Tyler Walker

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Tyler Walker
position=Relief pitcher
team=San Francisco Giants
number=45
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|5|15
birthplace=city-state|San Francisco|California
debutdate=July 2
debutyear=2002
debutteam=New York Mets
statyear=July 3, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=18-13
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.50
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=165
teams=
*New York Mets (by|2002)
*San Francisco Giants (by|2004-by|2006)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2006)
*San Francisco Giants (by|2007-by|2008)

Tyler Lanier Walker (born May 15, 1976 in San Francisco, California) is a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the San Francisco Giants. He is an alumnus of San Francisco University High School and University of California, Berkeley. Walker has pitched for the New York Mets (by|2002), San Francisco Giants (by|2004-by|2006, by|2007-present), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006).

Major league career

Walker's big break came in by|2005, when Giants' closer Armando Benítez was out of action for three months. With only one Major League save in his career to that point, Walker filled in admirably by converting 23 out of 28 save opportunities. On June 17, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, Walker made history by becoming the first pitcher to record a save (since the save rule became an official stat in by|1969) by entering a game with the bases loaded with nobody out and proceeding to strike out all three batters he faced without allowing a run to score.

Early in the 2006 season, Walker was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Carlos Hines. On June 14 of that year, he was placed on the disabled list with a strained right elbow, and later underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. On December 10, 2006, he signed a minor league deal with the Giants. He pitched in 15 games late in the 2007 season and is expected to play an important role as a set-up man for closer Brian Wilson in by|2008.

Nickname and Accompanying Rumor

Since at least his days at Cal Berkeley, Walker has been known as "The Gobbler." [http://www.orangeblackandblue.com/]

While Walker has never given an explanation for the nickname's origins, former Cal team captain Jonathan Petke says the nickname started in college. As Walker was making the transition from catcher to relief pitching, and fighting nerves, supposedly Walker would take a shot of Wild Turkey (bourbon) whiskey before jogging down to the bullpen. Walker recorded one save and maintained a 3.58 ERA that season. [http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/cal-m-basebl-96review.html] . Petke's account, however, has never been verified.

External links

* [http://www.pacificsun.com/story_archives/action_pitcher.html Big League Pitcher Tyler Walker] from the Pacific Sun
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/16/SPCNTDSBM.DTL&type=sports Giants Sign Walker To 1-Year Deal]

Persondata
NAME= Walker, Tyler
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Walker, Tyler Lanier
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American baseball pitcher
DATE OF BIRTH=1976-5-15
PLACE OF BIRTH=city-state|San Francisco|California, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=