Jeff Nelson (baseball player)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jeffrey Allan Nelson (born November 17, 1966 in Baltimore, Maryland), was a middle relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed. Jeff Nelson retired on January 12, 2007, the same day he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. [1]

In his major league career Nelson pitched in 798 games with a 48-45 record, and with runners in scoring position and 2 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 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings. Through 2006 he was 11th of all active pitchers, with 798 games, and 36th of all pitchers lifetime. Among hitters whom he dominated most were Troy Glaus, who in 14 at bats was hitless with 11 strikeouts.[2]

[edit] Major league career

Before the 2005 season, the Seattle Mariners signed Nelson to a minor league contract, his third stint with the club. The reliever previously pitched with the Mariners from 1992-1995 and again from 2001-2003. He is Seattle's all-time record holder for most games pitched (383), and has a 23-20 record with the Mariners.

Jeff Nelson about to throw a pitch to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, May, 2005. Photo taken during Nelson's third stint with the Seattle Mariners.

In 1992 Nelson was 9th in the AL, appearing in 66 games.

In 1993 Nelson was 3rd in the league, appearing in 71 games, and 9th in hit batsment (8).

In 1994 he was 4th in the league in hit batsmen (8).

In 1995 Nelson was 6th in the AL, appearing in 62 games.

Before the 1996 season, Nelson was sent to the New York Yankees, and returned to Seattle as a free agent in 2001. 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.

In 1996 he was 5th in the league, appearing in 73 games.

In 1997 Nelson was 3rd in the AL, appearing in 77 games.

In 2000 he was 6th in the league, appearing in 73 games.

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.[3]

Nelson was traded to the Yankees during the 2003 midseason. In the postseason, he reinforced his prestige as a great reliever. Nelson pitched effectively against the Red Sox, Twins and Marlins, as the Yankees fell just short of the 2003 World Series title. Moreover, Nelson was unable to keep his usual cool off the mound. He engaged in a fist fight with a member of the Fenway Park grounds crew during the tumultuous Game 3 of the ALCS.

In 2004, 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.

In the 2005 offseason, Nelson signed a minor-league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, but was released before the season began. He was than picked up by the White Sox.

On June 8, 2006, Nelson announced that he would undergo surgery to relieve a nerve in his right elbow. The operation was believed to mark the end of Nelson's active baseball career.

[edit] Pitching

Nelson was a respected slider specialist, much more effective against righthanded 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.

[edit] An outspoken pitcher

Nelson fell out of favor with the Mariners and Yankees as a result of his frank criticisms. Oddly, he has almost always been vindicated in his analysis:

• 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 the best season of his career 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.

Nelson has stated that when his playing career concludes he would like to become a baseball broadcaster. He currently frequently fills in on sports radio KJR-AM in Seattle.

[edit] External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
• ESPN profile and daily updates