- Brandon Backe
Infobox MLB player
width = 150
name=Brandon Backe
position=Starting pitcher
team=Houston Astros
number=41
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|4|5
birthplace=city-state|Galveston|Texas
debutdate=July 19
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Tampa Bay Devil Rays
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=31-29
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.09
stat3label=Strikeout s| stat3value=350
teams=
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2002-by|2003)
*Houston Astros (by|2004-present)Brandon Allen Backe (born
April 5 ,1978 inGalveston, Texas ) is astarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball for theHouston Astros . He joined the team in mlby|2004, after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was originally a position player, having played in theoutfield as a minor leaguer, and having been originally drafted as asecond baseman . ColumnistRichard Justice described him as the "Robert Horry of baseball" due to his clutch performances. In his career, Backe boasts a 2.95 ERA in his seven postseason appearances, a mark that is almost twoearned run s lower than his career ERA.High school and college
Backe starred for
Ball High School inGalveston, Texas where he was a two-time teamMVP inbaseball and earned all-district honors. He was selected by theMilwaukee Brewers in the 36th round of the1996 Major League Baseball Draft , but chose to stay close to home and played his collegiate baseball atGalveston College where he earned third-team All-America honors in by|1998. Primarily aninfielder , he pitched only 26 total innings for the Whitecaps. Other notable Whitecap players on Backe's team includedPete Orr and Seth Foreman.Minor leagues
Backe was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round of the
1998 Major League Baseball Draft . During his first three seasons in the minor leagues, he played every infield and outfield position. In fact, the two innings that he pitched for the rookie leaguePrinceton Devil Rays in 1998 were the only time he spent on the mound during that time. In spite of his steady glove and versatility, it was clear that a light-hitting utility player had a very small chance of making the major leagues. In by|2001, he changed positions topitcher and found immediate success. He rose through the ranks of the pitching-depleted Tampa Bay system climbing from Single-A to the major leagues in just a season and a half.Major leagues
Tampa Bay
2002
In just his second season as a pitcher, Backe was recalled on
July 16 , mlby|2002 from the Double-AOrlando Rays and pitched nine times for the Devil Rays. He posted a 6.92 ERA giving up 10 runs in 13 innings, however 7 of those runs came in one outing - the first game of aJuly 23 doubleheader atFenway Park , a game the Rays lost 22-4 and in which Backe allowed a pair ofhome run s toNomar Garciaparra in one inning.2003
Backe began the season in the minor leagues, but was recalled on
May 16 whenJohn Rocker was optioned. He earned his first big league win onAugust 1 at Kansas City with four scoreless innings of relief. He had a 9-outing stretch fromJuly 22 toAugust 21 in which he pitched to a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.06 to a season-low 3.60.Houston
In December mlby|2003, his hometown team, the Houston Astros, acquired Backe from the Devil Rays for
Geoff Blum .2004
In 2004, Backe shuffled between Triple-A and the majors, pitching out of the
bullpen when he was with the Astros. On August 21, Backe was called up for his first major league start, where he ended up limiting theChicago Cubs to four hits and no runs over seven innings. After that start, Backe became a permanent member of the Astros rotation, going 4-2 over the final two months of the season.Entering their final regular-season game against the
Colorado Rockies onOctober 3 , the Astros needed a win to clinch a playoff spot. AlthoughRoger Clemens was scheduled as the starting pitcher for that game, he was sidelined by a stomachvirus , forcing managerPhil Garner to press Backe into starting duty the morning of the game. Backe performed well on his short notice, surrendering only 2 runs oner 5 innings as the Astros beat the Rockies 5-3 and edged out theSan Francisco Giants for the team's first playoff berth since mlby|2001.Backe's star continued to rise during the 2004 playoffs. After earning a win in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the
Atlanta Braves , Backe gained national attention with an eight-inning, one-hit performance against theSt. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. Going toe-to-toe with Cardinals starter and Houston nativeWoody Williams , Backe carried aperfect game into the 5th inning and ano-hitter into the 6th inning, surrendering only a bloop single to St. Louis second basemanTony Womack . Backe's pitching performance set the stage forJeff Kent 'swalk-off home run in the ninth inning, giving the Astros a 3-2 series advantage headed back to St. Louis, however the Astros lost both subsequent games and the series.2005
Backe started the mlby|2005 season in the Astros starting rotation, going 10-8 with a 4.76 ERA in his first full season as a starter. Backe performed well in the Astros second-consecutive postseason appearance, including a five-hit, seven-
strikeout performance in Game 4 of the2005 World Series .2006
In the mlby|2006 season, Backe was the Astros No. 4 starter. But after two starts he went onto the
disabled list for three months. He returned in late July, but onAugust 19 he sprained a ligament in his right elbow was placed on the disabled list again. This injury requiredTommy John surgery , which was successfully performed onSeptember 7 , 2006.2007
Although Backe's recovery time was slated at 12-18 months, he rehabbed aggressively and made his return on
September 4 . In his return, he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5.2 innings, taking the loss, but won his last 4 starts of the season for an ERA of 3.77.2008
In mlby|2008, Backe was totally healthy and made 31 starts for the Astros. He went only 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA during the season though. On
October 5 ,2008 , Backe was arrested, along with 9 others, after being involved in a fight at Amanda O'balle and Nick Lankford's wedding (now Amanda Lankford). [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3629594 |title=Astros' Backe one of 10 people arrested in brawl with police |accessdate=2008-10-07 |author=Associated Press |authorlink=Associated Press |date=2008-10-06 |work=ESPN.com] He was charged with interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest. [cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/10/06/backe.arrested.ap/index.html |title=Astros' Backe arrested at wedding reception in Texas |accessdate=2008-10-07 |author=Associated Press |authorlink=Associated Press |date=2008-10-06 |work=SI.com]ee also
*
Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches References
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