Mike Sirotka

Last updated

211+2⁄3 innings.

In 1999, Sirotka lowered his ERA one run lower than the previous season, finishing at an even 4.00. He pitched 3 complete games to go along with a record of 11-13 in 32 starts.

The 2000 season saw Sirotka have a breakout year. He had a career high 15 wins with a career low 3.79 ERA for the White Sox, and made his first postseason appearance for the team in the 2000 American League Division Series, starting a game against the Seattle Mariners. In the offseason he traveled to Japan as part of the 2000 MLB Japan All-Star Series and pitched for the MLB squad.

On January 14, 2001, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays with Kevin Beirne and Brian Simmons for Matt DeWitt and David Wells in a deal that would infamously become labeled by White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams as "Shouldergate", as Sirotka would never pitch again, labeled "damaged goods" by then-Toronto GM Gord Ash. Ash believed that Williams did not turn over all information pertaining to Sirotka's shoulder. Ash later appealed the trade to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, but Selig refused to overturn the trade. [1]

Sirotka underwent major reconstructive shoulder surgery in April 2001 and an arthroscopic procedure in July 2002 in an attempt to get off the disabled list, but neither surgery was successful. The Blue Jays released him after the 2002 season.

In October 2002, Sirotka signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was invited to spring training. If he made the Cubs' 25-man major league roster on Opening Day, his contract allowed him to make as much as $4 million with incentives. At the time of the signing, Sirotka attributed his "Shouldergate" injuries to pitching with a hurt elbow late in 2000 for the Sox, followed by pitching six innings in Japan that extended the damage into his shoulder. [2]

When shoulder problems persisted during the spring, the Cubs sent Sirotka to minor-league camp on March 26, 2003. [3]

While with the White Sox, Sirotka surrendered the sole career hit to country music superstar Garth Brooks, who at the time was participating in spring training with the San Diego Padres. Brooks' spring training hitting record was one hit in 22 at-bats. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Garland</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1979)

Jon Steven Garland is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. After being drafted by the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1997, Garland played for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike MacDougal</span> American baseball player (born 1977)

Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a former relief pitcher in professional baseball. He is a switch hitter and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartolo Colón</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1973)

Bartolo Colón, nicknamed "Big Sexy", is a Dominican-American professional baseball pitcher for the Karachi Monarchs of Baseball United. He previously played for 11 different Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the Cleveland Indians (1997–2002), Montreal Expos (2002), Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2007), Boston Red Sox (2008), New York Yankees (2011), Oakland Athletics (2012–2013), New York Mets (2014–2016), Atlanta Braves (2017), Minnesota Twins (2017), and Texas Rangers (2018). Colón also played for the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League and the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Harden</span> Canadian baseball player (born 1981)

James Richard Harden is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Aardsma</span> American baseball player (born 1981)

David Allan Aardsma is an American former professional baseball pitcher, currently serving in the Toronto Blue Jays front office as a coordinator of player development. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2015 for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Hill (pitcher)</span> American baseball player (born 1980)

Richard Joseph Hill, nicknamed "Dick Mountain", is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Downs</span> American baseball player

Scott Jeremy Downs is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago White Sox. He has been a starter, reliever and closer during his baseball career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julián Tavárez</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1973)

Julián Tavárez Carmen is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played for 11 franchises over the course of a 17–season Major League Baseball (MLB) career from 1993 to 2009. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 165 pounds (75 kg), he threw right-handed and batted left-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Cotts</span> American baseball player (born 1980)

Neal James Cotts is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Samardzija</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

Jeffrey Alan Samardzija, nicknamed "Shark", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball and football for the University of Notre Dame, and was recognized as a two-time football All-American playing wide receiver. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major-league (MLB) debut in 2008. He played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs from 2008 to 2014, the Oakland Athletics in 2014, the Chicago White Sox in 2015, and the San Francisco Giants from 2016 to 2020. He was an all-star in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Mármol</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1982)

Carlos Agustín Mármol is a Dominican former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Miami Marlins. Carlos owns Recta 49, a successful restaurant/car wash in the Dominican Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Garza</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Matthew Scott Garza is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2006 with the Minnesota Twins, and also played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers. With the Rays, Garza was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2008, and threw a no-hitter on July 26, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Leach</span> American baseball player

Terry Hester Leach is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, and author of the book, Things Happen for a Reason: The True Story of an Itinerant Life in Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Danks</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

John William Danks is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clayton Richard</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Clayton Colby Richard is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Hoffman (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1956)

Guy Alan Hoffman is an American former pitcher. He played high school baseball at Marquette High School in Ottawa, Illinois. He graduated from Marquette in 1974. He played all or part of six seasons in the Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1988, chiefly as a reliever. After his MLB career, he played three seasons for the Orix BlueWave in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1989 until 1991

Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Chicago Cubs system:

Kenneth Douglas Frailing was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who appeared in 116 Major League games for the Chicago White Sox (1972–1973) and Chicago Cubs (1974–1976).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Clarkin</span> American professional baseball pitcher

Ian Richard Clarkin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 33rd overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.

Cory James Abbott is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He played college baseball at Loyola Marymount University. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cubs and Washington Nationals.

References

  1. ↑ "Selig upholds Sirotka-Wells deal"
  2. ↑ "Sirotka now a North Sider". October 31, 2002. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Transactions". Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Owens has Friend in Low Places" . Retrieved September 10, 2016.
Mike Sirotka
Pitcher
Born: (1971-05-13) May 13, 1971 (age 53)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 19, 1995, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 2000, for the Chicago White Sox
Head Coach 15 Skip Bertman
Assistant Coach 22 Smoke Laval
Regular season
1991 NCAA Division I baseball tournament
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.