Tony Armas, Jr.

Infobox MLB player


name=Tony Armas Jr.
width=300
position=Pitcher
team=New York Mets
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|4|29
debutdate=August 16
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Montréal Expos
statyear=July 3, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=53-65
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.63
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=677
teams=
*Montréal Expos (by|1999-by|2004)
*Washington Nationals (by|2005-by|2006)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2007)
*New York Mets (by|2008-present)

Antonio José Armas (born April 29, 1978 in Puerto Píritu, Anzoátegui State, Venezuela), better known as Tony Armas, Jr., is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently in the New York Mets organization. Previously, he played with the Washington Nationals née Montreal Expos from (by|1999-by|2006) and Pittsburgh Pirates in by|2007.

Armas is the son of former All-Star outfielder Tony Armas, and a nephew of former first baseman Marcos Armas. Tony's father broke into the Majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in by|1976.

Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in by|1994, Armas was traded to the Boston Red Sox in by|1997, and was sent to Montreal later the same year along with pitcher Carl Pavano to complete the deal for Pedro Martínez.

Armas uses a low-90s moving fastball and a sharp-breaking curve to establish what he wants to do with each hitter. He'll mix in an effective slider, a splitter and a changeup to keep opponents out of balance. His slide step has improved to the point where opposing baserunners no longer take him for granted.

However, few starting pitchers have had as much bad luck as Armas. Various injuries held him back until by|2003, when he was the team's Opening Day starter, shutting down the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, 10-2. But the strong start turned into a breakdown weeks later, after he was diagnosed with injuries in his arm and shoulder which required season-ending surgery. At that time, Armas was off to a fine start with a record of 2-1, 23 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA, while allowing barely more than a baserunner per inning (1.065) and not allowing a home run until his fifth and last start.

Armas worked out in by|2004 spring training, and his recovery was proceeding. Although the team initially hoped he could be ready for the start of the season, the rehabilitation was slower than expected. He finished the season with a 2-4 mark in 72 innings.

In a nine-year career, Armas has a 52-65 record with 674 strikeouts and a 4.62 ERA in 917.3 innings. At bat, he is a .098 hitter (26-for-265) with ten RBI.cite web|work = Baseball-reference.com |title = Tony Armas Jr. |accessdate=2007-02-01 |url = http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/armasto02.shtml]

During the 2006 season, Armas had a 9-12 record in 30 starts. Armas missed one month with arm problems, but in his second game back from the disabled list he pitched seven innings, allowing only one run on three hits.

On October 29, 2006, Armas filed for free agency. On February 1, 2007, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a one year $3.5 million contract with a by|2008 mutual option.cite news|work=Pittsburgh Post Gazette |date=2007-02-02 |accessdate=2007-02-02 |first = Dejan |last = Kovacevic |url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07033/758884-63.stm |title = Pirates sign Armas, spur competition] After starting the 2007 season 0-3 with an 8.92 ERA, Armas was removed from the rotation.cite news|work=Pittsburgh Post Gazette |date=2007-06-19 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |first = Dejan |last = Kovacevic |url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07156/791641-126.stm |title = Pirates Notebook: Armas out, but no replacement yet]

On February 11, by|2008, he signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training with the New York Mets.

See also

* List of second generation MLB players

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb=150393 |espn=4152 |br=a/armasto02 |fangraphs=761 |cube=a/tony-armas