Kevin Gregg
Encyclopedia
Kevin Marschall Gregg is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Baltimore Orioles
.
, and starred in football, basketball, and baseball.
(435th overall) by the Oakland Athletics
. He spent several years in the A's minor league system as a starter up until 2002. On October 15, , he was granted free agency and signed as a free agent
with the Anaheim Angels
on November 20, 2002.
for failed prospect Chris Resop
.
competing for the closer
role for the Florida Marlins. By the time spring training was completed, he had been relegated back to a middle reliever role after the team made a trade to bring in Jorge Julio
.
Gregg took over the closer role for the Marlins after the team went through a couple of options in Julio, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies
in mid-May, and Henry Owens
, who lost the job after landing on the disabled list
in mid-May. Gregg finished the 2007 season with 32 saves in 36 save opportunities with 3.54 ERA
, leaving him tied for the 8th most saves in the National League
despite not being the closer for the first month and a half.
Gregg continued in the closer role in . As of August 31, 2008, Gregg was 6-8 with a 3.79 ERA, and 29 saves in 38 chances. On August 30, it was reported that Gregg would be out indefinitely with a left knee injury that allegedly had been bothering him for quite some time. Upon his return, he was used mostly in middle relief. In 2008 he tied for the major league lead in blown saves, with 9, and tied for second in losses in relief, with 8.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml
On November 13, 2008, Gregg was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for pitcher
José Ceda
.
for the position of closer
during the 2009 Spring Training. On March 29, 2009, manager Lou Piniella
announced that Gregg had won the closer position and Marmol would serve as set-up pitcher.
After a series of disappointing appearances by Gregg in August, including blowing three of his last five save chances, and allowing 12 homers in 56⅓ innings in 2009, the most in the majors for a reliever, Piniella announced on August 18 that Marmol would replace Gregg as closer. Gregg became a set-up man for Marmol.
with team options for future years. After signing with the Jays, Gregg, Scott Downs
and Jason Frasor
were all under consideration for the closer role. Frasor started out the season as the closer, but by mid-April Gregg had taken over as the closer and went on to have a career year. The Toronto Blue Jays
declined their team options for 2011 and 2012 making Gregg a free agent.
with team options for future years.
On July 8th, 2011, Gregg threw three inside pitches when pitching against Boston Red Sox
designated hitter David Ortiz
, and then shouted at Ortiz when the batter popped out. Ortiz charged the mound and Gregg went after Ortiz as well; the incident caused a bench-clearing brawl, and both Gregg and Ortiz were ejected. Gregg was unapologetic about the incident, saying that the Red Sox "think they're better than everyone else." On July 14, Major League Baseball suspended Gregg and Ortiz for four games each for their roles in inciting the brawl.
Late in 2011, Gregg's closer
role was gradually assumed by teammate Jim Johnson.
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...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
High school career
Gregg attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, OregonCorvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, and starred in football, basketball, and baseball.
Professional career
Gregg was drafted in the 15th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
(435th overall) by 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....
. He spent several years in the A's minor league system as a starter up until 2002. On October 15, , he was granted free agency and signed 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....
with the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
on November 20, 2002.
Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels
Gregg made his major league debut with the Angels on August 9, . Gregg spent his next three seasons with the Angels as a spot-starter and a middle reliever. The Angels depth made Gregg expendable and on November 20, 2006, he found himself being dealt to the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
for failed prospect Chris Resop
Chris Resop
Christopher Paul Resop is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Florida Marlins:Resop was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 4th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft....
.
Florida Marlins
Gregg began the spring trainingSpring 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...
competing for the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
role for the Florida Marlins. By the time spring training was completed, he had been relegated back to a middle reliever role after the team made a trade to bring in Jorge Julio
Jorge Julio
Jorge Dandys Julio Tapia is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2001–2005, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and the Florida Marlins in 2007 before being traded...
.
Gregg took over the closer role for the Marlins after the team went through a couple of options in Julio, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in mid-May, and Henry Owens
Henry Owens
Henry Jay Owens is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed....
, who lost the job after landing 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:...
in mid-May. Gregg finished the 2007 season with 32 saves in 36 save opportunities with 3.54 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...
, leaving him tied for the 8th most saves in the National League
National 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...
despite not being the closer for the first month and a half.
Gregg continued in the closer role in . As of August 31, 2008, Gregg was 6-8 with a 3.79 ERA, and 29 saves in 38 chances. On August 30, it was reported that Gregg would be out indefinitely with a left knee injury that allegedly had been bothering him for quite some time. Upon his return, he was used mostly in middle relief. In 2008 he tied for the major league lead in blown saves, with 9, and tied for second in losses in relief, with 8.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml
On November 13, 2008, Gregg was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
José Ceda
José Ceda
José Marti Ceda Marte is a Minor League Baseball player in the Miami Marlins minor league system....
.
Chicago Cubs
Gregg competed with Carlos MarmolCarlos Marmol
Carlos Agustín Mármol is a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Minor league career:Mármol started his career as a catcher/outfielder...
for the position of closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
during the 2009 Spring Training. On March 29, 2009, manager Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
announced that Gregg had won the closer position and Marmol would serve as set-up pitcher.
After a series of disappointing appearances by Gregg in August, including blowing three of his last five save chances, and allowing 12 homers in 56⅓ innings in 2009, the most in the majors for a reliever, Piniella announced on August 18 that Marmol would replace Gregg as closer. Gregg became a set-up man for Marmol.
Toronto Blue Jays
On February 5, 2010, Gregg signed a 1 year, $2.75 million deal with the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
with team options for future years. After signing with the Jays, Gregg, Scott Downs
Scott Downs
Scott Jeremy Downs is an American professional baseball relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays...
and Jason Frasor
Jason Frasor
Jason Andrew Frasor is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball. He made his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in , and he had a 4.08 ERA in 63 games....
were all under consideration for the closer role. Frasor started out the season as the closer, but by mid-April Gregg had taken over as the closer and went on to have a career year. 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 ....
declined their team options for 2011 and 2012 making Gregg a free agent.
Baltimore Orioles
On January 5, 2011, Gregg agreed to a 2 year, $10 million deal with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
with team options for future years.
On July 8th, 2011, Gregg threw three inside pitches when pitching against 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"...
designated hitter David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
, and then shouted at Ortiz when the batter popped out. Ortiz charged the mound and Gregg went after Ortiz as well; the incident caused a bench-clearing brawl, and both Gregg and Ortiz were ejected. Gregg was unapologetic about the incident, saying that the Red Sox "think they're better than everyone else." On July 14, Major League Baseball suspended Gregg and Ortiz for four games each for their roles in inciting the brawl.
Late in 2011, Gregg's closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
role was gradually assumed by teammate Jim Johnson.