Guillermo Mota

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Guillermo Mota
position=Relief Pitcher
team=Milwaukee Brewers
number=58
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|7|25
debutdate=May 2
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Montreal Expos
statyear=August 11, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=31-34
stat3label=Earned Run Average
stat3value=3.99
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=504
teams=
*Montreal Expos (by|1999-by|2001)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2002-by|2004)
*Florida Marlins (by|2004-by|2005)
*Cleveland Indians (by|2006)
*New York Mets (by|2006-by|2007)
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|2008-present)

Guillermo Reynoso Mota (born July 25, 1973 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Originally a shortshop in the New York Mets farm system, Mota made his Major League debut with the Montreal Expos in 1999. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him before the 2002 season via trade. While with the Dodgers, Mota's career took off when he became the setup man for All-Star closer Éric Gagné. In 2003, Mota had his breakthrough season posting a 6-3 record with a 1.97 ERA.

At the trade deadline the next season, Mota was sent to the Florida Marlins with Juan Encarnacion and Paul Lo Duca for Hee Seop Choi, Brad Penny, and Bill Murphy. The following season, Mota was slated to be the Marlins closer before the season began. However, injuries derailed Mota's year and he only recorded 2 saves for the season.

During the 2005-2006 off-season, Mota was traded from Florida to Boston along with Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for prospects, including highly regarded shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Later that off-season, on January 27, 2006, Mota was traded to the Cleveland Indians along with 3rd-base prospect Andy Marte, catcher Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later and cash considerations for outfielder Coco Crisp, reliever David Riske and catcher Josh Bard.

Mota's stint with the Indians was not very successful as he posted 6.21 ERA in his time in Cleveland. On August 11, 2006, Mota was designated for assignment, by the Indians. On August 20, 2006 he was acquired by the New York Mets for a player to be named later or cash.

Mota's year turned around quickly upon joining the Mets. In the part of the 2006 season he spent with the Mets he posted a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings, while striking out 19. Part of his sudden change of success has been credited to the fact Mota began pitching from the first base side of the mound, rather than from the third base base side where he had been struggling.

Mota's role quickly became significant as the Mets won the 2006 National League East. Entering the playoffs Mota became one of the main setup men to get to closer Billy Wagner along with Aaron Heilman. In the first game of the 2006 National League Division Series, Mota earned the win pitching two innings in relief, despite being charged with 3 earned runs.

On November 1, 2006, the Commissioner's Office announced that Mota would be suspended for 50 games to begin the by|2007 season for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061101&content_id=1729163&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News ] ] He was the 15th MLB player to be suspended for performance-enhancing drugs. He was added to the active roster on May 30, 2007 after Ambiorix Burgos was demoted. Mota's return to the Mets was certainly less than stellar, currently posting an earned run average for the season that is over 6.00. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=150407 The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Stats: Individual Player Stats ] ] As a result, Mota quickly became a target of Met fans, entering and leaving games to a chorus of boos. [ [http://blog.silive.com/mets/2007/08/ive_seen_enough_mota_must_go.html I've seen enough: Mota must go! - SILive: Ya Gotta Believe ] ]

He entered games to "I Like To Move It" by Reel 2 Real at Mets home games at Shea Stadium. The Mets used Sister Christian by Night Ranger as his strikeout song, specifically the first chorus, where the first word is "motorin'".

On November 20, 2007 he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Johnny Estrada.

ee also

* List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=150407 |espn=4053 |br=m/motagu01 |fangraphs=1467 |cube=M/guillermo-mota