Endy Chávez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| New York Mets — No. 10 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: February 7, 1978 | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| May 29, 2001 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through May 3, 2008) |
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| Batting average | .270 |
| Home runs | 16 |
| Runs batted in | 165 |
| Stolen bases | 72 |
| Teams | |
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Endy De Jesus Chávez (pronounced /ˈtʃɑvɛz/) (born February 7, 1978, in Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets.
Chávez bats and throws left-handed and is considered to have good fielding skills, speed, and the ability to hit to all parts of the field. He is best known for his outstanding catch in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.
In his first six seasons, Chávez had a .269 batting average with 15 home runs and 148 RBI in 569 games played.
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[edit] Minor League career
Chávez made his Minor League Baseball debut in 1996 with the Dominican Mets, a rookie-level affiliate of the New York Mets. In his first season with the team, he hit .354 in 48 games. He played the next four years in the Mets organization with the Kingsport Mets, Gulf Coast Mets, Capital City Bombers, and St. Lucie Mets. On March 30, 2001, Chávez was traded from the Mets to the Kansas City Royals organization. In 2001, Chávez played with Wichita Wranglers and the Omaha Royals before making his MLB debut with the Royals.
In 2002, Chávez joined the Montreal Expos organization, playing for the Ottawa Lynx. With Ottawa, Chávez was an International League all-star in 2002. Chávez finished out the 2004 season with the Expos affiliate Edmonton Trappers. In 2005, Chávez moved to the New Orleans Zephyrs, the triple-A affiliate of the relocated Montreal Expos, now known as the Washington Nationals.
[edit] Major League career
[edit] Kansas City Royals (2001)
In 2001, Chávez played his rookie season with the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in 29 games and compiled a career low batting average of .208.
[edit] Montreal Expos (2002-2004) / Washington Nationals (2005)
In the winter of 2001, Chávez was traded to the Montreal Expos, playing 309 games over three years (2002-05). In 2002 and 2003, he helped the Expos compile competitive records of 83-79 in each season, contending for postseason play, but falling short of the wild-card slot each time. Playing full-time in 2003 and 2004, Chávez batted first in the lineup and started in center field. Stealing 18 bases in 2003 and 32 in 2004, Chávez proved himself a serious running threat. On October 3, 2004, Chávez recorded the final out in Montreal Expos history in their 8-1 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
In 2005, Chávez played in only seven games for the team, now re-located to Washington, D. C. and re-named the Washington Nationals, before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. During his tenure in Washington, Chávez was given the mocking nickname of "Inning Endy" by Nationals fansites due to his tendency to swing at most pitches rather than "playing the count," often resulting in groundouts and popups.[1][2]
[edit] Philadelphia Phillies (2005)
With the Philadelphia Phillies, Chávez played in 91 games, usually joining the game in later innings. He batted .215 and stole only two bases.
[edit] New York Mets (2006 - present)
On December 23, 2005, the New York Mets signed Chávez to a one-year, $500,000, major league deal.
[edit] 2006
During spring training, Mets manager Willie Randolph convinced Chávez to alter his batting style to favor contact hitting over power. Chávez's speed and his modified batting style sparked a 50-point jump in his batting average with 12 stolen bases during a season in which he saw limited playing time (often as an injury replacement for regular left fielder Cliff Floyd). This, in addition to his excellent defensive skills, helped the Mets win the National League East and qualify for the 2006 baseball postseason.
[edit] "The Catch"
Chávez's catch in Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series is seen by many as one of the most remarkable plays in baseball history. In the top of the sixth inning, with the game tied 1-1, Chávez leaped over the 8-foot-high left field wall to rob Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen of a two-run home run. Chavez reeled the ball in and threw to first base, doubling off center fielder Jim Edmonds for an inning-ending double play.
The catch was named the top post-season moment in the 5th annual This Year in Baseball Awards.
On July 13, 2007, American International Group (the company whose sign is displayed on the left field wall at Shea Stadium where Chavez made the catch) sponsored a special Bobblehead Doll day to commemorate the catch.
[edit] 2007 and "The Bunt"
Chavez continued to contribute big hits in 2007. On April 24, 2007, in the 12th inning, Chavez made a drag bunt to drive in Shawn Green for the winning run, giving the Mets a walk-off win against the Colorado Rockies, 2-1.
When regular left fielder Moises Alou was placed on the DL, Chavez, in a reprise of the previous season, moved up to fill his spot. Sporting a .292 BA, and maintaining his slick fielding, Chavez was a more than adequate replacement. However, on June 6, 2007, Chavez suffered a strained left hamstring while sprinting to first base on a double play ball fielded by Jimmy Rollins. Two days later, he was placed on the 15-day DL. He returned from the DL on August 28.
During the 2007-2008 offseason, Chavez injured his right hamstring and right ankle while playing winter ball in Venezuela for Navegantes del Magallanes.[3]
[edit] Trivia
- Made the final out in Montreal Expos' history on October 3, 2004, in the Expos' 8-1 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Coincidentally, it was against his current team, the New York Mets
- Like Endy, brother Ender Chávez (who reached AA-level baseball with the Harrisburg Senators in 2006) also played minor league baseball with an affiliate of the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Washington Nationals. He is currently playing for the St. Lucie Mets in the single "A" Florida State League.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Inning-Endy?. DC Hardball (2005-03-01). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Up First for the Nats: Chavez. The Washington Post (2005-03-01). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Chavez injures ankle, hamstring in winter ball in Venezuela. ESPN (2008-01-13). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Article on the catch
- Video of the catch
