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Ryan Dempster

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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-Loss74-80
Saves87
Earned run average4.59
Strikeouts1,167
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

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]

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

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

See also

References

  1. ^ ESPN - Lou changes mind, keeps Dempster in Cubs' bullpen - MLB
  2. ^ CBC.ca
  3. ^ Rough inning doesn't doom Dempster - ChicagoSports.com
  4. ^ http://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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