Shawn Chacón

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Sean Chacon
number=
position=Pitcher
team=Free Agent
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|12|23
birthplace=city-state|Anchorage|Alaska
debutdate=April 29
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Colorado Rockies
statyear=June 25, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=45-61
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.99
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=619
teams=
*Colorado Rockies (by|2001-by|2005)
*New York Yankees (by|2005-by|2006)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2006-by|2007)
*Houston Astros (by|2008)

Sean Carl Anthony Chacón (born on December 23, 1977 in Anchorage, Alaska) is a Major League pitcher, and is currently a free agent. He last played for the Houston Astros. He throws an 88-92 mph sinker, a big curveball, a slider, and a changeup.

Early years

Chacon was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but has only dim recollection of his biological mother and none of his father (he believes his biological father was African-American and his mother Latina). His mother placed him in a Greeley, Colorado foster home when he was 4, and he was adopted by Tony and Blanca Chacon.

"There's no way I could have ended up any better than I am," Chacon told the Rocky Mountain News. "Some (adopted) people go back and ask, 'Why?' I don't want to ask, 'Why?' The only thing I'd say is, 'Thank you.' "My parents were not able to have children, which is why they adopted me. We are pretty blessed to have each other."

Chacon was a star at Greeley Central High School, one of only two athletes to ever have his jersey number retired in the 123-year history of the school (Former basketball player and current Northern Colorado coach Tad Boyle was the other).

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

Chacon was recruited by Arizona State, but chose to play professionally after he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd Round of the by|1996 amateur draft. Chacon made his MLB debut in by|2001 as a member of the Rockies. He developed into a capable starter and was Colorado's by|2003 All-Star representative, finishing 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA. The next year, he was converted into a closer and put up one of the most bizarre stat lines in baseball history. Chacon was 9th in the National League with 35 saves, but his record was 1-9 and his ERA 7.11. Chacon was 1-7 in by|2005 as a starter before being traded to the Yankees.

New York Yankees

He was acquired by the Yankees in July 2005 for minor league pitchers Ramon Ramirez and Eduardo Sierra. Many New York fans and members of the tough New York media criticized the trade, calling it a bandage and not a solution, much like how the Yankees saw starts from Tim Redding, Darrell May and Sean Henn in 2005. Chacon was excited to be coming to New York, and he did not waver under the initial pressure and criticism. In his first start as a Yankee, he pitched six innings without allowing an earned run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He finished 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA for the Yankees. Chacon made his postseason debut in Game 4 of the 2005 American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He pitched 6⅓ innings and allowed just 2 runs in a Yankee win.

Before the by|2006 season, sportswriters thought that Chacon would be a big key to the Yankee rotation. Chacon, however, got off to a slow start, but started pitching well in late April. On May 16, the Texas Rangers scored 7 runs off Chacon. After the terrible start, Chacon went on the 15-day disabled list. Chacon came off the DL on June 11. After coming off the DL, Chacon couldn't pitch 5 innings, forcing the Yankees to use their tired bullpen. On July 6, Chacon was sent to the bullpen after giving up seven runs in 1⅓ innings against the Cleveland Indians on July 4. He was replaced in the rotation by Kris Wilson. [ [http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060706&content_id=1543355&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy The Official Site of The New York Yankees: News: New York Yankees News ] ]

Pittsburgh Pirates

During the July 31, 2006, mid-season non-waiver trade deadline, he was dealt for the less expensive Craig Wilson.

Chacon was used as a starter by the Pirates, making 9 starts and going 2-3 with a 5.48 ERA.

In by|2007, Chacon was mainly used as a reliever by the Pirates, but also made 4 starts. He went 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 64 games for the Pirates in 2007. Chacon became a free agent after the season.

Houston Astros

On February 20, 2008, Chacon signed a one-year deal with the Houston Astros worth $2 million. [ [http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080220&content_id=2381118&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou Astros sign versatile free agent Chacon] ]

On June 25, 2008, the Astros announced that Chacon was suspended indefinitely for insubordination after a physical altercation with Astros General Manager Ed Wade. The incident began after Chacon refused to leave the team dining room to speak with Wade in his office. Chacon claimed that Wade raised his voice and verbally attacked him, telling him to "look in the mirror", though Wade has denied raising his voice or verbally attacking Chacon. Chacon subsequently grabbed Wade by the neck and threw him to the ground. When Wade tried to get up Chacon knocked him back down before other players intervened to break up the altercation. On whether he regretted the incident Chacon stated "If there's any regret, I just wish they had just let me alone". Wade was not injured. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gzmXknq-uA70ugG5v11L0xjK8YAgD91HFUSG0 Astros suspend pitcher Shawn Chacon indefinitely] ] Chacon was placed on waivers by the Astros on June 26, 2008. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gzmXknq-uA70ugG5v11L0xjK8YAgD91I2SH00 Astros release Chacon after altercation with GM] ]

On the leaderboards

Chacon is among the Rockies all-time leaders in various pitching categories. This is due in part to the Rockies short history and lack of pitching success. A "T" indicates a tie on the list.
*T-4th, career ERA (5.20, shared with Kevin Ritz)
*10th, career wins (24)
*1st, career hits allowed per 9 innings (8.85)
*2nd, career strikeouts per 9 innings (6.27)
*7th, career saves (35)
*2nd, single season saves (35, 2004)
*6th, career innings pitched (552⅓)
*6th, single season strikeouts (134, 2001)
*5th, career strikeouts (385)

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=chacosh01 Baseball Almanac Page]
* [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5558042.html Houston Chronicle article]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3461058]