Dan Kolb
Encyclopedia
Daniel Lee Kolb is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. Kolb has played with the Texas Rangers
(-), Atlanta Braves
, Milwaukee Brewers
(-, 2006), and Pittsburgh Pirates
. He bats and throws right-handed.
system. Released before the season, he signed as a free agent
with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he became the team closer
and shined in that role during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, converting 60 of 67 save
opportunities, and was selected to the NL All-Star team in 2004.
Before the 2005 season, the Atlanta Braves returned closer John Smoltz
to his original starter
role to compensate for several losses in their pitching rotation. The Braves traded highly regarded rookie pitcher José Capellán and minor league pitcher Alec Zumwalt to the Brewers for Kolb to replace Smoltz in the bullpen. However, Kolb endured a poor season with the Braves, going 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA while recording only 11 saves before being replaced in the closer role by Chris Reitsma
. Because of his struggles, Kolb was consistently booed at Braves' home games and had derogatory websites devoted to him. He admitted following the '05 season that the pressure of replacing a legend like Smoltz played a big part in his ineffectiveness.
At the 2005 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, Kolb was traded back to Milwaukee in exchange for reliever Wes Obermueller
. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Brewers on January 4, 2006, to serve as a setup man to Derrick Turnbow
. He finished the year with a 2-2 record and a 4.84 ERA
in 53 games.
He declared free agency on November 1, 2006 and signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
on February 3, . On March 29, he was told he would not be added to the major league roster to start the season. However, on June 12, the Pirates recalled Kolb from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Kolb was designated for assignment and was released from the Pirates after he declined the option to go to AAA Indianapolis
.
Kolb signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the Boston Red Sox on January 22, 2008 as a free agent, but was released on April 26, 2008.
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...
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...
. Kolb has played with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(-), 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....
, 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...
(-, 2006), and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Career
Kolb was drafted by the Texas Rangers in and made his major league debut with Texas in 1999. He spent that season and the next three being shuttled between the Rangers and their minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system. Released before the season, he signed as a free agent
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....
with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he became the team 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 shined in that role during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, converting 60 of 67 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
opportunities, and was selected to the NL All-Star team in 2004.
Before the 2005 season, the Atlanta Braves returned closer John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
to his original starter
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....
role to compensate for several losses in their pitching rotation. The Braves traded highly regarded rookie pitcher José Capellán and minor league pitcher Alec Zumwalt to the Brewers for Kolb to replace Smoltz in the bullpen. However, Kolb endured a poor season with the Braves, going 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA while recording only 11 saves before being replaced in the closer role by Chris Reitsma
Chris Reitsma
Christopher Michael Reitsma is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played seven seasons in the majors, from until , with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Seattle Mariners.-Red Sox and Reds:...
. Because of his struggles, Kolb was consistently booed at Braves' home games and had derogatory websites devoted to him. He admitted following the '05 season that the pressure of replacing a legend like Smoltz played a big part in his ineffectiveness.
At the 2005 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, Kolb was traded back to Milwaukee in exchange for reliever Wes Obermueller
Wes Obermueller
Wesley Mitchell Obermueller is a free agent Major League Baseball pitcher with a career ERA of 5.82. He began his career in the Kansas City Royals organization when he was selected in the 2nd round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Brewers on January 4, 2006, to serve as a setup man to Derrick Turnbow
Derrick Turnbow
Thomas Derrick Turnbow is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-Early career:...
. He finished the year with a 2-2 record and a 4.84 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...
in 53 games.
He declared free agency on November 1, 2006 and signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
on February 3, . On March 29, he was told he would not be added to the major league roster to start the season. However, on June 12, the Pirates recalled Kolb from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Kolb was designated for assignment and was released from the Pirates after he declined the option to go to AAA Indianapolis
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...
.
Kolb signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the Boston Red Sox on January 22, 2008 as a free agent, but was released on April 26, 2008.