John Wettelend

# 35

Texas Rangers

by John M Milner

• closing pitcher for the Texas Rangers
• Born August 21st, 1966 in San Mateo, CA
• middle name is Karl
• signed by the Mets as in the free agent draft but did not sign
• signed by the L.A. Dodgers as their Number 2 choice in the June 1985 amateur draft
• claimed by the Tigers in December 1987 as a Rule V draft, but was soon returned to the Dodgers
• After the 1991 season (during which he went 1-0 in six games), he was traded twice. First to the Reds for OF Eric Davis, and then to the Expos for Dave Martinez.
• traded to New York Yankees on April 5, 1995 for OF Fernando Sequignal
• joined the Texas Rangers as a free agent on December 16, 1996, and signed a 4-year contract worth $23 million
• named MVP of the 1996 World Series, leading the Yankees to the World Championship
• led the American League in saves in 1996, with 43, which is number 26 on the all-time list of most saves in a season. Also checks in at #51 with 37 saves in 1992
• is a born again Christian, after a troubled youth, run-ins with drugs and alcohol and exploration of cults and Satanic beliefs left him with unresolved anger
• he met his wife, Michele, while pitching for the Dodgers' AA-Team in San Antonio, Texas in 1988. They have twin daughters, Addie and Katie
• has a winter home in New Mexico (where the Dodgers have their AAA Team)
• has 4 saves in the 1996 World Series for the Yankees
• tied the record for most saves in a single post-season series, his 7 saves in the 1996 post-season was the most ever
• won the 1996 Rolaids Relief Man Award
• went to the All-Star Game for the first time in 1996
• In last three complete seasons (1995-1997), had a 2.56 ERA, went 10-10 with 105 saves
• In 1991, after struggling in four starts, asked to be switched to the bullpen. Earned 20 saves in 20 chances while pitching in the Pacific Coast League
• Later that year, appeared in 6 major league games for the Dodgers, compiling a 1-0 record with no earned runs
• Made his major league debut on May 21, 1989, pitching 1 inning against the Montreal Expos
• Became a closer in 1992, earning 20 saves
• has the ability of pitching on consecutive days. In 1996 he made back to back appearances 20 times for the Yankees. In his 2nd appearance, he had a .89 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20 1/3 inning
• plays the clarinet, guitar and saxophone
• his father, Ed, is a former Chicago Cubs minor league player who is now a well-known pianist in San Francisco
• Ed and John's stepfather, Barbara, have performed the National Anthem at several major league games
• he struggled with his curveball in 1997, but also has a fastball in the mid-90s, a slider and a splitter (which he rarely uses, however)
• rarely allows a stolen base (only 1 in 1997)
• Set a major league record in 1996, with 24 consecutive saves
• his cap earned a bit of a reputation during the 1996 World Series. Wetteland wears the hat issued to him during Spring Training for the entire season. By season's end, it is coated with dirt and sweat stains.
• Prior to the 1999 season, Wetteland had elbow surgery and, during spring training, suffered an ankle injury. Due to this, he was robbed of his normal velocity. His fastball, previously clocked at 96 mph, fell to the low 90s, so he began to include a nasty slider, curveball and changeup to his reportoire to confuse hitters.
• Appeared in 62 games during the 1999 season, compiling a 3.68 ERA, went 4-4 with 43 saves (tying his career season high, set in 1993 with Montreal and tied in 1996 with the Yankees). Opposing batters hit just .262 against him.
• Made his 500th career appearance, on April 22nd against Minnesota. On September 6th, 1999, saved both sides of a double-header against the Chicago White Sox, the 7th time in Texas Ranger history and the fourth in Wetteland's career.
• Named to the All-Star game in 1999. He pitched a scoreless 9th (giving up just 1 hit) to earn the save. He became the first Texas pitcher to earn an All-Star save.
• The 43 saves set a new Texas record, surpassing the old one of 42, which Wetteland himself had set previously. During one period, he coverted 17 straight save chances.
• In the 1999 AL Division Series against the Yankees, made just 1 appearance, in the 9th inning of Game 3, retiring all three batters he faced, including a strikeout.
• Was awarded the Rolaids Reliever of the Decade, after receiving the most Rolaid Relief points during the 1990s, with 793, 20 more that Dennis Eckersley. Wetteland had the most saves during the 1990s.
• Looks to become the Rangers all-time save leader before the all-star break. He has compiled 116 saves in three years, just 18 short of Jeff Russell's club record. Tied with Dennis Eckersley with most seasons with 40 or more saves (4), he is 12th on the Major League's all-time save list with 296 and 4th among active players.
• His 4-year deal with the Rangers expires at the end of the 2000 season.
• He lost 15 pounds over the winter of 1999-2000 and hired a personal trainer.
• Strained his lower right calf muscle during spring training
• Appeared in 62 games in 2000 and pitched 60 innings in total.
• His compiled a 6-5 record with 34 saves and 9 blown saves with a 4.20 ERA
• Is now the all-time saves leader for the Texas Rangers
• Between May 12-June 5th, had 13 saves in 13appearances
• His longest outing of the season was two innings onAugust 25th against Toronto when he faced 8 batters.
• May 5, 6 and 10th, he had three wins in three appearances
• A free agent after the 2000 season, there is some talk that he is contemplating retirement.

JOHN M's Opinion:  Perhaps the most important man on any team is the closer, the man who, when a game is close can come in and shut down the opposition's offense. (Just ask the 1994 Toronto Blue Jays) In Wetteland, the Rangers have that "security blanket". With an effective closer, the starting pitching and offense know that if they can keep it close until the  8th or 9th inning, Wetteland will do the rest. Wetteland was part of the 1994 Montreal Expos, and was a big reason why they were the best team in baseball when the strike hit. Wetteland (with set-up man Mariano Rivera) was also a key ingredient to the 1996 World Series victory for the Yankees. The Rangers acquired Wetteland in hopes that he can reproduce the success shared by his previous teams. With luck and a strong team to back him up, Wetteland could become the Dennis Eckersley of the 1990s.

Typo's Opinion:  I think I first saw John Wetteland in the 1996 World Series and thought WOW.  I love the fast pitchers, which of John is.  I guess the role of the closer is quite a sexy role as they have to come and "Save the Day" so to speak.  They arrive at the most exciting part of the game for your team, when the door needs to be closed, and John Wetteland is a guy who does it very well.  I guess the fact that he has had imperfections in his past makes him more human, another plus for me. 

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Please note that I am not any of these players, nor I am associated with any of them (I wish!!!).  Just a fan like the rest of you :)    I would also like to thank everyone that has emailed me regarding my pages, it is great hearing from other fans, and some of you have been daft enough to stay in contact!  Of course the biggest thanks for all goes to John for taking the time to research and write these pages, and really do all the work for me!  I just take all the credit... well unless he does it wrong!  THANX

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