Greg Dobbs
Encyclopedia
Gregory Stuart Dobbs is a Major League Baseball
infielder
. Dobbs is primarily a third baseman
, but can also field the corner outfield
positions and first base.
in the 52nd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
, but opted to attend Riverside (CA) Community College instead. While at the University of Oklahoma
in , he was drafted in the 10th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Houston Astros
, but opted to stay in school. Dobbs led the Sooners as a senior in with a .438 average
, 104 hits
, 25 doubles
, 62 RBIs
and 12 steals
, and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Dobbs was signed by the Mariners as an amateur free agent
on May 28, 2001. He was placed on waivers by the Mariners on January 15, 2007, and quickly claimed by former Mariners general manager (GM) Pat Gillick
(then GM of the Philadelphia Phillies), who had previously drafted Dobbs while still with Seattle. After a strong 2007 spring training
with the Phillies, Dobbs made the major league roster, platooning at third base with Wes Helms
.
Dobbs' great hitting gave him more starts in 2007. He was mainly used as a pinch hitter
in the beginning of the season, but his clutch pinch hits and good at-bats while starting got him more playing time with the Phillies.
Over 2007 and 2008, Dobbs led the majors in pinch-hit RBIs. In 2007, he finished in first place with 18 pinch-hit RBIs, the most in the major leagues. In 2008, his pinch-hitting prowess continued as he led the majors with 22 pinch hits and a .355 batting average while finishing second among pinch hitters with 16 RBIs.
Dobbs struggled to replicate his 2008 season in 2009, hitting just .247 with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs. In the 2010 season, Dobbs batted .152 before the Phillies designated him for assignment on June 22 to activate Jimmy Rollins
from the disabled list. He cleared waivers and began to play for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
. After appearing in four games for Lehigh Valley, Dobbs was recalled to the major leagues, where he replaced Plácido Polanco
, who was placed on the disabled list. On August 17, he was designated for assignment when the Phillies removed Chase Utley
from the 15-day disabled list. On September 3 Dobbs was recalled from Lehigh Valley.
On January 31, 2011, Dobbs signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
with an invite to spring training. As of August 26, he is producing above-average numbers closer to those of 2008, with a .280 BA, 5 home runs, and 40 RBIs.
, with his wife Heidi. He also has a daughter, Taylor, born December 20, 2006. He is pursuing a degree in business during the Major League Baseball offseason.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. Dobbs is primarily a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, but can also field the corner outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
positions and first base.
Early career
Dobbs graduated from Canyon Springs High School (CA) High School in June 1996. He was drafted by the Seattle MarinersSeattle 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...
in the 52nd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
, but opted to attend Riverside (CA) Community College instead. While at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in , he was drafted in the 10th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, but opted to stay in school. Dobbs led the Sooners as a senior in with a .438 average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 104 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 25 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 62 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 12 steals
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Major leagues
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on May 28, 2001. He was placed on waivers by the Mariners on January 15, 2007, and quickly claimed by former Mariners general manager (GM) Pat Gillick
Pat Gillick
Lawrence Patrick David Gillick is a retired American professional baseball executive. He was the general manager of four Major League Baseball teams, and guided two teams to three World Series championships in his career: in 1992 and 1993 titles with the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 2008 title with...
(then GM of the Philadelphia Phillies), who had previously drafted Dobbs while still with Seattle. After a strong 2007 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...
with the Phillies, Dobbs made the major league roster, platooning at third base with Wes Helms
Wes Helms
Wesley Ray Helms is an American professional baseball third baseman, first baseman, and outfielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
.
Dobbs' great hitting gave him more starts in 2007. He was mainly used as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in the beginning of the season, but his clutch pinch hits and good at-bats while starting got him more playing time with the Phillies.
Over 2007 and 2008, Dobbs led the majors in pinch-hit RBIs. In 2007, he finished in first place with 18 pinch-hit RBIs, the most in the major leagues. In 2008, his pinch-hitting prowess continued as he led the majors with 22 pinch hits and a .355 batting average while finishing second among pinch hitters with 16 RBIs.
Dobbs struggled to replicate his 2008 season in 2009, hitting just .247 with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs. In the 2010 season, Dobbs batted .152 before the Phillies designated him for assignment on June 22 to activate Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
from the disabled list. He cleared waivers and began to play for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
. After appearing in four games for Lehigh Valley, Dobbs was recalled to the major leagues, where he replaced Plácido Polanco
Plácido Polanco
Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is a third baseman, but in the past has played second base and shortstop...
, who was placed on the disabled list. On August 17, he was designated for assignment when the Phillies removed Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
from the 15-day disabled list. On September 3 Dobbs was recalled from Lehigh Valley.
On January 31, 2011, Dobbs signed a minor league contract with 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...
with an invite to spring training. As of August 26, he is producing above-average numbers closer to those of 2008, with a .280 BA, 5 home runs, and 40 RBIs.
Personal
Dobbs resides in La Cañada Flintridge, CaliforniaLa Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
, with his wife Heidi. He also has a daughter, Taylor, born December 20, 2006. He is pursuing a degree in business during the Major League Baseball offseason.