Marco Scutaro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Toronto Blue Jays — No. 19 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: October 30, 1975 | |
|---|---|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| July 27, 2002 for the New York Mets | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through April 4, 2008) |
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| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 31 |
| Runs batted in | 175 |
| Teams | |
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Marco Scutaro (pronounced /ˈskuːtəroʊ/; born October 30, 1975 in Yaracuy State, Venezuela to an Italian father and a Spanish mother) is a Major League Baseball infielder who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. Previously, Scutaro played with the New York Mets (2002-2003) and the Oakland Athletics (2004-2007). He bats and throws right-handed.
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[edit] Early career
After spending seven seasons in the minors with the Indians and Brewers systems, and two seasons with the Mets as a backup, Scutaro made the most of his chance he was given when Oakland's starting second baseman job because Mark Ellis had a season-ending shoulder injury during 2004 spring training. It didn't take long for him to get in sync with Rookie of the Year shortstop Bobby Crosby in the middle infield. Scutaro starts the double play well, and his strength is a strong arm that allows him to go deep into the hole for grounders.
[edit] Oakland
For Oakland, Scutaro managed to get the hits that counted, or move runners along, or whatever was required in each situation. In 2004, he reached career highs in batting average (.273), RBI (43), runs (50), hits (124), doubles (32), at bats (455) and games played (137). Although he strikes out more than he walks, Scutaro becomes a good contact hitter when it's necessary to put the ball in play. He hits to all fields, and is successful against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers. He was of great value to the Oakland bench due to his ability to play multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, third base, and left field. Scutaro made a name for himself with the A's as a clutch hitter who saved the A's many times during the 2006 season with his late game heroics, including the clutch 3-run double late in game 3 of the 2006 ALDS that put the game on ice and sent the A's to the ALCS, where they lost in 4 games.
While in the minors with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 2001, Scutaro was one of four players profiled in the documentary film "A Player To Be Named Later".
Because of his Italian heritage, Scutaro was given the option of playing for either Italy or Venezuela in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He chose to play for Venezuela as a utility infielder.
[edit] Toronto Blue Jays
On November 18, 2007, Scutaro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitchers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey.[1]
Scutaro was the Jays' third baseman for at least a month, after the finger injury sustained by teammate Scott Rolen, and then returned to a starter's role after an injury to David Eckstein in his right hip flexor suffered on May 6. Shortly after Eckstein's return, David and Blue Jays teammate, Aaron Hill collided trying to catch a fly ball. Aaron is currently suffering from concussion-like symptoms and Scutaro is filling in at second base.
[edit] Trivia
- On April 15, 2007 in the rubber game against the New York Yankees in Oakland, with two on, two out in the bottom of the 9th and the A's down 4-2, Scutaro, who previously was 1-for-20 for the season, hit a walk-off home run off closer Mariano Rivera on an 0-2 pitch. Ironically, April 15 was the day which MLB honored Jackie Robinson, whose number 42 was universally retired and which Rivera is the last active player to don. It was also the first home run Rivera allowed on an 0-2 pitch since July of 1997, when Marquis Grissom of the Cleveland Indians took him deep.
- He is commonly called Super Marco. During games in Oakland, fans scream "MARCO!" and fans in nearby sections of the stadium respond "SCUTARO!" in reference to the game Marco Polo.
- Another common nickname for him is Lil' Papi, after Big Papi (David Ortiz), since both players are known for coming through in the clutch. Since the 2004 season, the only player with more game-ending hits than Scutaro is Ortiz.
- Marco and his wife, Marines, have two daughters, Maria Veronica (5/26/02) and Valerie (1/01/06).
- On July 6, 2007 Scutaro tied the AL record for errors in a game by a third baseman with four against the Seattle Mariners.
