Brandon Backe

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Brandon Backe
position=Starting pitcher
team=Houston Astros
number=41
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|4|5
birthplace=city-state|Galveston|Texas
debutdate=July 19
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Tampa Bay Devil Rays
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=31-29
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.09
stat3label=Strikeouts| stat3value=350
teams=
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2002-by|2003)
*Houston Astros (by|2004-present)

Brandon Allen Backe (born April 5, 1978 in Galveston, Texas) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros. He joined the team in mlby|2004, after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was originally a position player, having played in the outfield as a minor leaguer, and having been originally drafted as a second baseman. Columnist Richard Justice described him as the "Robert Horry of baseball" due to his clutch performances. In his career, Backe boasts a 2.95 ERA in his seven postseason appearances, a mark that is almost two earned runs lower than his career ERA.

High school and college

Backe starred for Ball High School in Galveston, Texas where he was a two-time team MVP in baseball and earned all-district honors. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 36th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to stay close to home and played his collegiate baseball at Galveston College where he earned third-team All-America honors in by|1998. Primarily an infielder, he pitched only 26 total innings for the Whitecaps. Other notable Whitecap players on Backe's team included Pete Orr and Seth Foreman.

Minor leagues

Backe was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. During his first three seasons in the minor leagues, he played every infield and outfield position. In fact, the two innings that he pitched for the rookie league Princeton Devil Rays in 1998 were the only time he spent on the mound during that time. In spite of his steady glove and versatility, it was clear that a light-hitting utility player had a very small chance of making the major leagues. In by|2001, he changed positions to pitcher and found immediate success. He rose through the ranks of the pitching-depleted Tampa Bay system climbing from Single-A to the major leagues in just a season and a half.

Major leagues

Tampa Bay

2002

In just his second season as a pitcher, Backe was recalled on July 16, mlby|2002 from the Double-A Orlando Rays and pitched nine times for the Devil Rays. He posted a 6.92 ERA giving up 10 runs in 13 innings, however 7 of those runs came in one outing - the first game of a July 23 doubleheader at Fenway Park, a game the Rays lost 22-4 and in which Backe allowed a pair of home runs to Nomar Garciaparra in one inning.

2003

Backe began the season in the minor leagues, but was recalled on May 16 when John Rocker was optioned. He earned his first big league win on August 1 at Kansas City with four scoreless innings of relief. He had a 9-outing stretch from July 22 to August 21 in which he pitched to a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.06 to a season-low 3.60.

Houston

In December mlby|2003, his hometown team, the Houston Astros, acquired Backe from the Devil Rays for Geoff Blum.

2004

In 2004, Backe shuffled between Triple-A and the majors, pitching out of the bullpen when he was with the Astros. On August 21, Backe was called up for his first major league start, where he ended up limiting the Chicago Cubs to four hits and no runs over seven innings. After that start, Backe became a permanent member of the Astros rotation, going 4-2 over the final two months of the season.

Entering their final regular-season game against the Colorado Rockies on October 3, the Astros needed a win to clinch a playoff spot. Although Roger Clemens was scheduled as the starting pitcher for that game, he was sidelined by a stomach virus, forcing manager Phil Garner to press Backe into starting duty the morning of the game. Backe performed well on his short notice, surrendering only 2 runs oner 5 innings as the Astros beat the Rockies 5-3 and edged out the San Francisco Giants for the team's first playoff berth since mlby|2001.

Backe's star continued to rise during the 2004 playoffs. After earning a win in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Backe gained national attention with an eight-inning, one-hit performance against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. Going toe-to-toe with Cardinals starter and Houston native Woody Williams, Backe carried a perfect game into the 5th inning and a no-hitter into the 6th inning, surrendering only a bloop single to St. Louis second baseman Tony Womack. Backe's pitching performance set the stage for Jeff Kent's walk-off home run in the ninth inning, giving the Astros a 3-2 series advantage headed back to St. Louis, however the Astros lost both subsequent games and the series.

2005

Backe started the mlby|2005 season in the Astros starting rotation, going 10-8 with a 4.76 ERA in his first full season as a starter. Backe performed well in the Astros second-consecutive postseason appearance, including a five-hit, seven-strikeout performance in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.

2006

In the mlby|2006 season, Backe was the Astros No. 4 starter. But after two starts he went onto the disabled list for three months. He returned in late July, but on August 19 he sprained a ligament in his right elbow was placed on the disabled list again. This injury required Tommy John surgery, which was successfully performed on September 7, 2006.

2007

Although Backe's recovery time was slated at 12-18 months, he rehabbed aggressively and made his return on September 4. In his return, he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5.2 innings, taking the loss, but won his last 4 starts of the season for an ERA of 3.77.

2008

In mlby|2008, Backe was totally healthy and made 31 starts for the Astros. He went only 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA during the season though. On October 5, 2008, Backe was arrested, along with 9 others, after being involved in a fight at Amanda O'balle and Nick Lankford's wedding (now Amanda Lankford). [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3629594 |title=Astros' Backe one of 10 people arrested in brawl with police |accessdate=2008-10-07 |author=Associated Press |authorlink=Associated Press |date=2008-10-06 |work=ESPN.com] He was charged with interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest. [cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/10/06/backe.arrested.ap/index.html |title=Astros' Backe arrested at wedding reception in Texas |accessdate=2008-10-07 |author=Associated Press |authorlink=Associated Press |date=2008-10-06 |work=SI.com]

ee also

* Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches

References

External links