Doug Creek
Encyclopedia
Paul Douglas Creek is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher with a nine year career from 1995–1997, 1999–2003, and 2005. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals
, San Francisco Giants
, Chicago Cubs
of the National League
and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seattle Mariners
, Toronto Blue Jays
and Detroit Tigers
of the American League
. He also played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers
in .
by the California Angels
, Creek opted to not sign with them and go back into the draft pool the following season. In , he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals
in the seventh round of the draft and was signed to a deal shortly thereafter. After signing a contract with the Cards, Doug Creek bounced around A ball in 1991 and 1992 playing for four teams (Hamilton
, Savannah, Springfield
, and St. Petersburg) in that span. He was used primarily as a starting pitcher with all those teams and after some early career struggles with Hamilton and Savannah in 1991 he started finding his grove upon joining Springfield the following season.
Creek registered a career low 2.58 ERA
to go along with his 4-1 won-loss record
with the Springfield squad. He then continued his strong 1992 pitching with St. Petersburg and started all the 13 games he appeared in going 5-4 with a still impressive ERA at 2.82. After playing in AA and compiling a career record of 18-22 with a 4.00 ERA as a Double A pitcher Doug had three separate stints playing with the AAA team out of Louisville. He usually went between them and Arkansas
the AA team that was affiliated with St. Louis.
for his first taste of big league action. He threw one inning and struck out two batters as the Dodgers could not register a hit off Creek. He appeared in five more games for St. Louis, throwing a total of six innings
in six games and did not permit any runs to score. After the 1995 year ended he was dealt in the off-season to the San Francisco Giants
in a multi-player deal that also sent Rich DeLucia
and Allen Watson
to the Giants. The Cardinals received Royce Clayton
and Chris Wimmer in return.
where, in 25 games (18 of them starts), he went 8-6 with 2 complete game
s and 1 shutout
. His showing at Triple A in earned him a quick promotion back to San Francisco. He went 1-2 and compiled an 6.75 ERA, while striking out 14 of the batters he faced.
purchased Creek's contract from the Giants. Creek never played for the White Sox as his contract was purchased again less than a month later (December 4, 1997), this time by a team in Japan
. The Hanshin Tigers
of the Japan Central League
bought his contract from Chicago and Doug went to play out the baseball season in Japan. For the Tigers he split the season between the Central League and Western League
teams spending the majority of the campaign with the Western League squad. In 17 games (16 starts) he went 9-1 with a 2.16 ERA for the Western League’s Hanshin Tigers. Creek led the league in earned run average and strikeout
s with 101. He was less stellar playing in the Central League though as he went 0–4 with 5.65 ERA in his 7 appearances.
on January 29, . He pitched most of the season with Iowa
, then the AAA team for the Cubs. Doug went 7-3 in 25 games (20 starts) and held his ERA to 3.79. He was also able to pick up a save. Chicago decided to call up the southpaw and he struggled in the 6 games he pitched in ending the season with a 10.50 ERA.
signed Doug Creek to a contract, and Creek would play out the next two and a half seasons of his MLB career with the cellar-dwelling Devil Rays. In 2000 he saw action in 45 games (all in relief) as he posted a 1-3 mark for Tampa Bay. Creek also picked up his first (and only) career save to go along with his 4.60 ERA. The following season Creek was able to lower his earned run average to a 4.31 mark as he pitched in a career-high 66 games and had a won-loss record of 2-5. He also threw a career-high 62 innings.
Creek spent the first four months of the regular season on the D-Rays where he appeared in 29 games winning two of them and dropping one. His ERA however was at a 6.27 clip. On July 24, , Tampa Bay and the Seattle Mariners
consummated a deal that sent Creek to Seattle for cash considerations.
to be a key member of their bullpen. However, things did not go as planned in the 2003 season as Doug pitched just 13 innings in 21 appearances to go along with his 3.29 ERA for the Jays, as he underwent Tommy John surgery
in June 2003.
signed Creek in January to add pitching depth to their roster. He played on the Tigers' AAA affiliate in Toledo
pitching 28 games (1 start) as he chalked up a record of 2–2 to go along with an ERA of 4.61. Unlike in St. Louis, Creek was able to crack the lineup and appear in 20 games for the Tigers. He threw 22 innings in those 20 games for Detroit, finishing the year with a 6.85 ERA.
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 with a nine year career from 1995–1997, 1999–2003, and 2005. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, 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...
of the 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...
and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seattle Mariners
Seattle 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...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. He also played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in .
Minor leagues
Upon being selected in the fifth round of the 1990 MLB draft1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Creek opted to not sign with them and go back into the draft pool the following season. In , he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the seventh round of the draft and was signed to a deal shortly thereafter. After signing a contract with the Cards, Doug Creek bounced around A ball in 1991 and 1992 playing for four teams (Hamilton
Hamilton Redbirds
The Hamilton Redbirds were a minor league baseball team that played in the New York-Penn League from 1988 to 1992. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals and played their home games at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario. The Redbirds were founded in 1988, but the...
, Savannah, Springfield
Springfield (IL) Cardinals
The Springfield Cardinals were a minor league baseball team located in Springfield, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 and was an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team played in Lanphier Park on the northside of Springfield. Affectionately known as the...
, and St. Petersburg) in that span. He was used primarily as a starting pitcher with all those teams and after some early career struggles with Hamilton and Savannah in 1991 he started finding his grove upon joining Springfield the following season.
Creek registered a career low 2.58 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...
to go along with his 4-1 won-loss record
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with the Springfield squad. He then continued his strong 1992 pitching with St. Petersburg and started all the 13 games he appeared in going 5-4 with a still impressive ERA at 2.82. After playing in AA and compiling a career record of 18-22 with a 4.00 ERA as a Double A pitcher Doug had three separate stints playing with the AAA team out of Louisville. He usually went between them and Arkansas
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....
the AA team that was affiliated with St. Louis.
Cardinals
After a solid showing at both the AA and AAA levels the Cardinals decided it was time to see what Creek could offer to their big league team. On September 17, , Doug Creek faced 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...
for his first taste of big league action. He threw one inning and struck out two batters as the Dodgers could not register a hit off Creek. He appeared in five more games for St. Louis, throwing a total of six innings
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...
in six games and did not permit any runs to score. After the 1995 year ended he was dealt in the off-season to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in a multi-player deal that also sent Rich DeLucia
Rich DeLucia
Richard Anthony DeLucia is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from -.-External links:...
and Allen Watson
Allen Watson
Allen Kenneth Watson is a high school baseball coach and former left-handed starting pitcher in professional baseball. He is a graduate of Christ The King Regional High School in Middle Village, New York and attended New York Institute of Technology-Baseball career:Allen Watson was picked by the St...
to the Giants. The Cardinals received Royce Clayton
Royce Clayton
Royce Spencer Clayton is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and occasional actor.-Baseball career:Clayton was born in Burbank, California. He was drafted out of St...
and Chris Wimmer in return.
Giants
Creek tried to pitch well for his new team and the then-27-year-old hurler threw 48 innings and finished the season with a 6.52 ERA in 63 appearances. He also had an 0–2 win-loss record. He spent the following season on the Giants AAA team in PhoenixPhoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
where, in 25 games (18 of them starts), he went 8-6 with 2 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 1 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....
. His showing at Triple A in earned him a quick promotion back to San Francisco. He went 1-2 and compiled an 6.75 ERA, while striking out 14 of the batters he faced.
Hanshin Tigers
On November 7, 1997 the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
purchased Creek's contract from the Giants. Creek never played for the White Sox as his contract was purchased again less than a month later (December 4, 1997), this time by a team in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
of the Japan Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
bought his contract from Chicago and Doug went to play out the baseball season in Japan. For the Tigers he split the season between the Central League and Western League
Western League (Japanese baseball)
The is one of the two minor leagues of Japanese professional baseball. The league is owned and managed by the Pacific League.-History:The league was created in 1952 as the Kansai Farm League, and contained the minor league teams of the seven professional teams that had their homefields in the...
teams spending the majority of the campaign with the Western League squad. In 17 games (16 starts) he went 9-1 with a 2.16 ERA for the Western League’s Hanshin Tigers. Creek led the league in earned run average and 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 with 101. He was less stellar playing in the Central League though as he went 0–4 with 5.65 ERA in his 7 appearances.
Cubs
Doug Creek returned from his one-year stint in Japan by signing a contract with the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
on January 29, . He pitched most of the season with Iowa
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
, then the AAA team for the Cubs. Doug went 7-3 in 25 games (20 starts) and held his ERA to 3.79. He was also able to pick up a save. Chicago decided to call up the southpaw and he struggled in the 6 games he pitched in ending the season with a 10.50 ERA.
Devil Rays
On February 1, the Tampa Bay Devil 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...
signed Doug Creek to a contract, and Creek would play out the next two and a half seasons of his MLB career with the cellar-dwelling Devil Rays. In 2000 he saw action in 45 games (all in relief) as he posted a 1-3 mark for Tampa Bay. Creek also picked up his first (and only) career save to go along with his 4.60 ERA. The following season Creek was able to lower his earned run average to a 4.31 mark as he pitched in a career-high 66 games and had a won-loss record of 2-5. He also threw a career-high 62 innings.
Creek spent the first four months of the regular season on the D-Rays where he appeared in 29 games winning two of them and dropping one. His ERA however was at a 6.27 clip. On July 24, , Tampa Bay and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle 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...
consummated a deal that sent Creek to Seattle for cash considerations.
Mariners
Creek played in 23 games for the Mariners going 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. His 2002 combined totals were 52 games, 3-2 record, 55.0 IP, and a 5.82 ERA.Blue Jays
In October 2002 Creek was signed by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
to be a key member of their bullpen. However, things did not go as planned in the 2003 season as Doug pitched just 13 innings in 21 appearances to go along with his 3.29 ERA for the Jays, as he underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
in June 2003.
Back to the Cardinals
Creek was then signed in February , returning to the Cardinals. With St. Louis, he was only used as a reliever in Triple AAA, going 2–1 with a 4.71 ERA in 33 games for Memphis.Tigers
The Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
signed Creek in January to add pitching depth to their roster. He played on the Tigers' AAA affiliate in Toledo
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
pitching 28 games (1 start) as he chalked up a record of 2–2 to go along with an ERA of 4.61. Unlike in St. Louis, Creek was able to crack the lineup and appear in 20 games for the Tigers. He threw 22 innings in those 20 games for Detroit, finishing the year with a 6.85 ERA.