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The Florida Marlins finalized their 25-man roster and it contains two players who have toiled for quite a while in the minors while only being able to sip at a tall cup of coffee in the big, although they have seemingly enjoyed unlimited ventis in the minors.
One guy who made the team is 36-year old Jason Wood, who played his first game in the majors back on April 1, 1998 for Oakland. Wood entered that game to take over at shortstop in the ninth after Shane Mack had batted for Rafael Bournigal. Wood got one at bat for Oakland, on April 5, 1998, and struck out against Jeff Nelson of the Yankees.
Wood soon went back to the minors and was dealt in July to the Tigers for Bip Roberts. The Tigers made him a September callup and on September 7, 1998, Wood went 2 for 3 against Mike Sirotka of the White Sox. He was the Tigers DH and left for pinch hitter Luis Gonzalez.
In 1999 Wood played in a handful of games for the Tigers and batted .159 and then it was off to AAA. He played for the Pirates AAA team in Nashville for two seasons and then moved over to the Marlins AAA teams in Calgary and then Albuquerque. None of his AAA stats were overwhelming. Nevertheless, the Marlins brought Wood up in September and he got 6 hits in 13 at bats. Wood got his first major league hit in nearly seven seasons with a pinch single against Brett Myers of the Phillies on September 9, 2006.
The other journeyman joining the Marlins is a little younger, 32-year old Lee Gardner, who has pitched a few games for Tampa Bay.
I'll bet that was the last time Rivera was ever taken out of a game in the ninth.
I'll bet Rivera has come out in the 9th after one of those rare blown saves.
The only solution is contraction.
http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/B04060NYA2005.htm
RED SOX 9TH: SANCHEZ REPLACED JETER (PLAYING SS); RIVERA
REPLACED STURTZE (PITCHING); Mueller walked; Bellhorn singled to
right [Mueller to second]; Damon singled to right [Mueller to
third, Bellhorn to second]; Nixon struck out; M. Ramirez reached
on an error by A. Rodriguez [Mueller scored, Bellhorn to third,
Damon to second]; Ortiz grounded out (pitcher to first)
[Bellhorn scored (unearned), Damon to third, M. Ramirez to
second]; McCarty walked; Renteria singled to left [Damon scored
(unearned), M. Ramirez scored (unearned), McCarty to second];
Mirabelli walked [McCarty to third, Renteria to second]; F.
RODRIGUEZ REPLACED RIVERA (PITCHING); F. Rodriguez threw a wild
pitch [McCarty scored (unearned), Renteria to third, Mirabelli
to second]; Mueller was called out on strikes; 5 R (1 ER), 3 H,
1 E, 2 LOB. Red Sox 7, Yankees 3.
It's not absurd to imagine that Rivera would be taken out after blowing a lead, but taking a save situation out of Rivera's hands and giving it to Graeme Lloyd? The mere thought makes me giggle.
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