AAP: Jose Contreras

[Balta1701]

Jose Contreras's career started in the 1990's with the Cuban National Team, where he was their most dominant pitcher. In 1999, Jose pitched an exhibition game for the Cubans against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, where he went 8 shutout innings and struck out 10. In his last season in Cuba, he went 13-4 with a 1.76 ERA and 149 strikeouts. He was named Cuba's athlete of the year 3 times.

 

Jose defected from Cuba in October, 2002. By 2003, he had been signed to a 4 year contract with the Yankees for nearly $30 million without ever having pitched in the big leagues. He had a decent 2003, but spent 2 months on the DL.

 

Jose Contreras was acquired by the White Sox in 2004 in a trade that sent previous year's Cy Young runner up and current all star Esteban Loaiza to the Yankees.

 

In 2005, Jose Contreras was dominant down the stretch, leading the White Sox to their first World Series win in 88 years. Jose Started game 1 of the ALDS, ALCS, and World Series, in addition to the clinching game 5 in the ALCS. He went 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and only two walks in the playoffs, and pitched the 4th of 4 consecutive complete games for White Sox starters in the ALCS. Jose signed a 3 year contract extension after 2005, locking him up through the end of 2009.

 

In 2006, Jose continued his run, breaking the White Sox team record by recording 17 consecutive regular season wins without a loss. However, Jose struggled in the 2nd half of the season with a 5.40 ERA after the AS Break. Jose continued being inconsistent through 2007, putting up occasional solid games intersperced with very bad performances, finishing with a 5.57 ERA and being consigned to the bullpen at one point.

 

In 2008, Jose suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while fielding a ground ball hit towards first base, and missed much of the 2nd half of the season. He returned for training camp, well ahead of schedule and 30 pounds lighter, in 2009, but was a disaster on the mound in his first few starts, and after clearing waivers, was sent back to AAA Charlotte to work things out.

 

Jose's stuff is still there. He can still throw 90+ mph, his ball still moves like crazy. Jose, however, has only really been good when he's throwing strikes. If he's walking people and falling behind people, then batters can sit back and wait on his hittable fastball and drive it.

 

In his first outing in AAA Charlotte, Jose went 6 innings with 5k, 3 hits, 0 runs, but 5 BB's and a HBP. He threw 108 pitches, 57 strikes. He needs to do better on the control if he's ever going to rejoin the rotation in Chicago.

[knightni]

Whoa. Contreras a prospect?

 

This thread is circa 1885.

[Balta1701]

Jose Contreras's 2nd start featured a complete game, 1 hit shutout by the Bronze titan. He took a no hitter in to the 8th inning, struck out 5, walked 3. 100 pitches, 66 strikes.

[Balta1701]

Contreras imploded in the 6th inning of his 3rd AAA start. 7 runs, 4 of them in the 6th inning before being pulled, 5 of them earned. 8 hits, 2 walks, 5.2 innings, 8 k's, a HBP and a WP. 104 pitches thrown, 66 strikes.

[Cubano]

This is not true: "Jose Contreras's career started in the 1990's with the Cuban National Team"

 

All cuban players play in the Cuban League before the reach the national team.