Scott Downs

Infobox MLB player


width=300
name=Scott Downs
position=Setup pitcher
team=Toronto Blue Jays
number=37
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|3|17
birthplace=city-state|Louisville|Kentuckydebutyear= April 9, 2000
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
statyear= August 19, 2008
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value= 4.02
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value= 21-19
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value= 349
teams=
*Chicago Cubs (by|2000)
*Montreal Expos (by|2000-by|2004)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2005-present)

Scott Jeremy Downs (born 17 March 1976) is an American baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos. He is currently a relief pitcher for the Blue Jays although he has both been a starter and a reliever throughout his baseball career.

Minor League Career

Downs was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He attented Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville, KY, where after his senior year he was selected as Kentucky's Mr. Baseball. He then went to attend the University of Kentucky. He was originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 1994 amateur entry draft but did not sign. He was then selected by the Chicago Cubs in 3rd round (94th overall) of by|1997 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase).

He made his debut for Williamsport, of the New York Penn-League a low A affiliate of the Cubs. He made his way through the minor leagues and eventually made the Cubs roster for opening day 2000. Throughout his minor league career he has played for 10 different teams in different levels from 1997 to 2005. His numbers were solid. He posted a 46-32 career record with an E.R.A. of 3.48, compiling 539 strikeouts in 706.2 innings pitched. [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/D/Scott-Downs.shtml]

On June 11, 2004, while playing for the Edmonton Trappers, the AAA affiliate of the Montreal Expos, Downs threw a no-hitter against the Las Vegas 51s. It was the first no hitter by a Trapper since August 8, 1996 when Aaron Small threw one against the Vancouver Canadians.

Major League Career

Downs made his Major League debut for the Chicago Cubs on April 9, 2000. he finished with a 4-3 record with an E.R.A. of 5.17. On July 31, 2000 he was traded by Cubs to Expos for Rondell White. After struggling in 2004 for the Expos, he was released on November 29. He was signed by the Blue Jays on December 16. He became a valuable pitcher for the Jays, serving as a spot-starter and reliever. Downs' numbers have improved with each year as a Blue Jay. On February 2, by|2007 the Blue Jays and Downs agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract, avoiding the arbitration process. Downs proceeded to appear in 81 games for Toronto in the 2007 season, tying Baltimore's Jamie Walker for the American League lead in that category. Downs went 4-2 with a 2.17 earned-run average as a situational reliever, allowing 47 hits in 58 innings.

On January 18, 2008, the Blue Jays signed Downs to a three-year contract worth $10 million [cite web | author = Bastian, Jordan |date = 2008-01-18 | title = Blue Jays sign five of six players | url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080118&content_id=2350059 | publisher = MLB.com | accessdate = 2008-03-04] . Downs is currently the setup-man for the Blue Jays. As of August 18, 2008 he has one of the best numbers among American League pitchers with an E.R.A. of 1.40 in 57 innings pitched.

Trivia

* Contrary to popular belief, Downs does not write J.M.J. (Jesus Mary Joseph) in the dirt behind the mound before he pitches. As confirmed on the FAN 590 morning show during the week of May 19th, 2008, Downs confirmed he does in fact write the initials of his two children: daughter Katherine Grayson and son Harrison. [cite web | author = Bastian, Jordan | date = 2006-05-02 | title = Notes: Downs' return boosts bullpen | url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060502&content_id=1429764&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor | publisher = MLB.com | accessdate = 2008-07-23]

ee also

* Montreal Expos all-time roster

Reference

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=275933 |espn=4286 |br=d/downssc01 |fangraphs=773 |cube=D/scott-downs