Chris Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Carpenter (born April 27, 1975 in Exeter
, New Hampshire
) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball
who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals
since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012.
Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the majors in with the Toronto Blue Jays
. He stayed with Toronto until after the season. He is 6' 6" tall and weighs 230 pounds.
and Ray Brown.
on May 12, 1997, pitching three innings in a 12–2 loss. He would lose his first five decisions before defeating the Chicago White Sox
6–5 on August 19, 1997. Carpenter pitched his first career complete game and shutout on September 9, 1997 as Toronto defeated the Anaheim Angels 2–0. Carpenter finished his rookie season with a 3–7 record and a 5.09 ERA.
After making two starts to begin the 1998 season, pitching a combined 10 innings and having a 9.00 ERA, the Blue Jays moved Carpenter into the bullpen, where he stayed until the end of May. Toronto moved Carpenter back into the starting rotation, and he pitched very well for the rest of the season, including winning six of his last seven decisions as the Blue Jays made a late push for a playoff spot, however, Toronto missed the playoffs, finishing four games behind the Boston Red Sox
for the AL Wildcard. Carpenter recorded 12 wins, tying Pat Hentgen
for second highest on the club, as he had a 12–7 record with a 4.37 ERA.
Carpenter had an injury plagued 1999 season, as he made only 24 starts, finishing with a 9–8 record with a 4.38 ERA. He struggled during the 2000 season, and at the beginning of August, in which Carpenter had a 7–10 record with a 6.99 ERA, he was pulled out of the starting rotation and placed into the bullpen. Carpenter returned to the rotation after a few weeks, and pitched better in September to finish the season with a 10–12 record, and posting a 6.26 ERA.
He pitched much better during the first half of the 2001 season, as at the end of June, Carpenter had a 7–4 record with a 3.67 ERA. He would then lose his next seven decisions over his next ten starts to fall to 7–11 and a 4.59 ERA. Carpenter rebounded from his slump to finish with a record of 11–11 and an ERA of 4.09. His 11 victories tied him with Esteban Loaiza
and Paul Quantrill
for the team high. Carpenter, along with Roy Halladay
, were considered the starters of the future for the Blue Jays.
Carpenter was named the Blue Jays opening day starter in 2002 on April 1 at Fenway Park
against the Boston Red Sox
. Carpenter was rocked in his start, pitching innings, allowing six runs, and received a no-decision in Toronto's 12–11 win. He was then placed on the disabled list
due to a shoulder injury, and would not make another start until April 21. Carpenter lasted only three innings in his second start, allowing three runs against the New York Yankees
, taking the loss as New York won the game 9–2. Carpenter once again was placed on the disabled list, where he remained until late June. He would once again go back on the disabled list in the middle of August, and remained there for the rest of the season as he had shoulder surgery in September. Carpenter finished the year 4–5 with a 5.28 ERA. At the end of the season, the Blue Jays removed Carpenter from the 40-man roster and offered him a minor league incentive deal, which Carpenter refused, allowing him to become a free agent.
pennant for the first time since . In September, Carpenter was benched with a nerve problem in his right biceps, ending his season and causing him to miss the 2004 World Series
.
In 2005, Carpenter posted his best year to date. He set career bests in ERA
(2.83), strikeouts (213), innings pitched
, complete games (7) and shutout
s (4) while amassing a 21–5 record for the Division Champion Cardinals
. While not a leader in any one statistical category in 2005, he was selected over Dontrelle Willis
as the National League Cy Young Award
winner. He also was selected as the starter for the National League in the 2005 All Star Game.
This time, Carpenter was healthy for the post-season. Although the Cardinals lost to the Houston Astros
in the National League Championship Series
, he pitched well throughout the postseason, going 2–0 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings
against the San Diego Padres
and Houston.
Carpenter continued pitching well throughout the 2006 season, achieving personal feats such as striking out a career-high 13 batters on June 13, 2006 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
and winning his 100th career game on September 16, 2006 beating the San Francisco Giants
6–1. Carpenter became the third member of the St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff to get his 100th career win in 2006, after Jeff Suppan
and Mark Mulder
. Carpenter was also voted on the 2006 All-Star game, and finished third in the Cy Young Award
voting behind Brandon Webb
and Trevor Hoffman
.
Carpenter won his first career World Series
start in Game 3 against the Detroit Tigers
on October 24, 2006 at Busch Stadium
in St. Louis
, Missouri
by pitching eight innings and allowing no runs on three hits. In his first eight career post-season starts, he had a 5–1 record with a 2.53 ERA in innings.
On December 4, 2006, the Cardinals announced they had re-signed Carpenter to a five-year, $
65 million deal, keeping Carpenter with the team through 2011, with a $12 million option for 2012.
, Carpenter was sidelined with elbow problems and the team announced on May 5, 2007, that he would need surgery to trim bone spurs. As Carpenter was attempting to return from elbow surgery, further problems developed and on July 19, 2007, the Cardinals announced that he needed Tommy John Surgery
and would be sidelined for at least 12 months.
On July 30, 2008, Carpenter made his first Major League start since Opening Day 2007, 486 days, against the Atlanta Braves
. He lasted four innings, gave up one run on five hits (all singles), walking two and striking out two, on 67 pitches (36 strikes). Though Carpenter got the no decision, the Cardinals went on to win the game 7–2.
After making only one start in 2007, and only three starts in the season, Carpenter gave a stunning one-hit performance in his first start of the season against Pittsburgh
, shutting them out in seven innings, walking two while striking out seven at Busch Stadium
. He faced only 26 batters, five over the minimum, and threw 92 pitches—61 for strikes. It was his 101st career win, against only 70 losses (.591 win pct.).
Pitching against Arizona
on April 14, 2009, he strained his left rib-cage after batting in the top of the fourth inning, had to be taken out of the game after trying to pitch in the bottom half.
He was placed on the 15-day disabled list
April 15, and the initial estimate was for him to be out from four to eight weeks pending an MRI
and evaluation the next day; the MRI revealed an oblique
tear on his left side.
On May 20, Carpenter returned after missing a month. He pitched five shutout innings giving up only three hits, walking two, and striking out five. He threw only 67 pitches, 41 for strikes. The Cards won the pitching duel with the Cubs, 2–1. With his win, Carpenter raised his winning percentage with the club to .726 (53–20), highest ever by a Cardinal through his first 100 starts. Further, he boasted a 3.04 ERA (230 ER in 680.2 IP) for his Cardinal career to that point. John Tudor was the previous win percentage leader after 100 starts (49–21 .700) as a Cardinal. Carpenter's four strikeouts gave him 571 in his 100th start, one less than Bob Gibson
had in his first 100 starts.
On June 4, he threw his 26th career complete game
, and lowered his ERA for the season to 0.71, the lowest for any Cardinals' pitcher in the first six starts of a season, breaking Harry Brecheen
's mark of 0.75 set in 1948
.
A 7–0 victory over San Diego
at Petco Park
on August 22, giving him an NL-tying 14th win, was the unofficial 10,000th win in Cardinals' franchise history. The official total (9,219 at the time) is lower because the Cardinals do not count its ten years in the American Association
in its all-time statistics.
He won his first Pitcher of the Month
award (August 2009) with his 5–0, 2.20 ERA in six starts.
He threw a one-hitter in his next start (Sept. 7) against the Brewers
at Miller Park, striking out 10, and earning his first shutout
since Sept. 11, 2006.
On October 1, 2009, Carpenter hit his first career home run, a grand slam
, in the Cards' 13–0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds
at Cincinnati
. He drove in two more runs in the game with a double, making him only the fourth pitcher since the advent of divisional play in to have at least 6 RBI in a game, and broke the Cardinals' club record held by Bob Gibson
, who had five RBI on July 26, 1973.
For the second time in his career, he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year, after leading the NL with a 2.24 ERA – his first league title in the category – and an .810 winning percentage (17–4). He was also the runner-up for the National League Cy Young award, sandwiched in the voting between teammate Adam Wainwright
and winner Tim Lincecum
.
He won the 2009 Tony Conigliaro Award
(January 11, 2010) unanimously, given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony Conigliaro
.
Since first pitching for the Cardinals in 2004
, he was 68–24 through his first six seasons with the club, his .739 winning percentage the highest in team history through 2009.
with the Cincinnati Reds. After a heated exchange with Reds' manager Dusty Baker
, following an incident between Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina
and the Reds' Brandon Phillips
which cleared the benches, the two teams began shoving and grappling with each other. During the scuffle, Reds' starting pitcher Johnny Cueto
repeatedly kicked Carpenter and his teammate Jason LaRue who both sustained injuries, leading to a 7 game suspension for Johnny Cueto.
Also in this benches clearing brawl, Carpenter could be seen exchanging words with several players, then the whole crowd of players including his own massed together in his direction. And he was pushed up against the railing bordering the stands and almost fell in the middle of the chaos.
Through September 28, 2011, Carpenter holds the Cardinals' franchise record for the highest winning percentage by a starting pitcher (95–42; 0.693).
On Friday, October 7, 2011 Carpenter pitched a complete-game, 3-hit shutout to carry the Cardinals to victory in the National League Division Series
against the Philadelphia Phillies. He beat former teammate and long-time friend Roy Halladay
in a sensational 1–0 pitcher's duel.
Carpenter is now 6–2, 2.94 ERA in the post-season with the Cardinals. The team has won nine of his 11 post-season starts, and in his total career with the Cardinals, including the post-season, he is 101–44 (.697).
In Game 7 of the 2011 World Series
, Carpenter pitched six innings on three days rest, leading the Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Carpenter was 2-0 in his second World Series win.
s in the 92–96 mph range consistently. He is known to have one of the better curveball
s in baseball and has excellent command over his cutter and circle-change up. He is known as being unpredictable to opposing batters in his pitching pattern, as he will throw any of his pitches at any time.
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball
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...
who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012.
Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the majors in with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He stayed with Toronto until after the season. He is 6' 6" tall and weighs 230 pounds.
Minor Leagues
Carpenter began his pro career with the Medicine Hat Jays of the short-season Pioneer League in 1994. In his debut against the Great Falls Dodgers, he tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit ball, fanning nine along the way. He ended up with a mark of 6–3 and turned in the league’s third-lowest ERA. He was also picked as the Pioneer League’s #3 prospect by league managers, behind Aaron BooneAaron Boone
Aaron John Boone is a former Major League Baseball infielder whose famous home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield won the 2003 American League Championship Series for the New York Yankees. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Washington...
and Ray Brown.
Toronto Blue Jays
Carpenter made his major league debut as a starter against the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on May 12, 1997, pitching three innings in a 12–2 loss. He would lose his first five decisions before defeating the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
6–5 on August 19, 1997. Carpenter pitched his first career complete game and shutout on September 9, 1997 as Toronto defeated the Anaheim Angels 2–0. Carpenter finished his rookie season with a 3–7 record and a 5.09 ERA.
After making two starts to begin the 1998 season, pitching a combined 10 innings and having a 9.00 ERA, the Blue Jays moved Carpenter into the bullpen, where he stayed until the end of May. Toronto moved Carpenter back into the starting rotation, and he pitched very well for the rest of the season, including winning six of his last seven decisions as the Blue Jays made a late push for a playoff spot, however, Toronto missed the playoffs, finishing four games behind the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for the AL Wildcard. Carpenter recorded 12 wins, tying Pat Hentgen
Pat Hentgen
Patrick George Hentgen is a former Major League Baseball player. Hentgen was a right-handed starting pitcher in the major leagues and a Cy Young Award winner in...
for second highest on the club, as he had a 12–7 record with a 4.37 ERA.
Carpenter had an injury plagued 1999 season, as he made only 24 starts, finishing with a 9–8 record with a 4.38 ERA. He struggled during the 2000 season, and at the beginning of August, in which Carpenter had a 7–10 record with a 6.99 ERA, he was pulled out of the starting rotation and placed into the bullpen. Carpenter returned to the rotation after a few weeks, and pitched better in September to finish the season with a 10–12 record, and posting a 6.26 ERA.
He pitched much better during the first half of the 2001 season, as at the end of June, Carpenter had a 7–4 record with a 3.67 ERA. He would then lose his next seven decisions over his next ten starts to fall to 7–11 and a 4.59 ERA. Carpenter rebounded from his slump to finish with a record of 11–11 and an ERA of 4.09. His 11 victories tied him with Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
and Paul Quantrill
Paul Quantrill
Paul John Quantrill is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He earned a reputation for being very durable and having impeccable control. He regularly appeared in 80 or more games a season and did not walk more than 25 batters in a season since...
for the team high. Carpenter, along with Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, were considered the starters of the future for the Blue Jays.
Carpenter was named the Blue Jays opening day starter in 2002 on April 1 at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Carpenter was rocked in his start, pitching innings, allowing six runs, and received a no-decision in Toronto's 12–11 win. He was then placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
due to a shoulder injury, and would not make another start until April 21. Carpenter lasted only three innings in his second start, allowing three runs against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, taking the loss as New York won the game 9–2. Carpenter once again was placed on the disabled list, where he remained until late June. He would once again go back on the disabled list in the middle of August, and remained there for the rest of the season as he had shoulder surgery in September. Carpenter finished the year 4–5 with a 5.28 ERA. At the end of the season, the Blue Jays removed Carpenter from the 40-man roster and offered him a minor league incentive deal, which Carpenter refused, allowing him to become a free agent.
2003–2006
The Cardinals signed Carpenter prior to the season, hoping he would be ready by mid-season. He was forced to sit out the entire 2003 season due to a torn glenoid labrum. However, Carpenter came back with an impressive 2004, helping the Cardinals win the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant for the first time since . In September, Carpenter was benched with a nerve problem in his right biceps, ending his season and causing him to miss the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
.
In 2005, Carpenter posted his best year to date. He set career bests in ERA
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...
(2.83), strikeouts (213), innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, complete games (7) and shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (4) while amassing a 21–5 record for the Division Champion Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. While not a leader in any one statistical category in 2005, he was selected over Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis , nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American professional baseball pitcher. Willis is notable for his success during his first few years in the league and for his unconventional pitching style, which includes a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter...
as the National League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner. He also was selected as the starter for the National League in the 2005 All Star Game.
This time, Carpenter was healthy for the post-season. Although the Cardinals lost to 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...
in the National League Championship Series
2005 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIn the series opener, the Cardinals won 5–3 behind a strong pitching performance by Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and a two-run home run by Reggie Sanders in the first inning...
, he pitched well throughout the postseason, going 2–0 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
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...
and Houston.
Carpenter continued pitching well throughout the 2006 season, achieving personal feats such as striking out a career-high 13 batters on June 13, 2006 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and winning his 100th career game on September 16, 2006 beating the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
6–1. Carpenter became the third member of the St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff to get his 100th career win in 2006, after Jeff Suppan
Jeff Suppan
Jeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Baseball career:Suppan was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft, and rapidly ascended to the Majors making his debut at the age of 20...
and Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
. Carpenter was also voted on the 2006 All-Star game, and finished third in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting behind Brandon Webb
Brandon Webb
Brandon Tyler Webb is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner.-High school:Webb attended Paul G...
and Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
.
Carpenter won his first career World Series
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
start in Game 3 against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on October 24, 2006 at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
by pitching eight innings and allowing no runs on three hits. In his first eight career post-season starts, he had a 5–1 record with a 2.53 ERA in innings.
On December 4, 2006, the Cardinals announced they had re-signed Carpenter to a five-year, $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
65 million deal, keeping Carpenter with the team through 2011, with a $12 million option for 2012.
2007–2009
In , Carpenter pitched only one game. After an opening day (April 1) loss to the New York MetsNew 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...
, Carpenter was sidelined with elbow problems and the team announced on May 5, 2007, that he would need surgery to trim bone spurs. As Carpenter was attempting to return from elbow surgery, further problems developed and on July 19, 2007, the Cardinals announced that he needed Tommy John Surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and would be sidelined for at least 12 months.
On July 30, 2008, Carpenter made his first Major League start since Opening Day 2007, 486 days, against 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....
. He lasted four innings, gave up one run on five hits (all singles), walking two and striking out two, on 67 pitches (36 strikes). Though Carpenter got the no decision, the Cardinals went on to win the game 7–2.
After making only one start in 2007, and only three starts in the season, Carpenter gave a stunning one-hit performance in his first start of the season against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, shutting them out in seven innings, walking two while striking out seven at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
. He faced only 26 batters, five over the minimum, and threw 92 pitches—61 for strikes. It was his 101st career win, against only 70 losses (.591 win pct.).
Pitching against Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
on April 14, 2009, he strained his left rib-cage after batting in the top of the fourth inning, had to be taken out of the game after trying to pitch in the bottom half.
He was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
April 15, and the initial estimate was for him to be out from four to eight weeks pending an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
and evaluation the next day; the MRI revealed an oblique
Abdominal external oblique muscle
The external oblique muscle is the largest and the most superficial of the three flat muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen.-Structure:...
tear on his left side.
On May 20, Carpenter returned after missing a month. He pitched five shutout innings giving up only three hits, walking two, and striking out five. He threw only 67 pitches, 41 for strikes. The Cards won the pitching duel with the Cubs, 2–1. With his win, Carpenter raised his winning percentage with the club to .726 (53–20), highest ever by a Cardinal through his first 100 starts. Further, he boasted a 3.04 ERA (230 ER in 680.2 IP) for his Cardinal career to that point. John Tudor was the previous win percentage leader after 100 starts (49–21 .700) as a Cardinal. Carpenter's four strikeouts gave him 571 in his 100th start, one less than Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
had in his first 100 starts.
On June 4, he threw his 26th career complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
, and lowered his ERA for the season to 0.71, the lowest for any Cardinals' pitcher in the first six starts of a season, breaking Harry Brecheen
Harry Brecheen
Harry David Brecheen , nicknamed "The Cat," was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the St. Louis Cardinals...
's mark of 0.75 set in 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
.
A 7–0 victory over San Diego
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...
at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
on August 22, giving him an NL-tying 14th win, was the unofficial 10,000th win in Cardinals' franchise history. The official total (9,219 at the time) is lower because the Cardinals do not count its ten years in the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
in its all-time statistics.
He won his first Pitcher of the Month
Pitcher of the Month
The Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in . The American League followed in...
award (August 2009) with his 5–0, 2.20 ERA in six starts.
He threw a one-hitter in his next start (Sept. 7) against the Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at Miller Park, striking out 10, and earning his first shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
since Sept. 11, 2006.
On October 1, 2009, Carpenter hit his first career home run, a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
, in the Cards' 13–0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
at Cincinnati
Great American Ball Park
The Great American Ball Park is a Major League Baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home of the National League's Cincinnati Reds. It opened in 2003, replacing the Reds' former home, Cinergy Field, which was known as Riverfront Stadium from its opening in June 1970 until the 1996...
. He drove in two more runs in the game with a double, making him only the fourth pitcher since the advent of divisional play in to have at least 6 RBI in a game, and broke the Cardinals' club record held by Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
, who had five RBI on July 26, 1973.
For the second time in his career, he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year, after leading the NL with a 2.24 ERA – his first league title in the category – and an .810 winning percentage (17–4). He was also the runner-up for the National League Cy Young award, sandwiched in the voting between teammate Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright
Adam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
and winner Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
.
He won the 2009 Tony Conigliaro Award
Tony Conigliaro Award
The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national award instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of their former star Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and...
(January 11, 2010) unanimously, given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
Anthony Richard Conigliaro , nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig", was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels . He was born in Revere, Massachusetts, and was a 1962 graduate of St. Mary's High School...
.
Since first pitching for the Cardinals in 2004
2004 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 2004 season was the team's 123rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 113th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-57 during the season and won the National League Central division by 13 games over the NL Wild-Card Champion Houston Astros...
, he was 68–24 through his first six seasons with the club, his .739 winning percentage the highest in team history through 2009.
2010–present
In 2010, Carpenter was involved in a bench-clearing brawlBench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
with the Cincinnati Reds. After a heated exchange with Reds' manager Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, following an incident between Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina
Yadier Molina
Yadier Benjamin Molina known affectionately by fans as "Yadi", is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.Molina was the third catcher to play in two World Series before age 25, along with Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra. He is considered one of the best defensive...
and the Reds' Brandon Phillips
Brandon Phillips
Brandon Emil Phillips is a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. The Raleigh, North Carolina native was selected in the second round of the 1999 draft by the former Montreal Expos after signing a letter of intent to play both baseball and football at the University of Georgia...
which cleared the benches, the two teams began shoving and grappling with each other. During the scuffle, Reds' starting pitcher Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto
Johnny Brent Cueto [KWAY-toe] is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.-Minor league career:...
repeatedly kicked Carpenter and his teammate Jason LaRue who both sustained injuries, leading to a 7 game suspension for Johnny Cueto.
Also in this benches clearing brawl, Carpenter could be seen exchanging words with several players, then the whole crowd of players including his own massed together in his direction. And he was pushed up against the railing bordering the stands and almost fell in the middle of the chaos.
Through September 28, 2011, Carpenter holds the Cardinals' franchise record for the highest winning percentage by a starting pitcher (95–42; 0.693).
On Friday, October 7, 2011 Carpenter pitched a complete-game, 3-hit shutout to carry the Cardinals to victory in the National League Division Series
2011 National League Division Series
The 2011 National League Division Series were two best-of-five playoffs comprising the opening round of the Major League Baseball postseason, played to determine the participating teams in the 2011 National League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a fourth team—a wild card—played...
against the Philadelphia Phillies. He beat former teammate and long-time friend Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
in a sensational 1–0 pitcher's duel.
Carpenter is now 6–2, 2.94 ERA in the post-season with the Cardinals. The team has won nine of his 11 post-season starts, and in his total career with the Cardinals, including the post-season, he is 101–44 (.697).
In Game 7 of the 2011 World Series
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St...
, Carpenter pitched six innings on three days rest, leading the Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Carpenter was 2-0 in his second World Series win.
Pitching style
Carpenter is known to have five quality pitches and throws two and four-seam fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
s in the 92–96 mph range consistently. He is known to have one of the better curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
s in baseball and has excellent command over his cutter and circle-change up. He is known as being unpredictable to opposing batters in his pitching pattern, as he will throw any of his pitches at any time.
Personal life
As of 2005, Carpenter resides in St. Louis with his wife Alyson, son Sam, and daughter Ava.Honors
- 2004 NL Comeback Player of the Year – The Sporting NewsThe Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award is the oldest of three annual awards in Major League Baseball given to one player in each league who has reemerged as a star in that season. It was established in 1965...
and "Players Choice Awards" (MLBPA) - 2005–2006, 2010 All-Star selection
- 2005 Cy Young AwardCy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
(NL) - 2005–2006 Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year
- 2009 Pitcher of the MonthPitcher of the MonthThe Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in . The American League followed in...
(Aug.) - 2009 NL Comeback Player of the Year – MLB and "Players Choice Awards" (MLBPA)
- 2009 NL Bullet RoganBullet RoganCharles Wilber "Bullet" Rogan, also known as "Bullet Joe" , was an American pitcher and outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro baseball leagues from 1920 to 1938...
Award - 2009 Tony Conigliaro AwardTony Conigliaro AwardThe Tony Conigliaro Award is a national award instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of their former star Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and...
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball shutout champions