Jaime Cocanower
Encyclopedia
James Stanley Cocanower (born February 14, 1957 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for four seasons. He pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers
from 1983 to 1986.
. He played on the Baylor Bears baseball
team during their appearances in the 1977 College World Series
and the 1978 College World Series
, the Bears' first world series appearances. Cocanower's first world series matchup was a Pitcher's Duel against the 1977 National Player of the Year Randy Martz
of the University of South Carolina
, which was tied 1-1 in nine innings. After Baylor 0-4 run during Cocanower's time as a Bear, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent on June 7, 1978, ending his college career.
of the California League
. He played in 20 games and started eight of them, finishing the season with a 2-4 record and an earned run average
(ERA) of 4.15. The next season was a career year for Cocanower. He spent a second season at Stockton, where he was the ace of a pitching squad that included Mike Madden
and fellow Baylor teammate Andy Beene
. In 27 starts, Cocanower had 198 innings pitched
, a 17-5 record, ten complete game
s, and a 2.18 ERA. As a result of his performance, he was the MVP of the California League in 1980. For the 1981 season, Cocanower was promoted to the Brewers' AAA-level affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians
of the Pacific Coast League
. He had six wins, 12 losses, and a 5.65 ERA, and split time the next season between Vancouver and the El Paso Diablos
. He pitched nine games for the Diablos and 14 games for the Canadians, improving last's season's performance on both squads. He had a 3-1 record with a 3.32 ERA for the Diablos, and a 4-3 record with a 4.86 ERA for the Canadians. Cocanower spent most of the 1983 season as a regular member of the Canadians' pitching rotation. He posted a 10-10 record with a 4.81 ERA over the course of the season, and was brought up to the Brewers as the minor league season ended.
Cocanower made his major league debut on September 7, 1983 against the New York Yankees
, pitching four innings and allowing an earned run in an 11-5 losing effort by Milwaukee. For the season, he pitched in five games and started in three, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 1.80 ERA. Cocanower spent the 1984 Milwaukee Brewers season
as a firm part of the starting rotation, alongside Don Sutton and Moose Haas
. He finished the season pitching 33 games with eight wins, 16 losses, a 4.02 ERA. He spend the 1985 Milwaukee Brewers season
as a spot starter, starting in 15 games. He finished the season with a 6-8 record, a 4.33 ERA, and three complete game
s. He set an unofficial record in July 1985 when he threw a wild pitch
in eight consecutive pitching appearances. Cocanower was used less frequently in 1986. He made 17 appearances with a 4.43 ERA, pitching in just under 45 innings.
Cocanower played his final major league game on July 12, 1986. He sent the rest of the season with the Beloit Brewers and the Arkansas Travelers
. He was released by the Brewers on December 23, 1986, and was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
on February 26, 1987. After a season with the Albuquerque Dukes
where he had an ERA of 6.35, his professional career came to an end.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
) 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...
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...
who played for four seasons. He pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from 1983 to 1986.
College career
Cocanower played college baseball at Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. He played on the Baylor Bears baseball
Baylor Bears baseball
The Baylor Bears baseball team represents Baylor University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team belongs to the Big 12 Conference and plays home games at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears are currently led by head coach Steve Smith. The 2010 season marked Steve Smith's 16th year at the rule of...
team during their appearances in the 1977 College World Series
1977 College World Series
The 1977 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, United States from June 10 to June 18. The Thirty-first tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Jim Brock...
and the 1978 College World Series
1978 College World Series
The 1978 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 2 to June 8. The thirty-second tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
, the Bears' first world series appearances. Cocanower's first world series matchup was a Pitcher's Duel against the 1977 National Player of the Year Randy Martz
Randy Martz
Randy Carl Martz is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who attended the University of South Carolina. He played for both Chicago teams in his career, the Cubs and White Sox....
of the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, which was tied 1-1 in nine innings. After Baylor 0-4 run during Cocanower's time as a Bear, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent on June 7, 1978, ending his college career.
Professional career
Cocanower began his first season of professional baseball in 1979, pitching for the Stockton PortsStockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He played in 20 games and started eight of them, finishing the season with a 2-4 record and an earned run average
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...
(ERA) of 4.15. The next season was a career year for Cocanower. He spent a second season at Stockton, where he was the ace of a pitching squad that included Mike Madden
Mike Madden
Mike Madden , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1983-1986 for the Houston Astros. Madden played college ball at University of Northern Colorado....
and fellow Baylor teammate Andy Beene
Andy Beene
Andy Beene was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. Beene played College baseball with Baylor University. Beene was initially drafted by the New York Yankees in 1978, but they did not sign him. He was drafted and signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in round five of the 1979...
. In 27 starts, Cocanower had 198 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...
, a 17-5 record, ten complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, and a 2.18 ERA. As a result of his performance, he was the MVP of the California League in 1980. For the 1981 season, Cocanower was promoted to the Brewers' AAA-level affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He had six wins, 12 losses, and a 5.65 ERA, and split time the next season between Vancouver and the El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
. He pitched nine games for the Diablos and 14 games for the Canadians, improving last's season's performance on both squads. He had a 3-1 record with a 3.32 ERA for the Diablos, and a 4-3 record with a 4.86 ERA for the Canadians. Cocanower spent most of the 1983 season as a regular member of the Canadians' pitching rotation. He posted a 10-10 record with a 4.81 ERA over the course of the season, and was brought up to the Brewers as the minor league season ended.
Cocanower made his major league debut on September 7, 1983 against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, pitching four innings and allowing an earned run in an 11-5 losing effort by Milwaukee. For the season, he pitched in five games and started in three, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 1.80 ERA. Cocanower spent the 1984 Milwaukee Brewers season
1984 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1984 Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 94 losses.- Offseason :...
as a firm part of the starting rotation, alongside Don Sutton and Moose Haas
Moose Haas
Bryan Edmund "Moose" Haas , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1987. He appeared in the 1982 World Series as a member of the Brewers....
. He finished the season pitching 33 games with eight wins, 16 losses, a 4.02 ERA. He spend the 1985 Milwaukee Brewers season
1985 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1985 Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing 6th in the American League East with a record of 71 wins and 90 losses.-Offseason:...
as a spot starter, starting in 15 games. He finished the season with a 6-8 record, a 4.33 ERA, and three complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s. He set an unofficial record in July 1985 when he threw a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
in eight consecutive pitching appearances. Cocanower was used less frequently in 1986. He made 17 appearances with a 4.43 ERA, pitching in just under 45 innings.
Cocanower played his final major league game on July 12, 1986. He sent the rest of the season with the Beloit Brewers and the Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
. He was released by the Brewers on December 23, 1986, and was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on February 26, 1987. After a season with the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
where he had an ERA of 6.35, his professional career came to an end.