David Pauley
Encyclopedia
David Wayne Pauley is an American professional baseball
pitcher
with the Detroit Tigers
of Major League Baseball
. He bats and throws right-handed. Pauley is a graduate of Longmont High School
in Longmont, Colorado
.
in 2001, Pauley posted a 7–12 record with a 4.17 ERA
for the Padres as their seventh best prospect in 2004. On December 20, 2004, the Padres traded Pauley along with Jay Payton
, Ramón Vázquez
, and cash to the Boston Red Sox
for Dave Roberts.
As a member of the Portland Sea Dogs
rotation in 2005, he went 9–7 with 104 strikeout
s and a 3.81 ERA in 156 innings pitched
.
Pauley started 2006 in Portland. He posted a 2–3 with a 2.39 ERA in 10 starts
for the Sea Dogs before making his major league debut on May 31 starting for Boston in place of the injured David Wells
. He pitched 4⅓ innings against the Toronto Blue Jays
and did not record a decision. In his 16 innings pitched for the Boston Red Sox, Pauley recorded a 7.88 ERA.
In 2007, Pauley was rated by Baseball America
as the number 26 prospect in the Red Sox farm system
. Pauley spent the entire 2007 season playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox
. The Red Sox invited him to spring training
in 2008, but was sent back to the minors on March 8, 2008. In January 2009, Pauley was designated for assignment
in order to make room for the newly-signed John Smoltz
. On January 19, Pauley was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Randor Bierd
.
On December 22, 2009, Pauley signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners
. On August 13, 2010, he earned his first major league win versus the Cleveland Indians
.
On July 30, 2011, Pauley was traded to the Detroit Tigers
along with Doug Fister
for Charlie Furbush
, Casper Wells
, Chance Ruffin
and minor leaguer Francisco Martinez
.
pitcher, and as such his success relies on his ability to keep the ball down in the strike zone, and when contact is made, to get ground-ball outs. Pauley also has the standard fastball
, curveball
, and changeup
in his repertoire. His fastball hits the high 80 MPH range and his curveball has more of a sweeping motion than the standard 12-to-6 movement seen from most minor-league pitchers.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of 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...
. He bats and throws right-handed. Pauley is a graduate of Longmont High School
Longmont High School
Longmont High School is the city of Longmont, Colorado's original high school, opening its doors to students in 1901. The school is located in central Longmont and serves as the Honors/Advanced Placement Focus School for the St. Vrain Valley School District....
in Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located in Northern Colorado. Longmont is the 13th most populous city in the State of Colorado. The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H....
.
Career
An eighth round pick by San DiegoSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in 2001, Pauley posted a 7–12 record with a 4.17 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the Padres as their seventh best prospect in 2004. On December 20, 2004, the Padres traded Pauley along with Jay Payton
Jay Payton
Jason Lee "Jay" Payton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the New York Mets , Colorado Rockies , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He bats and throws right-handed. Payton is an opposite-field...
, Ramón Vázquez
Ramón Vázquez
Ramón Luis Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder. Vázquez has played with the Seattle Mariners , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Texas Rangers , and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, and cash to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Dave Roberts.
As a member of the Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
rotation in 2005, he went 9–7 with 104 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.81 ERA in 156 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Pauley started 2006 in Portland. He posted a 2–3 with a 2.39 ERA in 10 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Sea Dogs before making his major league debut on May 31 starting for Boston in place of the injured David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
. He pitched 4⅓ innings against 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 did not record a decision. In his 16 innings pitched for the Boston Red Sox, Pauley recorded a 7.88 ERA.
In 2007, Pauley was rated by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the number 26 prospect in the Red Sox farm system
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. Pauley spent the entire 2007 season playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. The Red Sox invited him to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 2008, but was sent back to the minors on March 8, 2008. In January 2009, Pauley was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
in order to make room for the newly-signed John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
. On January 19, Pauley was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Randor Bierd
Randor Bierd
Randor Bierd is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.Bierd was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent on June 3, ....
.
On December 22, 2009, Pauley signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. On August 13, 2010, he earned his first major league win versus the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
On July 30, 2011, Pauley was traded to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
along with Doug Fister
Doug Fister
Douglas Wildes Fister is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.Fister bats left-handed, and throws right-handed. He was born in Merced, California and attended Golden Valley High School. For college, Fister attended Merced College, and later Fresno State University...
for Charlie Furbush
Charlie Furbush
Charles "Charlie" R. Furbush is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. He is 6'5" tall and weighs 215 pounds.-Early life and career:...
, Casper Wells
Casper Wells
Casper Charles Wells V is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners. Casper stands at 6'2 and weighs 210 pounds.-Early life:...
, Chance Ruffin
Chance Ruffin
Chance Kraig Ruffin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
and minor leaguer Francisco Martinez
Francisco Martínez (baseball)
Francisco Javier Martínez is a third baseman who is currently on the Seattle Mariners 40 man roster.-Professional career:Martínez along with Jacob Turner represented the Detroit Tigers at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game....
.
Pitching style
Pauley is a sinkerballSinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
pitcher, and as such his success relies on his ability to keep the ball down in the strike zone, and when contact is made, to get ground-ball outs. Pauley also has the standard fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, and changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
in his repertoire. His fastball hits the high 80 MPH range and his curveball has more of a sweeping motion than the standard 12-to-6 movement seen from most minor-league pitchers.