history
Controversies[edit]
Mesa was involved in a longstanding feud with former teammate Omar Vizquel following the publication of Vizquel's autobiography, Omar! My Life On and Off the Field. In the book, Vizquel criticized Mesa's performance in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, in which Mesa came in with the Indians leading 2-1 and 3 outs away from their first championship in 49 years, only to blow the save and allow Florida to tie the game: "The eyes of the world were focused on every move we made. Unfortunately, Jose's own eyes were vacant. Completely empty. Nobody home. You could almost see right through him. Not long after I looked into his vacant eyes, he blew the save and the Marlins tied the game." Mesa reacted furiously, pledging to hit Vizquel upon every subsequent opportunity: "Even my little boy told me to get him. If I face him 10 more times, I'll hit him 10 times. I want to kill him."[5]
By the end of the 2007 season, Mesa had hit Vizquel on three separate occasions. Vizquel expressed regret in 2014 about what happened due to his comments about Mesa (which he also stated were misinterpreted) but Mesa and Vizquel have never reconciled, to the point where Mesa said he hadn't spoken to Vizquel in over a decade and had no plans to ever talk to him again.
Mesa was later charged with one count of rape for allegedly penetrating one woman with his finger and two counts of gross sexual imposition for allegedly groping two women in a Lakewood, Ohio motel room on December 22, 1996. Mesa was acquitted of all charges on April 9, 1997.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Mesa's son, José Mesa Jr., is also a professional baseball pitcher.[7][8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ José Mesa Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Justice, Richard. "Orioles Trade Flanagan," The Washington Post, Tuesday, September 1, 1987. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ "Baseball Central," United Press International (UPI), Friday, September 4, 1987. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Bastian, Jordan. "Indians' all-time Top 5 in-season trades," MLB.com, Thursday, July 18, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ ESPN.com: MLB – Vizquel-Mesa feud hits a high point
- ^ Court TV Casefiles: Ohio v. Mesa
- ^ Vargo, John (July 23, 2015). "Mesa Jr. following in father's footsteps". Tribune Chronicle. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
- ^ "2017 MLB Rule 5 Draft results". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- José Mesa at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- Indians All-Time Team
- court TV becomes truTV
- 1966 births
- Living people
- American League All-Stars
- American League saves champions
- Baltimore Orioles players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Colorado Rockies players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Florence Blue Jays players
- Gulf Coast Blue Jays players
- Hagerstown Suns players
- Kinston Blue Jays players
- Knoxville Blue Jays players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
- Philadelphia Phillies players
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- San Francisco Giants players
- Seattle Mariners players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Ventura County Gulls players
- People acquitted of rape