Mike Koplove
Encyclopedia
Michael Paul "Mike" Koplove (born August 30, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a sidearm
relief pitcher
for the San Diego Padres
organization.
Koplove throws with a different arm angle than most pitchers. His arm angle is perpendicular to his body, which allows his fastball
to sink and his curveball
and slider
to stay on the same plane, making it appear to be a fastball.
and attended Chestnut Hill Academy
in Philadelphia (where he was a first-team Philadelphia Daily News All-City selection as a senior) from which he graduated in 1995. After high school, Koplove first attended Northwestern University for 2 years before transferring to the University of Delaware prior to his junior year. During his junior season at the University of Delaware
, he helped lead the team to the 1998 America East Championship and the NCAA Atlantic II Regional. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks
in the 29th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
.
championship team, but was not on the World Series roster.
In , Koplove was 6–1 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 games, giving up only 47 hits
in 61.2 innings (holding batters to a .213 batting average
and a .276 slugging percentage; with men on base he was even stingier – .207/.228). In games that were late and close, he held batters to a .188 batting average.
In , Koplove was 3–0 with a 2.14 ERA in 31 games. With runners in scoring position, he held batters to a .100 batting average, and a .133 slugging percentage, and he held the first batters he faced to a .074 batting average.
In 6 seasons with the Diamondbacks (2001–06), he made 217 relief appearances (3rd in team history as of May 2007), compiling a 15–7 record with 2 saves and a 3.76 ERA.
extended a spring training
invitation to Koplove, who signed a minor league contract with the ballclub, but in March 2007 they released him.
agreed to terms with Koplove on a minor league contract. On May 23, the team called him up from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He was 2–0 with 3 saves and a 1.00 ERA in 17 relief appearances (18 innings, 15 hits, 2 earned runs, 8 walks, 14 strikeouts). He had limited batters to a .224 average and a .111 average with runners in scoring position.
Eight days later, the team optioned Koplove to the Bisons. Koplove appeared in three games after being called up. He allowed two earned runs in four innings for a 4.50 ERA. In , with the Buffalo Bisons
he was 4–2 with 14 saves and a 2.50 ERA in 51 relief appearances.
following the conclusion of the 2007 season, Koplove signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 12, 2007. He pitched the entire year for the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
.
In , he was named to the United States national baseball team
for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
.
, earning a bronze medal
with the club. He was the only American pitcher not to give up a hit; he pitched 5⅓ innings in four appearances, and struck out six.
. His contract called for him to be paid $16,000 per month in the minors, as opposed to $550,000 if he made it to the big league team. On June 1, 2009, Koplove exercised a clause in his contract that stated if he was not on the major league roster by June 1, he would be granted his outright release.
, and was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians
, also in the International League.
for minor league shortstop Deybis Benitez. He was granted free agency in November 2009.
On December 22, 2009, Koplove signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.
On July 1, 2010, Koplove was released by Seattle.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is a sidearm
Sidearm
In baseball, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis ....
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...
for 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...
organization.
Koplove throws with a different arm angle than most pitchers. His arm angle is perpendicular to his body, which allows his 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...
to sink and his 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 slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
to stay on the same plane, making it appear to be a fastball.
Early life
Koplove grew up in South PhiladelphiaSouth Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
and attended Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy, commonly referred to as CHA, is a Pre-K to 12 all-male independent college preparatory school located in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in Philadelphia (where he was a first-team Philadelphia Daily News All-City selection as a senior) from which he graduated in 1995. After high school, Koplove first attended Northwestern University for 2 years before transferring to the University of Delaware prior to his junior year. During his junior season at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, he helped lead the team to the 1998 America East Championship and the NCAA Atlantic II Regional. He was drafted by the 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...
in the 29th 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...
.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2001–06)
He played for the Diamondbacks 2001 World Series2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
championship team, but was not on the World Series roster.
In , Koplove was 6–1 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 games, giving up only 47 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 61.2 innings (holding batters to a .213 batting 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 :...
and a .276 slugging percentage; with men on base he was even stingier – .207/.228). In games that were late and close, he held batters to a .188 batting average.
In , Koplove was 3–0 with a 2.14 ERA in 31 games. With runners in scoring position, he held batters to a .100 batting average, and a .133 slugging percentage, and he held the first batters he faced to a .074 batting average.
In 6 seasons with the Diamondbacks (2001–06), he made 217 relief appearances (3rd in team history as of May 2007), compiling a 15–7 record with 2 saves and a 3.76 ERA.
Florida Marlins organization (2007)
In January 2007, the Florida MarlinsFlorida 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...
extended a 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...
invitation to Koplove, who signed a minor league contract with the ballclub, but in March 2007 they released him.
Cleveland Indians (2007)
In March 2007, the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
agreed to terms with Koplove on a minor league contract. On May 23, the team called him up from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He was 2–0 with 3 saves and a 1.00 ERA in 17 relief appearances (18 innings, 15 hits, 2 earned runs, 8 walks, 14 strikeouts). He had limited batters to a .224 average and a .111 average with runners in scoring position.
Eight days later, the team optioned Koplove to the Bisons. Koplove appeared in three games after being called up. He allowed two earned runs in four innings for a 4.50 ERA. In , with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
he was 4–2 with 14 saves and a 2.50 ERA in 51 relief appearances.
Los Angeles Dodgers organization (2008)
After becoming a minor league free agentFree 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....
following the conclusion of the 2007 season, Koplove signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 12, 2007. He pitched the entire year for the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
In , he was named to the United States national baseball team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Olympics (2008)
Koplove played for the 2008 US Olympic teamUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
, earning a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
with the club. He was the only American pitcher not to give up a hit; he pitched 5⅓ innings in four appearances, and struck out six.
Philadelphia Phillies organization (2009)
Koplove was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies to a minor league contract after the 2008 season, and was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee. After spring training, however, he was sent to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in the International LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. His contract called for him to be paid $16,000 per month in the minors, as opposed to $550,000 if he made it to the big league team. On June 1, 2009, Koplove exercised a clause in his contract that stated if he was not on the major league roster by June 1, he would be granted his outright release.
Pittsburgh Pirates organization (2009)
On June 6, 2009, Koplove signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, also in the International League.
Seattle Mariners organization (2009–2010)
On August 4, 2009, the Pirates traded Koplove to 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...
for minor league shortstop Deybis Benitez. He was granted free agency in November 2009.
On December 22, 2009, Koplove signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.
On July 1, 2010, Koplove was released by Seattle.