Ryan Dempster: Difference between revisions

Ryan Dempster
Ryan Dempster
Chicago Cubs – No. 46
	Starting pitcher
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
	May 23, 1998, for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics ; (through August 30, 2008)
Win-Loss	74-80
Saves	87
Earned run average	4.59
Strikeouts	1,167
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Florida Marlins (1998-2002); Cincinnati Reds (2002-2003); Chicago Cubs (2004-present);
Career highlights and awards
	2x All-Star selection (2000, 2008);

Browse history interactively

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Ryan Scott Dempster (born May 3, 1977 in Sechelt, British Columbia) is a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball.

Professional career

Dempster bats and throws right-handed. He has a win-loss record of 73-80 and an earned run average of 4.60 in 413 games (188 starts) as of August 18, 2008. He has played for the Florida Marlins (1998-2002), the Cincinnati Reds (2002-2003), and the Chicago Cubs (2004-present). In August 2003 he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and made a miraculous recovery from the surgery, taking a little under a year to recover from it, coming back in the last half of 2004 to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. In 2005, after starting 6 games, Dempster was named the closer for the Chicago Cubs, replacing LaTroy Hawkins.

He collected 33 saves in 35 opportunities, the best save percentage in the league; in both blown saves, he collected the win. He is the only Cub and one of just three players ever to start a game and collect 30 saves in a single season. On October 1, 2005, the Cubs signed him through 2008 in a US$15.5 million contract extension. He emerged as one of the team's most consistent relievers in 2007. At one point, Lou Pinella, the Cubs' manager, was considering promoting Dempster to a starting pitcher.^[1] However, the idea was short lived, as a struggling bullpen forced Dempster to remain as closer. He recorded sixteen saves in eighteen opportunities before missing two weeks of playtime on account of an injured oblique muscle.^[2]

During 2008 spring training, Dempster's performance earned him a promotion to the third spot on the starting rotation, with the closer job going to Kerry Wood. On April 3, 2008, he earned his first win as a home starter since a 2002 win with the Marlins against the Cubs.^[3] On May 15, 2008, Dempster recorded a career high 12 strikeouts in a game. He pitched 8 1/3rd innings, and gave up only 6 hits. On July 8, 2008 he became the first Cubs pitcher in 31 seasons to start 10-0 at home.^[4] As of September 25, 2008, he has posted a 17-6 record as a starter with an ERA of 2.99, and 183 strikeouts in 201 2/3 innings pitched.[1]

On September 25th, 2008 the hotly debated quesstion as to who would start the NLDS series was answered when it was revealed that Dempster would take the honor in place of Zambrano.

Personal life

Dempster is widely known for his laid-back attitude, constantly joking with fans and teammates and is said to be a positive contribution to a team's clubhouse. Dempster's fun and easy-going personality was especially evident when in comments to an Arizona newspaper in March 2007, Dempster stated that if his career as a closer began to tumble, he would pursue ninja training.^[5]

When asked what would happen if the Cubs won the World Series, Dempster jokingly commented,"I'd say the top of the Budweiser building blows off. People storm the field. Huge chunks of ivy are ripped off the walls. Police cars are turned over on Addison, on Waveland, on Sheffield, and you can't walk within a 45-block radius of Wrigley Field because people will be drinking there for seven to 10 days. What a great feeling."[2] He is also known for his Harry Caray impression. Most notably, he announced the Cubs' starting lineup while speaking like Caray before a nationally televised baseball game on Fox Sports.

Dempster also appeared on the August 21, 2008 episode of the popular web show "Santino's Casa", the weekly talk show of professional WWE wrestler Santino Marella, along with Chicago teammate Bob Howry.

Awards and honors

National League All-Star (2000) (2008)
Named one of the 99 "Good Guys" in professional sports by The Sporting News.
Tip O'Neill Award (2000)
Played in the NHL All-Star Celebrity Challenge on January 30, 2002.

MLB Stats

current as of October 1, 2007.

Season	Team	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	W	L	SV	HLD	BLSV	ERA
1998	Florida Marlins	14	11	0	0	54.2	72	47	43	6	38	35	1	5	0	0	1	7.08
1999	Florida Marlins	25	25	0	0	147.0	146	77	77	21	93	126	7	8	0	0	0	4.71
2000	Florida Marlins	33	33	2	1	226.1	210	102	92	30	97	209	14	10	0	0	0	3.66
2001	Florida Marlins	34	34	2	1	211.1	218	123	116	21	112	171	15	12	0	0	0	4.94
2002	Florida Marlins	18	18	3	0	120.1	126	66	64	12	55	87	5	8	0	0	0	4.79
2002	Cincinnati Reds	15	15	1	0	88.2	102	61	61	16	38	66	5	5	0	0	0	6.19
2003	Cincinnati Reds	22	20	0	0	115.2	134	89	84	14	70	84	3	7	0	0	0	6.54
2004	Chicago Cubs	23	0	0	0	20.2	16	9	9	1	13	18	1	1	2	3	0	3.92
2005	Chicago Cubs	63	6	0	0	92.0	83	35	32	4	49	89	5	3	33	0	2	3.13
2006	Chicago Cubs	74	0	0	0	75.	77	47	40	5	36	67	1	9	24	2	9	4.80
2007	Chicago Cubs	66	0	0	0	66.2	59	36	35	8	30	55	2	7	28	0	3	4.73
2008	Chicago Cubs	26	26	1	0	169.2	128	61	54	11	58	149	15	5	0	0	0	2.85

References

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
Yahoo! Sports: Ryan Dempster
Interview in The Heckler

Template:BD

[1] ESPN - Lou changes mind, keeps Dempster in Cubs' bullpen - MLB

[2] CBC.ca

[3] Rough inning doesn't doom Dempster - ChicagoSports.com

[4] ttp://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280708116 espn.com

[5] Cubs closer has goals: save 50 games, learn to use nunchucks | www.azstarnet.com ®

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 During 2008 [[spring training]], Dempster's performance earned him a promotion to the third spot on the starting rotation, with the closer job going to [[Kerry Wood]]. On [[April 3]], 2008, he earned his first win as a home starter since a 2002 win with the Marlins against the Cubs.<ref>[http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080403-ryan-dempster-chicago-cubs,1,2779124.story Rough inning doesn't doom Dempster - ChicagoSports.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
 On [[May 15]], 2008, Dempster recorded a career high 12 strikeouts in a game. He pitched 8 1/3rd innings, and gave up only 6 hits.  On [[July 8]], 2008 he became the first Cubs pitcher in 31 seasons to start 10-0 at home.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280708116 espn.com</ref> As of September 25, 2008, he has posted a 17-6 record as a starter with an ERA of 2.99, and 183 strikeouts in 201 2/3 innings pitched.[http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ArpnpX5dDnf0Gfap5G6fe4ERvLYF?slug=ge-dempster0818&prov=yhoo&type=lgns]
+On September 25th, 2008 the hotly debated quesstion as to who would start the NLDS series was answered when it was revealed that Dempster would take the honor in place of Zambrano.
 ==Personal life==