Billy Koch
Encyclopedia
William Koch (born December 14, 1974 in Rockville Centre, New York
) is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He entered the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays
and most recently pitched for the Florida Marlins
in 2004.
from 1994 to 1996. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1996 amateur draft and made his debut in 1999. Koch made an instant impression by regularly hitting 100 MPH on the radar gun.
Koch was groomed for the role of closer
and had mixed success at the role over the next three seasons. While he was regarded as one of the most dominating pitchers in the league when he was at his best, at times he battled with his control and composure on the mound. Nevertheless, he continued to post improving save numbers (31, 33 and then 36) from 1999 to 2001.
On December 7, 2001, the Blue Jays, now under new management, traded Koch to the Oakland Athletics
for Eric Hinske
and Justin Miller. The trade ended up working out for both teams as Eric Hinske statistically outperformed Koch in his first season with the Jays although Oakland proved to be a good fit. Billy saved 44 games in 2002 while posting a respectable 3.27 ERA and 93 strikeouts in only 93 2/3 innings. Koch however gave up a critical ninth-inning home run to Minnesota's A.J. Pierzynski in the deciding game of the A's first-round playoff series. That outing would turn out to be the turning point in Koch's career - later Koch was quoted as saying that he felt like 'shooting himself' after that loss.
On December 3, 2002, Koch was once again traded, this time to the Chicago White Sox
along with two minor leaguers for Keith Foulke
, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine and cash. Koch was not able to duplicate either his success with Toronto or Oakland, however. Due to wildly inconsistent play, Jerry Manuel
removed Koch from the role of closer, relegating him to middle relief. Billy finished the season with 11 saves, and a 5.77 ERA.
Koch's troubles continued in 2004. He once again was tried as the closer, but only saved 8 games in 24 games played, compiling an ERA of 5.40. He was traded to the Florida Marlins
in June for Wilson Valdez
, a minor-league second baseman who was assumed would replace Luis Castillo before Castillo signed a four-year contract to remain with Florida. Billy fared better in Florida than he did with Chicago, having a 1-2 record and a 3.51 ERA in 23 games while serving as a setup man for Armando Benitez
. However, personal issues caused him to miss the last month of the regular season, and Florida released him at the end of the season.
Following the 2004 season he was signed to a 1-year contract by his original team, the Toronto Blue Jays
. He was released by the team during Spring Training, at which time an angry Koch announced that he would not attempt to sign with another team, so that the Blue Jays would be on the hook for 'every penny' of his $950,000 salary. He has not played baseball professionally since then.
During Toronto's 2nd game of the season at Tampa Bay, Koch showed up at the game wearing a replica jersey of Aubrey Huff
, at the time a Devil Rays player. Koch joked with the Toronto Bullpen, heckling the Blue Jays and calling one of the pitchers a "bum". Koch commented that he planned to take 240 students from his children's Tampa area grade school to the game, and planned to have them hold up a sign saying 'Go Devil Rays'.
Rockville Centre, New York
Rockville Centre is a village located in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 24,023. The town is made up of middle to upper middle class residents, most of the wealthier residents residing on the north side of town near the...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He entered the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and most recently pitched for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in 2004.
Baseball career
Koch played college baseball for Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1994 to 1996. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1996 amateur draft and made his debut in 1999. Koch made an instant impression by regularly hitting 100 MPH on the radar gun.
Koch was groomed for the role of closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
and had mixed success at the role over the next three seasons. While he was regarded as one of the most dominating pitchers in the league when he was at his best, at times he battled with his control and composure on the mound. Nevertheless, he continued to post improving save numbers (31, 33 and then 36) from 1999 to 2001.
On December 7, 2001, the Blue Jays, now under new management, traded Koch to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
and Justin Miller. The trade ended up working out for both teams as Eric Hinske statistically outperformed Koch in his first season with the Jays although Oakland proved to be a good fit. Billy saved 44 games in 2002 while posting a respectable 3.27 ERA and 93 strikeouts in only 93 2/3 innings. Koch however gave up a critical ninth-inning home run to Minnesota's A.J. Pierzynski in the deciding game of the A's first-round playoff series. That outing would turn out to be the turning point in Koch's career - later Koch was quoted as saying that he felt like 'shooting himself' after that loss.
On December 3, 2002, Koch was once again traded, this time to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
along with two minor leaguers for Keith Foulke
Keith Foulke
-Career:After graduating from Hargrave High School in Huffman, Texas in 1991, he attended Galveston College and Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. He began his career in the minor-league system of the San Francisco Giants, but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1997 with five other prospects...
, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine and cash. Koch was not able to duplicate either his success with Toronto or Oakland, however. Due to wildly inconsistent play, Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel , nicknamed "The Sage" is a former major league manager. He previously managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003 and the New York Mets from the middle of 2008 to 2010 and played in the majors for parts of five seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Playing career:Manuel played...
removed Koch from the role of closer, relegating him to middle relief. Billy finished the season with 11 saves, and a 5.77 ERA.
Koch's troubles continued in 2004. He once again was tried as the closer, but only saved 8 games in 24 games played, compiling an ERA of 5.40. He was traded to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in June for Wilson Valdez
Wilson Valdéz
Wilson Antonio Valdez is a Major League Baseball utility infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.-Early career:Valdez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expos on February 4, 1997...
, a minor-league second baseman who was assumed would replace Luis Castillo before Castillo signed a four-year contract to remain with Florida. Billy fared better in Florida than he did with Chicago, having a 1-2 record and a 3.51 ERA in 23 games while serving as a setup man for Armando Benitez
Armando Benítez
Armando Germán Benítez is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Baltimore Orioles:...
. However, personal issues caused him to miss the last month of the regular season, and Florida released him at the end of the season.
Following the 2004 season he was signed to a 1-year contract by his original team, the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He was released by the team during Spring Training, at which time an angry Koch announced that he would not attempt to sign with another team, so that the Blue Jays would be on the hook for 'every penny' of his $950,000 salary. He has not played baseball professionally since then.
During Toronto's 2nd game of the season at Tampa Bay, Koch showed up at the game wearing a replica jersey of Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
, at the time a Devil Rays player. Koch joked with the Toronto Bullpen, heckling the Blue Jays and calling one of the pitchers a "bum". Koch commented that he planned to take 240 students from his children's Tampa area grade school to the game, and planned to have them hold up a sign saying 'Go Devil Rays'.