Lee Guetterman
Lee Guetterman | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. | November 22, 1958|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
September 12, 1984, for the Seattle Mariners | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 13, 1996, for the Seattle Mariners | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 38–36 |
Earned run average | 4.33 |
Strikeouts | 287 |
Teams | |
Arthur Lee Guetterman (born November 22, 1958), nicknamed "Goot," is an American former professional baseball
Guetterman attended Liberty University, where he set several school records on the baseball team. Drafted by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 1981 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, he made his major league debut in 1984, though he would not return to the major leagues until 1986. After having the highest earned run average (ERA) of any American League (AL) pitcher with at least 75 innings pitched in 1986, he won 11 games as a starter in 1987, posting an 8–1 record at one point before getting moved to the bullpen due to a loss of control of his pitches. He was traded to the Yankees after the season, and after spending much of 1988 in the minor leagues, he emerged as a part-time closer for the Yankees in 1989, while Dave Righetti was struggling. He had 13 saves in 1989, then just two the following year, though he would lead the Yankees in wins. In 1991, Guetterman became unhappy with his playing time and requested a trade, which he got in 1992, when he was part of the only Yankees-Mets trade between 1987 and 2001.
After finishing the 1992 season with the Mets, Guetterman pitched for the Cardinals in 1993, though he was in the minor leagues until June 30 that year. He had a 2.93 ERA for the Cardinals that year but did not return to the major leagues in 1994. After stints with the Mariners again in 1995 and 1996, Guetterman played one year for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent Northern League.
Early life
Arthur Lee Guetterman was born on November 22, 1958,
First professional seasons (1981–85)
In 1981, Guetterman began his professional career with the
Guetterman spent most of the 1984 season with the
First full season, use as a starter (1986–87)
In 1986, Guetterman made the Mariners' roster out of
Not even invited to 1987 spring training, Guetterman began the season in the
Emerging as a relief pitcher, closing, leading the Yankees in wins (1988–90)
Entering the 1988 season, Sarah Ballard of Sports Illustrated predicted that Guetterman would be the Yankees' fifth starter.[21] He began the year in the bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA in eight games.[22] However, after May 6, he was sent to the minor leagues because Yankee manager Billy Martin thought he was not aggressive enough.[19] Used as a starter again for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers of the International League, he made 18 appearances, posting a 9–6 record, a 2.76 ERA, 49 strikeouts, 26 walks, and 109 hits allowed in 120+2⁄3 innings.[7] Recalled to the Yankees in August, he gave up five runs in a three-inning start on August 5, and he allowed six runs in 1+1⁄3 innings of relief on August 16, causing his ERA to rise to 5.47. He posted a 3.14 ERA after that and remained with the Yankees for the rest of the season, used mostly as a reliever.[22] In 20 games (two starts), he had a 1–2 record, a 4.65 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 14 walks, and 49 hits allowed in 40+2⁄3 innings.[4]
Expected to begin the 1989 season with the Clippers, Guetterman made the Yankee roster out of spring training because Ron Guidry suffered a left elbow injury. Then, Guetterman was manager Dallas Green's choice in April to be the Yankee closer when Dave Righetti slumped due to elbow problems. "I need a guy in that situation who’ll throw strikes and not walk people," Green said. "I have faith Goot can do that."[19] "It's not my role," Guetterman declared. "I feel like I'm a fill-in just because I'm pitching well. Over the long haul, Dave and Lance [McCullers] are going to get the call late in games. That's their forte, what they do best."[23] As Guetterman predicted, Righetti went on to assume the closer role and get 25 saves for the Yankees in 1989 (McCullers would only have three), but Guetterman and Righetti shared the responsibility in the early part of the year; both had eight saves through June 4.[24][25][26] Guetterman would be unscored upon for his first 19 games of the year, pitching 29+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings before he gave up five runs to the California Angels on June 4.[25] His ERA was 1.37 through June 17, but he had an 8.82 ERA over his next 13 games, raising his season total to 3.32 on July 26. He had a 1.11 ERA for the rest of the season to finish the year with a 2.45 mark.[25] In 70 games (all in relief, he would never make another start in the major leagues), Guetterman had a 5–5 record, 51 strikeouts, 26 walks, and 98 hits allowed in 103 innings pitched. He had 13 saves, which would be the highest total of his career, and his 70 games pitched ranked fifth among AL relievers.[4][27]
Against the Rangers on April 13, 1990, Guetterman pitched a scoreless sixth through eighth innings to help preserve a 3–0 victory.[28] He also pitched a scoreless sixth through eighth innings on May 25, helping preserve a 6–3 victory over the Royals.[29] Entering a tie game against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 20, he threw a scoreless eighth and ninth innings, earning the win after Roberto Kelly had hit a home run to give the Yankees the winning margin of victory in the top of the ninth.[30] On July 7, he entered a tie game against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning and held the team to one hit in four innings, earning the win as the Yankees scored in the bottom of the 12th.[31] He suffered a strained ribcage on July 18 and was placed on the disabled list the next day.[32] Activated on August 3, he allowed two runs over 3+1⁄3 innings against the Indians that night but earned the win in a 6–4 victory.[33] Relieving Mark Leiter after four innings against the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, Guetterman pitched five scoreless innings but had a no decision in an eventual 6–3, 10-inning loss.[34][35] Though he did not start a single game in 1990, Guetterman's 11 wins were the most on the Yankees, more than any of their starters had.[36] In 64 games, he had an 11–7 record, two saves, a 3.39 ERA, 48 strikeouts, 26 walks, and 80 hits allowed in 93 innings pitched.[4]
Dissatisfaction with workload, trade to the Mets (1991–92)
Guetterman had a 1.59 ERA in his first 33 appearances for the Yankees in 1991.
Through June 9, 1992, Guetterman again saw limited playing time, only making 15 appearances. "His wildness and his penchant for throwing fat pitches kept his seat in the bullpen filled," wrote Jack Curry of the New York Times.[4][40] In those games, he had a 9.53 ERA. On June 9, he was dealt to the New York Mets for Tim Burke. This was the only Yankees-Mets trade between 1987 and 2001.[40][41]
With the Mets, Guetterman posted a 2.38 ERA through July 24, becoming their only dependable left-hander other than John Franco, who was their closer.[42] In a series against the San Francisco Giants, he struck out Will Clark with two men on base to end the eighth inning and preserve a 3–0 lead on July 18, then threw two scoreless innings on the July 19 in an 8–4 victory.[43] However, from July 25 through the end of the year, he posted a 9.58 ERA in his final 24 games for the Mets.[44] In 43 games with the Mets, he had a 3–4 record, two saves, a 5.82 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 14 walks, and 57 hits allowed in 43+1⁄3 innings. His combined totals between the two New York teams were a 4–5 record, two saves, a 7.09 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 92 hits allowed in 66 innings. After the season, he became a free agent.[4]
Despite his dissatisfaction in 1991, Guetterman listed New York as his favorite of the places he had played in a 2016 interview. "When you're in a place enough, it does become like home, and I was longer there than any other one place."[3]
Various organizations (1993–97)
The
For the second year in a row, Guetterman attended spring training with a
In 1995, Guetterman began the season on the Mariners' roster, but he posted a 9.53 ERA in his first 10 games.[47] On May 21, he was designated for assignment to make room for Steve Frey (acquired from the Giants in a trade) on the roster.[48] He joined the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, which was now the Tacoma Rainiers. In 33 games (one start) for Tacoma, he had a 1–2 record, four saves, a 2.95 ERA, 21 strikeouts, nine walks, and 33 hits allowed in 36+2⁄3 innings.[7] On August 15, the Mariners purchased his contract from Tacoma, sending Bill Krueger to the minor leagues to make room for him.[49] After a scoreless outing on August 18, he gave up four runs in two games on August 20 and 23. Thereafter, he posted a 4.05 ERA in his final 10 games of the season.[47] In 23 games, he had no record, one save, a 6.88 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 11 walks, and 21 hits allowed in 17 innings pitched.[4] The Mariners won the AL West title to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but Guetterman did not make any playoff appearances for them.[4][50] He became a free agent on November 8, but the Mariners resigned him on December 7.[4]
After beginning the 1996 season with Tacoma, Guetterman was called up by the Mariners on May 28 when
Even towards the end of his career, Guetterman still had a desire to pitch. "They had to take the uniform away from me," he said in an interview, explaining that he was always looking for a team to sign him.[3] When no major league organizations signed him in 1997, Guetterman joined the Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent Northern League, getting a chance to be used as a starting pitcher over an extended period for the first time since 1987.[7] Of his 13 appearances with the Canaries, 12 were starts. He had a 3–7 record, a 4.50 ERA, 33 strikeouts, 10 walks, and 89 hits allowed in 76 innings pitched.[7]
Career statistics and pitching style
Ultimately, Guetterman appeared in 425 games over parts of 11 seasons in a major league career that lasted from 1984 until 1996. He had a 38–36 record (a .514 winning percentage), a 4.33 career ERA, 287 strikeouts, 222 walks, and 717 hits allowed in 658+1⁄3 innings. Outside of 1987, in which he made 17 starts, he never made more than four starts in a season, spending most of his career as a relief pitcher.[4]
A
Personal life
Guetterman teaches children how to pitch at the East Tennessee Baseball Training Facility in
References
- ^ "Lee Guetterman Stats, Fantasy, and News". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "Arthur "Art" Gutterman Jr". Murphy Funeral Home. June 3, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Lee Guetterman (Interviewee) (August 31, 2016). Left-Hander Lee Guetterman (video). Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Lee Guetterman Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Lee Guetterman". Liberty University. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "4th Round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Lee Guetterman Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Lee Guetterman 1984 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners Box Score, September 12, 1984". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lee Guetterman 1986 Pitching Gamelogs". September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners Box Score, May 11, 1986". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners Box Score, July 1, 1986". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "1986 AL Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c Martinez, Michael (March 14, 1988). "Guetterman Wants to Start". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Clemens keeps Niekros out of record book". The Gadsden Times. May 28, 1987. p. C3. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees Box Score, May 27, 1987". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Lee Guetterman 1987 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Indians Box Score, June 21, 1987". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h O'Connell, Jack (April 15, 1989). "Guetterman Stands Above All Others on the Yankee Staff". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ Noden, Merrell (January 11, 1988). "A Roundup of the Weeks Dec. 21-Jan. 3". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Ballard, Sarah (January 18, 1988). "Scorecard". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Lee Guetterman 1988 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Martinez, Michael (April 16, 1989). "Baseball; Guetterman's Success Hasn't Changed Him". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "1989 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lee Guetterman 1989 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Dave Righetti 1989 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "1989 AL Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Texas Rangers at New York Yankees Box Score, April 13, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals Box Score, May 25, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "New York Yankees at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, June 20, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees Box Score, July 7, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Moran, Malcolm (July 24, 1990). "Rangers Stifle Yankees On 4 Hits". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Sexton, Joe (August 4, 1990). "Baseball; Candiotti's Knuckler Quiets Yanks Till 8th". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees Box Score, September 24, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Bell perfect as Jays win again". The Evening News. September 25, 1990. p. 7B. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ Kurkjian, Tim (April 15, 1991). "Bombs Away in Beantown". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lee Guetterman 1991 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Moran, Malcolm (July 2, 1991). "Baseball; Aaaah, Work! Suddenly, Guetterman Is Feeling Better". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Curry, Jack (August 29, 1991). "Baseball; Unhappy Guetterman Wants to Be Traded". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Curry, Jack (June 10, 1992). "Baseball; Mets-Yanks Swap: Burke for Guetterman". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Retooling Yanks send Justice to Mets for Ventura". The Lodi News-Sentinel. December 8, 2001. p. 19. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ Sexton, Joe (July 24, 1992). "Baseball; Ya Gotta Believe?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Sexton, Joe (July 20, 1992). "Baseball; Schofield? Six R.B.I.? It's Not a Joke". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Lee Guetterman 1992 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Lee Guetterman 1993 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Colorado Rockies Box Score, July 25, 1993". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Lee Guetterman 1995 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Mariners acquire pitchers Torres, Frey". United Press International. May 21, 1995. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 16, 1995. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ LaRue, Larry (October 3, 1995). "My, oh my, Mariners win!". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (Tacoma News Tribune). p. 1B. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Class Of '95 Holds Reunion In Kingdome". The Spokesman-Review. The Tacoma News Tribune. May 29, 1996. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "Lee Guetterman 1996 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "California Angels at Seattle Mariners Box Score, July 13, 1996". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "M'S Beam Despite Angels' Win Seattle Receives Word That Griffey Returns Today". swxrightnow.com. July 14, 1996. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Fernandez, Katherine (May 14–15, 2014). "Art in focus" (PDF). The News-Herald. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Davis, Nick (April 3, 2019). "Panthers fall to Heritage". The News-Herald. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Ballplayers For Life". belief.net. March 7, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet