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Jeff Nelson (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Allan Nelson is an American former baseball
relief pitcher
who played 15 years in Major League Baseball
. He batted and threw right-handed. Nelson retired on January 12, 2007, the same day he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070112&content_id=1778229&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 22nd round of the 1984 amateur draft; he signed June 21, 1984.
In his Major League career Nelson pitched in 798 games with a 48-45 record, and with runners in scoring position and two out he held batters to a .191 batting average. In 55 post-season games (second all-time behind former teammate Mariano Rivera
), he compiled a 2-3 mark with 62 strikeout
s and a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings
. Among hitters whom he dominated most were Troy Glaus, who in 14 at bats was hitless with 11 strikeouts.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/p-pvb.cgi?n1=nelsoje01&year=0#minPA2=5&minPA=5&n1=nelsoje01&as=pitcher&year_game=career&orderby=SO
Nelson had three stints with the Seattle Mariners
(1992–1995, 2001–2003 and again in 2005). He is Seattle's all-time record holder for most games pitched
(383), and has a 23-20 record with the Mariners.
, and returned to Seattle as a free agent
in . In that season he made the American League All-Star
team. Nelson's All-Star selection was considered an innovative move by AL manager Joe Torre
, as Nelson's role of middle relief was traditionally overlooked during All-Star selection.
From 2001-2003, he formed the right side of Seattle's potent lefty/righty setup squad along with left-handed pitcher Arthur Rhodes
.
In 2001 he held opposing batters to a .136 batting average and a .199 slugging percentage, and .074/.110 once he had two strikes on them.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=nelsoje01&year=2001
Nelson was traded to the Yankees during the midseason. The Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins in the World Series and once again Nelson left the Yankees.
In , Nelson appeared in 29 games for the Texas Rangers
, going 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA
. He was on the disabled list twice with a sort of injuries to his right knee and right elbow.
Before the season, the Seattle Mariners
signed Nelson to a minor league
contract, his third stint with the club.
In the offseason, Nelson signed a minor-league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
, but was released before the season began. He was then picked up by the White Sox
.
specialist, much more effective against right-handed batters than against lefties (who batted 55 points higher, and slugged 106 points higher, against him than did righties). He was also known for his three-quarters sidearm delivery, and threw a cut 90-MPH fastball
as well.
who cancelled the auction. Nelson, whose daughters attended Bear Creek School
, was going to give half the proceeds to the School and half to the Curtis Williams Foundation.
in Seattle.
Nelson works as an analyst for MLB.com
for the 2010 post-season.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
who played 15 years 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...
. He batted and threw right-handed. Nelson retired on January 12, 2007, the same day he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070112&content_id=1778229&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 22nd round of the 1984 amateur draft; he signed June 21, 1984.
In his Major League career Nelson pitched in 798 games with a 48-45 record, and with runners in scoring position and two out he held batters to a .191 batting average. In 55 post-season games (second all-time behind former teammate Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
), he compiled a 2-3 mark with 62 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings
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...
. Among hitters whom he dominated most were Troy Glaus, who in 14 at bats was hitless with 11 strikeouts.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/p-pvb.cgi?n1=nelsoje01&year=0#minPA2=5&minPA=5&n1=nelsoje01&as=pitcher&year_game=career&orderby=SO
Nelson had three stints with 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...
(1992–1995, 2001–2003 and again in 2005). He is Seattle's all-time record holder for most games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
(383), and has a 23-20 record with the Mariners.
Major League career
Before the season, Nelson was sent to the New York YankeesNew 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...
, and returned to Seattle as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in . In that season he made the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team. Nelson's All-Star selection was considered an innovative move by AL manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
, as Nelson's role of middle relief was traditionally overlooked during All-Star selection.
From 2001-2003, he formed the right side of Seattle's potent lefty/righty setup squad along with left-handed pitcher Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
.
In 2001 he held opposing batters to a .136 batting average and a .199 slugging percentage, and .074/.110 once he had two strikes on them.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=nelsoje01&year=2001
Nelson was traded to the Yankees during the midseason. The Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins in the World Series and once again Nelson left the Yankees.
In , Nelson appeared in 29 games for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, going 1-2 with a 5.32 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...
. He was on the disabled list twice with a sort of injuries to his right knee and right elbow.
Before the season, 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...
signed Nelson to a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
contract, his third stint with the club.
In the offseason, Nelson signed a minor-league contract with 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...
, but was released before the season began. He was then picked up by the 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...
.
Pitching
Nelson was a respected sliderSlider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
specialist, much more effective against right-handed batters than against lefties (who batted 55 points higher, and slugged 106 points higher, against him than did righties). He was also known for his three-quarters sidearm delivery, and threw a cut 90-MPH fastball
Fastball
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...
as well.
Operation
On June 8, 2006, Nelson announced that he would undergo surgery, to relieve a nerve in his right elbow, that was likely to mark the end of Nelson's active baseball career. Following the operation on his pitching elbow, on May 10, 2007, there was controversy when he tried to sell bone chips from his elbow, removed in the operation, on eBayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
who cancelled the auction. Nelson, whose daughters attended Bear Creek School
The Bear Creek School
The Bear Creek School is a preschool through grade twelve private school in Redmond, Washington. Educating around 750 students, the school is a Christian religious school. Established in 1988, it lies within the Lake Washington School District...
, was going to give half the proceeds to the School and half to the Curtis Williams Foundation.
Outspoken
Nelson fell out of favor with the Mariners and Yankees as a result of his frank criticisms.- In 2000, Nelson told the New York press that Yankees manager and All-Star Game skipper Joe Torre would regret not naming him to the AL team at the Mid-Summer Classic. Then, he returned to Seattle as a free agent in 2001, where he produced a solid season and earned his coveted All-Star selection.
- In 2003, Nelson blasted Seattle management when they failed to acquire an impact player at the trading deadline. Nelson was then traded to the Yankees, where he played a pivotal role in the postseason. The Mariners slowly lost the AL West lead and failed to make the post season by a very small margin. Further, the team's reluctance to spend money resulted in their collapse in 2004, when the Mariners lost 99 games.
Broadcasting
Nelson currently frequently fills in on sports radio KJR-AMKJR-AM
KJR is an all-sports radio station based in Seattle, Washington, owned by Clear Channel Communications. KJR currently is the flagship station of the University of Washington, including Husky football and men's basketball broadcasts...
in Seattle.
Nelson works as an analyst for MLB.com
MLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
for the 2010 post-season.