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Dallas Braden

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Dallas Braden
Braden warming up before a game for the Athletics
Oakland Athletics – No. 51
Starting pitcher
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
April 24, 2007, for the Oakland Athletics
Career statistics
(through May 9, 2010)
Win-Loss18-23
Earned run average4.50
Strikeouts205
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Dallas Lee Braden (born August 13, 1983) is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and the most recent pitcher to throw a perfect game. He was drafted out of Texas Tech University in the ninth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics.

Early life

Braden was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He played Little League baseball in Stockton, California, playing in the Hoover Tyler Little League. Braden threw out the first pitch at the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Little League World Series.

Braden graduated from Stagg High School in Stockton, California, where he played baseball and ran cross country.

Before playing for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Braden posted a combined record of 12-4 in two seasons at American River College. He threw a complete game against Fresno College while allowing one hit and striking out 14 batters.

Baseball career

In 2004, Braden began the season at Single-A Vancouver. He made eight relief appearances, picking up a pair of victories and was promoted to Kane County and pitched exclusively as a starter. He made five starts for Kane County, and posted a 2-1 record.

In 2005, Braden split the season between Single-A Stockton and Double-A Midland. He posted a 6-0 record for the Ports, and a 9-5 mark for the RockHounds. His composite total of 15 wins led all A's minor league pitchers and earned him Pitcher of the Year honors for the Athletics organization.[1] He underwent shoulder surgery in the 2005-2006 offseason.[1]

Braden began the 2006 season on a rehabilitation assignment with the Arizona League Athletics. He made six starts, going 2-0 and moved up to Stockton, where was also 2-0, but with a high 6.23 ERA. He was promoted to Double-A Midland where he made one start, giving up six runs in 3⅓ innings pitched receiving a no-decision. His composite 2006 numbers were: 4-0 record, 4.10 ERA, 55 strikeouts and eight walks in 37⅓ innings of work.

Braden began 2007 in Double-A Midland and was called up to Triple-A Sacramento after one start. When Rich Harden got hurt on April 23, he was called up to the majors to replace him.[2] On April 24, 2007, Braden made his first major league start and picked up the win against the Baltimore Orioles.

In Braden's first outing of 2010, he struck out a career high 10 batters in 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and walked 1. He received a no-decision, but the team got the win in the 10th.

File:DallasBradenSICover.jpg
Sports Illustrated Cover.

On April 22, 2010, Braden engaged in a verbal altercation with New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. The incident began with Rodriguez on first base while Yankees hitter Robinson Cano stood at the plate. Cano hit a high pop-up that sent Rodriguez running around the bases. Finding himself nearly to third base by the time the ball dropped in foul territory, Rodriguez chose to take a shortcut back to first base by running through the middle of the diamond, crossing the pitcher's mound in the process. Braden, considering this a breach of baseball etiquette, exchanged words with Rodriguez, and upon the inning's conclusion threw his glove angrily into his own dugout. In interviews following the game, Rodriguez offered no apology, claiming to have never heard of such an "unwritten rule" and ridiculing the "handful of wins in (Braden's) career." Braden, meanwhile, negatively compared Rodriguez's professionalism to that of Derek Jeter, stating "he should maybe watch his captain a little more often."[3] Weeks later, though unprovoked, Braden reignited the argument by promising physical retribution for any future antics by Rodriguez and stating that Rodriguez had displayed a "lack of respect for the game or those playing it. ... He's just an individualistic player."[4] He also remarked that "We don't do much talking in the 209."

On May 9, 2010, Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history against the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland. He did it in just 109 pitches, 77 of which were strikes, in his 4-0 win.[5]

Repertoire

Braden features a high-80s to low-90s fastball, a slider, changeup, and an occasional screwball. His changeup is considered by most observers to be his best pitch.

Bibliography

  • 2006 Oakland Athletics Media Guide. Pg. 376. Produced by the Oakland Athletics Public Relations Department.

References

  1. ^ a b Slusser, Susan (August 25, 2006). "Zito hopes to join elite group with 100th win". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  2. ^ "A's place Milton Bradley and Rich Harden on the disabled list". MLB.com. April 23, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  3. ^ Feinsand, Mark. "New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez manages to annoy again by stomping on mound in 4-2 loss to A's". New York Daily News. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  4. ^ [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/05/07/2010-05-07_oakland_as_dallas_braden_says_new_york_yankees_alex_rodriguez_in_a_mound_of_trou.html Oakland A's Dallas Braden says New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez in a mound of trouble
  5. ^ Lee, Jane (May 9, 2010). "Perfect in pink! Mother's Day A+ for Braden". Major League Baseball.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dallas_Braden&oldid=362151740"