Alan Embree
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Birth Name: Alan Duane Embree College: None Personal: Wife Melanie, son Alan Christopher (10/7/1997)
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“It became easy to be consistent out there, with the other guys in the bullpen we have. We really were able to keep one another in check. Those games were so crucial. You had to tell yourself, “Don’t get too wrapped up in the moment. Just do the job.” Embree went from being a stand out in baseball, basketball, football and volleyball at Prairie High School in Washington to the Cleveland Indians fifth round draft choice in 1989. 1990 began what appeared to be a quick acceleration though the minors for what appeared to be a talented starting pitcher. Arm injuries, hip injuries, and questions about arm strength eventually would force Embree into the role most people know him as, a middle reliever specializing against left handed hitters. His first four games in the majors, all starts in 1992, remain his only starts of his career. In his major league debut he suffered a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. A shoulder surgery in 1993 sidelined him for all but one game in 1993. Embree returned to AA Canton in 1994, starting 27 games and pitching 157 innings. He then pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in the fall league. His 2.08 era in 15 fall games were a sign to come. Embree spent 1995 with the Indians spending three different stints with the club. He collected his first career save on August 21 against the Blue Jays after he pitched the final two innings in a 7-3 win. Alan appeared in 5 post season games four of which were the World Series won by the Atlanta Braves. He first broke camp with the big league team in 1996. He spent time on the roster five different times that season between call ups and injuries. He stranded 79% of inherited runners and worked a scoreless inning in the ALDS against the Orioles. The 1997 trade that sent David Justice and Marquis Grissom to the Indians for outfielder Kenny Lofton and Embree would be the young left handers chance to shine. Embree did a spectacular job as a middle reliever stranding 86% of inherited runners. That was second in the bigs. He had a 58 game homeless steak versus left handers ended in June when Rafeal Palmerio connected. Embrees lone postseason game concluded with one scoreless inning against the Marlins. After proving to be a headache for manager Bobby Cox the Braves sent the troubled Embree to the Diamondbacks for reliever Russ Springer. Embree started the season off not allowing a run in 14/15 games but soon found himself in trouble. In his last five games with the Braves he only once succeeded in not giving up runs. Embree didn’t fare much better for the Diamondbacks but manage to pick up his first career save against the Colorado Rockies on July 19th. Following the season he was traded to the Giants for outfielder Dante Powell. John Jonestones 28 holds in 1999 were six more then Embrees 22 which paced the National League for top in the category. Embree also stranded 75% of inherited base runners. After a dismal 2000 season Embree had minor arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow in November. Embree allowed four home runs to the Atlanta Braves on May 20, 2001. Embree becomes the first pitcher since 1963 to allow four homers in an inning. The Braves go on to win the game. 2002 was a huge success for Embree. After starting the season with the Padres and being very effective against left handed batters Embree found himself on the Red Sox as the season winded down. Alan became the first Red Sox reliever to close out both games of a double hitter since Tom Gordon when he did so on July 2nd. Embree went twenty seven games without allowing a run (27.2IP) from May 13th to July 7th. He was one of only eleven relievers to post a sub 2.05 ERA In 2003 Embree topped the 60 game mark for the fifth straight season. In 2004 Embree was a member of the Boston Red Sox as they went on to win the World Series. Embree allowed just two earned runs in seven and a third innings during the playoffs. Embree also recorded a career high 71 appearances during the regular season. A stat that Red Sox fans are still stroking themselves to is that Embree struck out the side in the seventh inning of game 2 of the Word Series. In 2005 Embree struggled posting a 2-5 record and a 7.65 ERA in 67 appearences split between the Red Sox and Yankees. Embree started the season a a Red Sox but was designated for assignment on July 19. On July 30 he signed with the Yankees. The Padres signed Embree to a minor league deal for the 2006 season. He posted his lowest ERA since 2002 going 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP in 73 games with the club. On December 6, 2006 Embree signed with the Oakland A’s. When injuries struck the teams closer Huston Street he filled in as closer and racked up 17 saves posting a 3.97 ERA along the way. |
