Chris Carpenter

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Chris Carpenter

St. Louis Cardinals — No. 29
Starting pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
May 12, 1997 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Selected MLB statistics
(through October 2, 2006)
Record     100-68
ERA     4.09
Strikeouts     1,161
Teams

    Christopher John (Chris) 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.[1] Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the majors in 1997 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He stayed with Toronto until after the 2002 season.

    The Cardinals signed Carpenter prior to the 2003 season. Unfortunately, Carpenter was forced to sit out the entire 2003 season due to arm problems. However, Carpenter came back with an impressive 2004, helping the Cardinals win the National League pennant for the first time since 1987. Arm problems resurfaced, though, and forced him to miss the entire 2004 postseason in which the Cardinals eventually played against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

    Returning with full health, Carpenter had a breakout 2005 season. He posted a 21-5 record (a career high in wins), while also achieving career bests in ERA (2.83), strikeouts (213), innings pitched (241.7), complete games (7) and shutouts (4). This time, Carpenter was healthy for the postseason. And although the Cardinals lost to the Houston Astros in the National League Championship Series, he pitched very well throughout the postseason, going 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings against the San Diego Padres and Houston.

    Carpenter was selected for and started the All-Star Game in 2005, a season in which he also won the Cy Young Award.

    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 8 innings and allowing no runs on 3 hits.

    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.[2]

    Contents

    [edit] Pitching style

    Carpenter is known to have five quality pitches and throws two and four-seam fastballs in the 93-97 mph range consistently. He is known to have one of the best curveballs in baseball and has excellent command over his offspeed pitches.[3] He is known as being unpredictable to opposing batters in his pitching pattern, as he will throw any of his pitches at any time.

    Carpenter has also shown his ability to work effectively on days when he doesn't have his best stuff.

    [edit] Trivia

    [edit] Honors

    [edit] References

    1. ^ Yahoo! Sports, Carpenter and Cardinals agree to new five-year contract. Golen, Jimmy
    2. ^ Cards reward Carpenter with $65M extension
    3. ^ Carpenter's scouting report
    4. ^ Notes on Carpenter's 13K game
    5. ^ Box Score of Carpenter's 100th victory

    [edit] External links

    Preceded by
    Javy López    		 NL Comeback Player of the Year
    2004    		 Succeeded by
    Ken Griffey, Jr.
    Preceded by
    Roger Clemens    		 National League Cy Young Award
    2005    		 Succeeded by
    Brandon Webb
    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/r/Chris_Carpenter_b75f.html"
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