Carlos Diaz (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Antonio Diaz is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. Born in Kaneohe, Hawaii, he was the thirteenth native Hawaiian to have played in the major leagues.
He was originally drafted out of Allan Hancock College
in California
by the Seattle Mariners
in the third round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign. Seattle then drafted him again in the first round of the June secondary phase of the draft, and were able to sign him. After two seasons in the Mariners' organization, Diaz was traded to the Atlanta Braves
for Jeff Burroughs
.
Despite a career earned run average
of 4.22 in the M's farm system, in , he managed to bring that down to a far more respectable 2.81 his first season with the Richmond Braves
. He earned a call to the major leagues the following season, and made his major league debut on June 30, against the Houston Astros
. With the Braves trailing 3-1, Diaz entered the game in relief of Phil Niekro
in the ninth inning. Diaz gave up one earned run
to increase the Astros' lead to 4-1. The Braves, who won the National League West
that season, came back to score four runs in the bottom of the inning to give Diaz his first career win.
Diaz went 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA for the Braves in 1982. One of those three wins came against the New York Mets
, who must have liked when they'd seen as they acquired him on September 10 for Tom Hausman
.
Diaz had a career year in , his only full season with the Mets. He pitched in a career high 54 games, and had a 3-1 record with two saves and a 2.05 ERA. Following the season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
with Bob Bailor
for Sid Fernandez
and Ross Jones
.
As Fernandez is from Honolulu, this trade was unique in that it involved two Hawaiians. The trade was initially unpopular with Mets fans, however, it turned out to favor the Mets in the end, as Fernandez went on to be a staple of the Mets rotation for ten years. Diaz, meanwhile, lasted only two and a half seasons with the Dodgers before injuries cut short his career. He signed with the Oakland Athletics
following the season, but was cut during Spring training
.
Diaz had a perfect career fielding percentage until the 12th inning of a fourteen inning marathon against the San Diego Padres
on June 21, . He misplayed a Tim Flannery
ground ball for his only career error
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. Born in Kaneohe, Hawaii, he was the thirteenth native Hawaiian to have played in the major leagues.
He was originally drafted out of Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College is a California public community college located in Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County. Approximately 11,000 credit and more than 5,500 noncredit and community services students enroll each semester.-History:...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the third round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
1981 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
, but did not sign. Seattle then drafted him again in the first round of the June secondary phase of the draft, and were able to sign him. After two seasons in the Mariners' organization, Diaz was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Jeff Burroughs
Jeff Burroughs
Jeffrey Alan Burroughs is a former player in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the Washington Senators , Texas Rangers , Atlanta Braves , Seattle Mariners , Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays . Burroughs batted and threw right-handed...
.
Despite a career earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.22 in the M's farm system, in , he managed to bring that down to a far more respectable 2.81 his first season with the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
. He earned a call to the major leagues the following season, and made his major league debut on June 30, against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. With the Braves trailing 3-1, Diaz entered the game in relief of Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
in the ninth inning. Diaz gave up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
to increase the Astros' lead to 4-1. The Braves, who won the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
that season, came back to score four runs in the bottom of the inning to give Diaz his first career win.
Diaz went 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA for the Braves in 1982. One of those three wins came against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, who must have liked when they'd seen as they acquired him on September 10 for Tom Hausman
Tom Hausman
Thomas Matthew Hausman is a United States baseball player.-Early career:Hausman was named to an All-State basketball team once during his high school years....
.
Diaz had a career year in , his only full season with the Mets. He pitched in a career high 54 games, and had a 3-1 record with two saves and a 2.05 ERA. Following the season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
with Bob Bailor
Bob Bailor
Robert Michael Bailor is a former right-handed utility player in Major League Baseball, best known for his speed and for being difficult to strike out...
for Sid Fernandez
Sid Fernandez
Charles Sidney Fernandez was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from to . Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fernandez was proud of his roots and wore uniform number 50 in honor of Hawaii being the 50th state...
and Ross Jones
Ross Jones
Ross A. Jones is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers ninth overall in the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
As Fernandez is from Honolulu, this trade was unique in that it involved two Hawaiians. The trade was initially unpopular with Mets fans, however, it turned out to favor the Mets in the end, as Fernandez went on to be a staple of the Mets rotation for ten years. Diaz, meanwhile, lasted only two and a half seasons with the Dodgers before injuries cut short his career. He signed with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
following the season, but was cut during Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
Diaz had a perfect career fielding percentage until the 12th inning of a fourteen inning marathon against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on June 21, . He misplayed a Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery (baseball)
Timothy Earl Flannery is a former Major League Baseball player who spent eleven seasons with the San Diego Padres, from to . He is also the nephew of former Major League Baseball player Hal Smith.-Minors:...
ground ball for his only career error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
.