Scott Spiezio

Infobox MLB player

---

width = 300px
name = Scott Spiezio
team = Free agent
number = --
position = Third baseman
birthdate = birth date and age|1972|9|21
birthplace = city-state|Joliet|Illinois
bats = Switch
throws = Right
debutdate = September 14
debutyear = 1996
debutteam = Oakland Athletics
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .269
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 119
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 549
teams =
*Oakland Athletics (by|1996-by|1999)
*Anaheim Angels (by|2000-by|2003)
*Seattle Mariners (by|2004-by|2005)
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|2006-by|2007)

* 2x World Series Champion (2002, 2006)

Scott Edward Spiezio (born September 21, 1972 in city-state|Joliet|Illinois) is a Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. He is well-known for his time as a member of the Anaheim Angels, when he hit a 3-run home run in Game Six of the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, sparking the Angels to a dramatic come-from-behind victory. He has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals. He is the son of former Cardinal Ed Spiezio.

In addition to his pivotal moment helping the Angels win the World Series in by|2002, Spiezio's most productive overall season also came with the Angels in by|2003, when he hit .265 with 16 home runs and 83 RBI. Spiezio was a utility player on the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Series championship team.

High school years

Spiezio attended Morris High School in Morris, Illinois and was a student and a letterman in baseball. In baseball, he was named his league's MVP and was an All-State selection.

Playing career

Scott Spiezio went to college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He made the All-Big 10 Team in baseball in by|1992 and by|1993. Scott was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 1993 player draft and signed later that year. He made his debut with the by|1996 A's and established himself as a classic utility player, making starts at first base, second base, and third base during his time with the A's. Spiezio is a switch hitter who hits for more power when batting left-handed. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=spiezsc01&year=00 Scott Spiezio Career Batting Splits - Baseball-Reference PI ] ]

Spiezio signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Angels after the by|2000 season. During his years with the Angels, he made appearances in left field and right field, as well as first, second, and third base. In 2002, he had a career year. Playing every day, he set career highs for batting average, on-base percentage and RBI. It was in the postseason that he had his greatest success. Spiezio batted 18 for 55 (.327) for Anaheim in the playoffs that year. In Game 6 of the 2002 World Series, with Anaheim trailing three games to two in the series, trailing 5-0 in the seventh inning of the game, and facing a Series loss, Spiezio hit a three-run homer off of Felix Rodriguez to pull his team to within two runs. A lead off homer by Darin Erstad followed by a two-run double by Troy Glaus in the next inning won the game, and the Angels would go on to win their first ever World Series championship. Spiezio tied Sandy Alomar Jr.'s postseason RBI with 19 in 1 postseason that was set back in by|1997 while playing for the Cleveland Indians.

After the 2003 season, Spiezio became a free agent and signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners. The next two seasons were the worst of his career. He hit .215 in by|2004 for the Mariners and played only 29 games the next year (compiling an .064 average) before the Mariners released him on August 19, by|2005.

On February 18, by|2006, Spiezio signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals with an invitation to the club's spring training. Spiezio played well enough during the Cardinals' exhibition to secure a roster spot with the team as a reserve infielder entering the 2006 season. This move would reunite Spiezio with his former Angels teammate, shortstop David Eckstein.

Spiezio, used as a pinch hitter and all-around reserve player as well as the primary backup to Scott Rolen at third base, had his best season since 2002 for the 2006 Cardinals, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 52 runs despite only getting 276 at bats. He would have another dramatic moment in the playoffs. With the Cardinals trailing 6-4 in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the 2006 National League Championship Series, Spiezio hit a two-run triple to tie the score. The Cardinals went on to win the game and the series in seven games, then proceeded to win the 2006 World Series, earning Spiezio his second championship ring.

On November 16, 2006, Spiezio signed a two-year contract to return to the Cardinals until the end of the by|2008 season, with a club option for by|2009. The deal is worth an estimated $4.5 million [cite news | url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061116&content_id=1742210&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl | title=Cardinals reward Spiezio with new deal | work=www.stlcardinals.com | date=November 16 2006 | author=Matthew Leach] .

On June 15, by|2007, Spiezio took the mound as a relief pitcher in the bottom of the 8th inning of a lopsided loss against the Athletics. His fastball was clocked as high as 87 mph. He pitched one inning, giving up 1 walk, no hits, no runs, and no strikeouts. After having pitched in one game, Spiezio has played six positions in his career (seven counting designated hitter), missing catcher, shortstop, and center field.

ubstance abuse

On August 7, 2007, Spiezio suffered a physical breakdown during the Cardinals' game against the San Diego Padres. Noted to have an elevated heart rate and "sweating profusely", Spiezio received IV fluids. He was described as being "irritable and anxious". Spiezio disconnected his IV and left the stadium rather than accept medical treatment. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/8D2FC2EABEB6CCDB862573330015A8FC?OpenDocument] On August 9, 2007, the Cardinals placed him on the restricted list. [cite news | url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/421244D68E4CFF7486257332001F5761?OpenDocument | title=Spiezio being treated for unspecified illness | work=www.stltoday.com | date=August 9 2007 | author=Rick Hummel] The Cardinals stated that Spiezio would be seeking treatment for an unspecified substance abuse problem. [ [http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070809&content_id=2139926&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: St. Louis Cardinals News ] ] On September 14, 2007, Spiezio was removed from the restricted list after 36 days and also re-activated to play in that evening's home game. [ [http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070914&content_id=2208166&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: St. Louis Cardinals News ] ]

Release

On February 27, by|2008, Spiezio was released from his contract with the Cardinals after an arrest warrant was issued against him in Irvine, California. The warrant was issued on six charges relating to a car crash in December. [cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/F1C3509C2D704E7D862573FC006EDF3D?OpenDocument |title=Cards release Spiezio after arrest warrant issued|date=2008-02-27 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

On March 31, by|2008, Spiezio signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. However, he was released on April 12 for being unprepared to play in a game.

Arrest

On February 27, 2008, an arrest warrant was issued for Spiezio for driving under influence, hit and run, aggravated assault and battery. On April 7, 2008, Spiezio pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving and hit-and-run charges. All other charges were dismissed. Spiezio was ordered to serve three years probation, undergo a three-month alcohol program, attend two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and complete 80 hours of community service.

Personal life

Spiezio has three children from his marriage to his first wife, Amy. Scott is known for his signature goatee, a style known as an "imperiale" and dyed red, and his [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=71440 tattoo] depicting his second wife, Jenn. [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/236997_moore18.html Go 2 Guy: So what if Spiezio can't tattoo the ball? ] ] Scott and Jennifer live in Irvine CA. [cite web | url=http://www.ocregister.com/community/former-angels-player-1988817-charged-with | author=James, Elysse | title=Former Angels player charged with DUI, hit-and-run and assault | date=2008-02-27 | publisher=Orange County Register | accessdate=2008-05-07 ]

Spiezio has his own band, Sandfrog. Their latest album, "Off Season", was inspired by Spiezio's struggles with drug addiction in 2007. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080120&content_id=2351746&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News ] ]

ee also

* List of second generation MLB players

References

External links

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