Lance Cormier
Encyclopedia
Lance Robert Cormier (born August 19, 1980, in Lafayette, Louisiana
) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Tampa Bay Rays
of Major League Baseball
. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves
, Arizona Diamondbacks
, Baltimore Orioles
, and Los Angeles Dodgers
.
, and graduated in 1998. He attended the University of Alabama
, and in his pitching career there, he went 31-16 with a 3.98 ERA
and 17 saves. Lance started his career as a closer
and recorded a University of Alabama freshman record 11 saves. In his junior year, he switched to being a starting pitcher
and went 20-8 in the last two seasons of his college career. A highlight of his college career includes being a first team Academic All-American in his senior year. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in finance.
in the 40th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign. On June 5, , he was drafted by the Houston Astros
in the 10th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
, but again he did not sign. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the 4th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
on June 4, 2002.
and the Yakima Bears
. With the Silver Hawks, he went 3-0 with 17 strikeout
s and a 2.93 ERA in 27.2 inning
s. With the Yakima team, he went 0-0 with 3 strikeouts and a 27.00 ERA in 1 inning. His combined statistics for the year were 3 wins and 0 losses, with 20 K's and a 3.83 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched.
Cormier played 15 games for the Lancaster JetHawks
in , going 6-5 with 59 strikeouts and a 3.82 ERA, before being moved up to the Double-A El Paso Diablos
. He had 2 wins and 3 losses, 26 strikeouts, and a 6.10 ERA with the Diablos. His stats for the season were an 8-8 win-loss record, 85 strikeouts, and a 4.53 ERA in 135.2 innings.
Lance started with El Paso, going 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 10 games, including one of his best games on May 6, where he allowed 2 hits
in 7 innings and struck out 10. In May, he was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders
, where he had 1 win and 1 loss and a 1.77 ERA. On June 18, he was called up to the big leagues when pitcher Jose Valverde
was placed on the disabled list
. His first major league start was on June 19 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. He lost 11-4, and allowed 5 hits in 1 inning, and was sent back down to Tucson, where he was elected the Diamondbacks June Minor League Pitcher of the Month.
After being brought back up to the majors on July 29, Cormier beat the Houston Astros
, 6-4 in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out five, and recorded his first major league hit. He made a move to the bullpen
after losing his next 2 games. From August 29 to September 11, batters only hit .136 off of Lance. He recorded his first big-league RBI
on July 29.
In , Cormier appeared in 67 games for the Diamondbacks. His 7 wins tied for fourth place among National League
relief pitchers. He pitched 18.0 scoreless innings at the beginning of the season, and on April 29], he recorded a career-high four strikeouts against the San Diego Padres
. He compiled a 1.04 ERA in his last 9 games of the season.
for catcher
Johnny Estrada
. He made his first appearance for the Braves on April 3, . After being demoted to the Richmond Braves
on August 21, Cormier was called back up to the big league team four days later on August 25.
Cormier suffered an injury during spring training
which kept him out for the season's first two months. In his season debut, he allowed 8 earned run
s in only 4 innings against the Chicago Cubs
. In his next start, he allowed 5 earned runs again against the Cubs. It was obvious that he needed more rehab, and was sent down to Triple-A Richmond
. After pitching a complete game
shutout
in Richmond, Cormier was called up on August 2. He allowed 2 earned runs in relief against the Colorado Rockies
on August 3. On August 11, his first start since June 3, Cormier allowed 4 runs in 4 innings and left with a no-decision. He earned his first win of the 2007 season on August 27 allowing 2 runs in 7 innings pitched. He won consecutive starts for the first time in his career one start later against the Philadelphia Phillies
. He finished the season a disappointing 2-6 with a 7.09 ERA.
Cormier was designated for assignment on November 30, , to make room for Tom Glavine
. Consequently, he was released on December 7, .
. He was 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 games for the Orioles.
. In two seasons with the Rays, he was 7-6 with a 3.55 ERA in 113 games.
and made the big league club out of spring training. The Dodgers mostly used him in long relief, where he was 0-1 with a 9.88 ERA before he was designated for assignment on May 24. On June 2, he cleared waivers and became a free agent.
. With Durham, he appeared in 20 games (making 4 starts) and was 4-3 with a 5.51 ERA.
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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...
for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
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 has previously played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, and 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...
.
Early years
Cormier went to Lafayette High SchoolLafayette High School (Louisiana)
Lafayette High School is a public four-year high school located in Lafayette, Louisiana.With an enrollment of 2279 students, Lafayette High is one of the largest schools in the state of Louisiana...
, and graduated in 1998. He attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, and in his pitching career there, he went 31-16 with a 3.98 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...
and 17 saves. Lance started his career as a 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 recorded a University of Alabama freshman record 11 saves. In his junior year, he switched to being a starting pitcher
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....
and went 20-8 in the last two seasons of his college career. A highlight of his college career includes being a first team Academic All-American in his senior year. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in finance.
Initial drafts
Twice Cormier was drafted by a major league team, but he did not sign for either. On June 2, , he was drafted by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the 40th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 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, 1998...
, but did not sign. On June 5, , he was drafted 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...
in the 10th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
, but again he did not sign. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the 4th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
on June 4, 2002.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In 2002, Cormier pitched for the Single-A South Bend Silver HawksSouth Bend Silver Hawks
The South Bend Silver Hawks are a U.S. Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League....
and the Yakima Bears
Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
. With the Silver Hawks, he went 3-0 with 17 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 2.93 ERA in 27.2 inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s. With the Yakima team, he went 0-0 with 3 strikeouts and a 27.00 ERA in 1 inning. His combined statistics for the year were 3 wins and 0 losses, with 20 K's and a 3.83 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched.
Cormier played 15 games for the Lancaster JetHawks
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...
in , going 6-5 with 59 strikeouts and a 3.82 ERA, before being moved up to the Double-A 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 had 2 wins and 3 losses, 26 strikeouts, and a 6.10 ERA with the Diablos. His stats for the season were an 8-8 win-loss record, 85 strikeouts, and a 4.53 ERA in 135.2 innings.
Lance started with El Paso, going 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 10 games, including one of his best games on May 6, where he allowed 2 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....
in 7 innings and struck out 10. In May, he was promoted to the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, where he had 1 win and 1 loss and a 1.77 ERA. On June 18, he was called up to the big leagues when pitcher Jose Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. His first major league start was on June 19 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. He lost 11-4, and allowed 5 hits in 1 inning, and was sent back down to Tucson, where he was elected the Diamondbacks June Minor League Pitcher of the Month.
After being brought back up to the majors on July 29, Cormier beat 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...
, 6-4 in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out five, and recorded his first major league hit. He made a move to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
after losing his next 2 games. From August 29 to September 11, batters only hit .136 off of Lance. He recorded his first big-league RBI
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...
on July 29.
In , Cormier appeared in 67 games for the Diamondbacks. His 7 wins tied for fourth place among National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
relief pitchers. He pitched 18.0 scoreless innings at the beginning of the season, and on April 29], he recorded a career-high four strikeouts against the San Diego Padres
San 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...
. He compiled a 1.04 ERA in his last 9 games of the season.
Atlanta Braves
On December 7, 2005, Cormier was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with pitcher Óscar VillarrealÓscar Villarreal
Óscar Eduardo Villarreal is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in the majors for the Arizona Diamondbacks , Atlanta Braves , and Houston Astros .-Arizona Diamondbacks:...
for catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Johnny Estrada
Johnny Estrada
Johnny Pulado Estrada III is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals.Estrada was selected in the 17th round of the 1997 Major...
. He made his first appearance for the Braves on April 3, . After being demoted to the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
on August 21, Cormier was called back up to the big league team four days later on August 25.
Cormier suffered an injury during 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...
which kept him out for the season's first two months. In his season debut, he allowed 8 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in only 4 innings against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. In his next start, he allowed 5 earned runs again against the Cubs. It was obvious that he needed more rehab, and was sent down to Triple-A Richmond
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
. After pitching a 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...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in Richmond, Cormier was called up on August 2. He allowed 2 earned runs in relief against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
on August 3. On August 11, his first start since June 3, Cormier allowed 4 runs in 4 innings and left with a no-decision. He earned his first win of the 2007 season on August 27 allowing 2 runs in 7 innings pitched. He won consecutive starts for the first time in his career one start later against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He finished the season a disappointing 2-6 with a 7.09 ERA.
Cormier was designated for assignment on November 30, , to make room for Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
. Consequently, he was released on December 7, .
Baltimore Orioles
On January 21, , he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He was 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 games for the Orioles.
Tampa Bay Rays
On January 16, , he signed with the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. In two seasons with the Rays, he was 7-6 with a 3.55 ERA in 113 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 16, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
and made the big league club out of spring training. The Dodgers mostly used him in long relief, where he was 0-1 with a 9.88 ERA before he was designated for assignment on May 24. On June 2, he cleared waivers and became a free agent.
Return to Tampa Bay
Cormier signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on June 6, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Durham BullsDurham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
. With Durham, he appeared in 20 games (making 4 starts) and was 4-3 with a 5.51 ERA.