Alan Embree #41

Alan Duane Embree...he and his wife Melanie have a son, Alan Christopher (10/7/97)...played baseball, basketball, football and volleyball at Prairie (WA) High School, where he was an All-Conference pitcher and first baseman...did not pitch as a senior due to a left shoulder impingement.

2008

Led the A's with 70 games pitched, the third time in his career he has pitched in at least 70 games (73 in 2006 and 71 in 2004)...compiled a 2-5 record and a 4.96 ERA...issued career-high 30 walks, topping his previous high of 26 in 1999...his 57 strikeouts were 3rd-most in his career...also had career highs in grounded into double plays (8) and triples allowed (4)...the triples tied for the most among AL relievers and his 4 losses were T-6th most...threw 1058 pitches, which was second most in his career to his 1122 with the A's in 2007...allowed 9 of 45 (20.0%) inherited runners to score, which was the 7th lowest mark in the AL...first batters faced were 12-for-64 (.188) with 4 walks and 2 HBP...they were 8-for-20 (.400) over his first 23 games and 4-for-44 (.091) over his final 47 contests...had 5 blown saves, but none of those came in 9th inning save opportunities...opponents had a .253 batting average, which included .232 (19-for-82) by left-handed hitters and .265 (40-for-151) by right-handers...issued 23 of his 30 walks to righthanders... allowed a .232 average w/RISP and opponents were 1-for-10 (.100) with the bases loaded...posted a 2.70 ERA in 14 outings on no days rest and a 5.59 ERA in his other 56 outings...compiled a 3.41 ERA and .221 opponents batting average in 38 games at home and a 6.91 ERA and .288 opponents batting average in 32 outings on the road...had a 2.78 ERA and .160 opponents batting average in 25 appearances during day games and a 6.23 ERA and .303 opponents average in 45 games at night...pitched 1.0 inning or less in 61 of his 70 games and his season high for innings pitched was 1.1 on nine occasions...was on the A's Opening Day roster for the second consecutive season and was one of just two pitchers to spend the entire season on the A's active roster (Street)...was charged with the blown save in consecutive outings on 4/8 and 4/10 at TOR but the A's came back to win both of those games...compiled a 5.87 ERA over his first appearances games before putting together a season best 10.0-inning scoreless streak from 4/12-5/13...had a 2.60 ERA in 20 games through 5/11 but then posted a 5.89 ERA over his final 50 outings...became the 40th pitcher in MLB history to pitch in 800 games on 5/19 against TB when he retired the side in order in the 11th inning...matched his career high with three walks on 6/3 against DET; it was the 5h time he has done it as a reliever and the 7th time overall...posted a 2.79 ERA in 12 outings in June, his lowest single month ERA in 2008...then allowed 8 runs in 7.0 innings in July for a 10.29 ERA, his highest one month ERA for the season...had a 1.80 ERA over a 16-game stretch from 8/13-9/18 but then allowed 5 runs over his final three outings (13.50 ERA).

2007

Took over as the A's closer when Huston Street went on the disabled list in mid-May and ended up leading the club with 17 saves...set an Oakland record for saves by a left-handed pitcher, topping the previous mark of 12 set by Rick Honeycutt in 1989...the saves were a career high as he had just eight saves in 708 games pitched over his previous 13 seasons in the Majors...they were the fewest saves by an A's team leader since 1996 when Bill Taylor led the club with 17...tied for 11th in the American League in saves but had four blown saves for a save percentage of 80.9%, which tied for third lowest among AL closers...also led the A's with 68 appearances and topped A's relievers with a career high 68.0 innings pitched...it was the ninth consecutive season he appeared in at least 60 games, making him one of four pitchers to appear in 60 or more games in each season since 1999 (Steve Kline, Mike Myers, David Weathers)...now has 776 career games pitched, which ranks 45th in Major League history and 14th among pitchers active at the end of the 2007 season...was 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA in his 68 appearances...allowed a career high 67 hits for a .258 opponents batting average...that included .205 (15 for 73) by left-handed hitters and .278 (52 for 187) by right-handers...allowed four of his home runs to right-handers...all five of his home runs came in night games on the road...did not allow a home run in 35.2 innings in Oakland and 23.1 innings during the day...four of his five home runs came when pitching on no days rest and he had a 5.47 ERA and converted 6 of 9 save opportunities in 26 such outings...compiled a 3.02 ERA and was 11 for 12 in save chances in his other 42 appearances...first batters faced were 17 for 66 (.258) with a walk and he allowed 7 of 31 (22.6%) inherited runners to score...allowed 6 of his first 11 inherited runners to score but just 1 of his last 20...opponents hit .228 over his first 15 pitches in a game and .349 after that...did not allow a run in seven interleague outings (9.0 ip, 4 h, 9 so) and was 1-0 with four saves in four opportunities...tossed one inning or fewer in 53 of his 68 outings and did not allow a run in 51 of his appearances.

Did not allow a run over his first six outings (5.1 ip) but then yielded eight runs over his next 15 outings from April 13 to May 16 (12.0 ip, 6.00 ERA)...when Street went on the disabled list on May 15, Embree took over the closer's role with his first save on May 19 against San Francisco when he retired the side in order in the ninth inning in a 4-2 A's win...went 1-1 with 15 saves, three blown saves, a 3.03 ERA and a .186 opponents batting average in 32 outings from May 19 to August 14 as the A's closer...did not allow any of his 10 inherited runners to score over that span...then posted a 6.00 ERA and .317 opponents batting over his final 15 outings and did not pitch after September 15...converted all four of his save opportunities and did not allow a run over a seven-game stretch from May 16 to June 3 (7.0 ip)...was charged with his first blown save on June 4 against Boston but then went another six games and 8.0 innings from June 8 to 20 without allowing a run...capped that streak on June 20 against Cincinnati with a six-out save...the 2.0 innings pitched matched his season high...allowed five runs on two hits and three walks in 0.2 innings on June 26 at Cleveland for the blown save and loss...the walks matched his career high (sixth time, fourth time as a reliever) and the runs were his most in a game since May 28, 1996 at Texas when he also allowed five runs...then converted five consecutive save opportunities over a 13-game span from July 1 to August 4...did not allow a run in 12 of those outings for a 0.69 ERA and .140 opponents batting average...that included a season best 10.0 inning scoreless streak from July 14 to August 4...finished the month of July with a 0.96 ERA, his best one month ERA since June of 2002 when he did not allow an earned run in 12.2 innings...retired 22 consecutive batters from July 23 to August 4...the streak came to an end when he allowed a leadoff home run to Michael Young in the bottom of the ninth inning on August 6 at Texas for the blown save...recorded two more saves after Street returned to the closer's role on August 15...including September 15 against Texas when he recorded the final five outs of the A's 7-3 win...that was his final outing of the season.

2006

He was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, and he ended up tying for the team lead with 73 appearances out of the bullpen (Scott Linebrink). He did not allow a run over 15 appearances (9.2 IP) from July 17-Aug. 10. The lefty posted a 1.66 ERA over his final 35 games (21.2 IP).

2005

Was 2-5 with one save and a 7.62 ERA in 67 relief appearances with Boston and the Yankees in 2005. ... Has pitched in at least 60 games in each of the last seven seasons (1999-2005). ... Began the season with Boston, going 1-4 with one save and a 7.65 ERA in 43 relief appearances. ... With the Yankees, was 1-1 with a 7.53 ERA in 24 appearances. ... Was designated for assignment by Boston on 7/19. ... Signed with the Yankees as a free agent to a Major League contract on 7/30. ... Made first appearance as a Yankee in 7/30 win vs. the Angels, allowing both batters faced to reach on hit and throwing error. ... On 8/27 vs. Kansas City, retired all four batters faced (1K) to earn his first win as a Yankee.

2004

Made a career-high 71 appearances, finishing 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA...did not allow a run in 53 of 71 games...tied for 7th in the American League with 20 holds...struck out 37 and walked only 11 in 52.1 innings, holding the opposition to a .244 average...37 of his 71 appearances were less than 1.0 inning...retired 53 of 71 first batters faced (75 percent), while stranding 34 of 44 inherited runners, the 9th-best ratio in the A.L...did not allow an earned run in 32 of his final 37 outings for a 2.84 ERA (8 ER/25.1 IP) from June 23 through the end of the season...the Red Sox were 43-28 in games in which he appeared.

BUSY PEN: Joined Mike Timlin (76 appearances) and Keith Foulke (72) to give the Red Sox their first-ever trio of relief pitchers with 70 appearances in a single season...the Red Sox previously had 2 pitchers make 70 or more appearances in a single season just once in club history, in 1993, when Greg Harris (80) and Tony Fossas (71) turned the trick...with 65 appearances in 2003, Embree joins Rob Murphy (1989-90) as just the 2nd lefthander in Red Sox history to appear in 65 or more games in back-to-back campaigns.

UPS AND DOWNS: Posted a 1.74 ERA (2 ER/10.1 IP) in 12 April outings and a 4.71 ERA (22 ER/42.0 IP) in 59 games the rest of the way...had a 6.75 ERA (14 ER/18.2 IP) in 24 appearances in May and June, but recorded a strong 2nd half, with a 3.09 ERA (8 ER/23.1 IP) from July 1 through the end of the season.

LEFT OUT: Held left-handed hitters to a .240 (25-for-104) average and 4 homers...righties hit .247 (24-for-97) with 3 homers.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Pitched on consecutive days 22 times...threw a season-high 32 pitches in 2.0 innings April 24 at New York...threw 818 pitches overall, an average of 15.6 per inning...did not allow a run in 8 appearances against the Yankees, surrendering only 2 hits in 7.1 innings...walked 3 and fanned 6...worked 8.1 innings of 5-hit shutout ball in 9 appearances against Baltimore, walking one and striking out 8...opponents were 0-for-7 with 3 K's with the bases loaded and hit .212 (21-for-99) in close-and-late situations...when he got 2 strikes on a hitter, allowed just a .168 average (18-for-107) with 37 strikeouts.

MORE 2004 HIGHLIGHTS: Tossed a scoreless inning with a season-high 3 strikeouts April 8 at Baltimore in his 500th major league appearance...had a strikeout in 7 straight outings April 11-28...tossed a season-high 2.0 innings April 24 at New York...picked up his first win May 11 vs. Cleveland, allowing one run in 1.0 inning in Boston's 5-3 win...collected his 2nd and final win 3 days later with 1.1 scoreless innings May 14 at Toronto...did not allow a run in his final 8 outings prior to the All-Star Break, lowering his ERA to 4.32 from 5.33...allowed just one home run in 14.2 innings over his last 22 outings beginning August 1...did not issue a walk over his final 26 appearances beginning July 22 vs. Baltimore, covering 17.2 innings.

IN THE POSTSEASON: Appeared in 11 of the Red Sox' 14 post-season games, posting no record and a 2.46 ERA (2 ER/7.1 ER)...worked a scoreless inning, allowing one walk, in 2 appearances (Games 1 and 3) in the ALDS vs. Anaheim...pitched in 6 of the 7 games in the ALCS vs. the Yankees (all but Game 6)...allowed 2 earned runs on 9 hits with a walk and 2 K's in 4.2 innings...recorded the final out of the ALCS, inducing Ruben Sierra to ground out to second baseman Pokey Reese to close out the Red Sox' pennant-clinching 10-3 win...made 3 appearances in the World Series vs. St. Louis (Games 1, 2 and 4), allowing one unearned run on 1 hits in 1.2 innings...walked none and struck out 4, including all 3 men he faced in the 7th inning of Game 2 (Tony Womack, Mike Matheny and So Taguchi).

2003

Went 4-1 with a save and a 4.25 ERA in 65 relief appearances, most by a Boston lefty since Tony Fossas (71) in 1993...topped 60 appearances for the 5th straight season and the 6th time in his career...won 4 games for the 2nd straight season, matching his career high...allowed 5 runs in 3.2 innings over his first 4 outings and was placed on the 15-day D.L. with left shoulder tendinitis April 9...returned April 29, and allowed 3 runs over his first 3 outings through May 2...starting with his outing May 5 at Kansas City, went 3-1 with one save and a 3.24 ERA (18 ER/50.0 IP) over his final 58 appearances...did not allow a run in 45 of those appearances, allowing a .218 average...Walked just 16 while striking out 45 in 55.0 innings, an average of 2.6 walks and 7.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...did not issue a walk over his final 15 outings (8.1 IP), and issued just 5 walks in his last 36 outings (26.1 innings)...Stranded 35 of 44 inherited runners, a 79.5 percent rate that ranked 6th among A.L. relievers...limited first batters to a .206 (13-for-63) average and a .215 on-base percentage, 7th in the A.L....Lefties batted .263 (26-for-99) with 4 homers and righties hit .221 (23-for-104) with one long ball (Tampa Bay's Terry Shumpert on Opening Day)...issued just 2 walks to lefthanders, while fanning 20...his 4 wins and one loss all came at home; his one save came on the road...posted a 3.95 ERA (12 ER/27.1 IP) in 32 appearances at Fenway and a 4.55 ERA (14 ER/27.2 IP) in 33 appearances on the road...went 4-1 with a save and a 5.60 ERA (22 ER/35.1 IP) in 44 appearances at night and posted no record and a 1.83 ERA (4 ER/19.2 IP) in 21 appearances during the day...tossed 822 pitches, an average of 14.95 per inning...recorded 71 ground ball outs and 53 fly ball outs, a 1.3-to-one ground ball to fly ball ratio...opponents hit .184 (21-for- 114) with the bases empty and .315 with runners on base (28-for-89)...Struck out a season-high 3 April 8 at Toronto...pitched scoreless 11th, 12th and 13th innings to help the Sox to a 3-2, 14-inning win vs. Houston June 15...the 3.0 innings matched his career bullpen high set June 22, 2002 with San Diego vs. the Yankees...posted an 11.1 scoreless inning streak June 14-July 1, longest by a Sox reliever in 2003...posted a 2.25 ERA (4 ER/16.0 IP) in 14 appearances in June and went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP) in 15 outings in August...notched his only save September 19 at Cleveland, retiring his only batter faced to earn his first save since July 2, 2002, when he saved both ends of a doubleheader vs. Toronto...did not allow a home run over his last 25 outings beginning July 26, spanning 17.0 innings...Earned a win and did not allow a run in 8 postseason appearances (6.2 IP)...held the opposition to a .190 (4-for-21) average...made 3 relief appearances in the ALDS vs. Oakland, and allowed one hit in 2.0 innings...walked none and fanned none...pitched in 5 games of the ALCS vs. the Yankees, allowing 3 hits and fanning one in 4.2 innings...earned the Game 6 win at Yankee Stadium, working 1.2 innings of one-hit ball with one K.

2002

Acquired by Red Sox along w/minor lg. RHP Andy Shibilo from SD in exchange for minor lg. RHPs Brad Baker and Dan Giese on 6/23...Went 4-6, 2.03 with two saves in 68 relief apps. between the Red Sox and Padres (62 IP, 14 ER)...Was just one of 11 relief pitchers in the majors to post an ERA of 2.03 or lower...Did not allow an earned run from May 13 - July 7 in 27 apps. and 27.2 IP...Limited LH hitters to a .156 batting avg. (15-96) and all hitters to a .207 avg. (47-227)...Opposing batters hit .186 with RISP (13-76) and .083 with RISP/2 outs (3-36)...Had 81 K to 20 BB...In 36 relief apps. for SD, had 0.94 ERA which was tied for best among N.L. relievers...Held LH hitters to .145 avg. (8-55) w/SD...Had season-high 3 IP w/season-high 7 K on 6/22 for SD vs. NYY, the day prior to his trade to Boston...Did not allow a run in his first eight apps. with the Red Sox...Saved both ends of a D/N DH on 7/2, the first Red Sox pitcher to do so since T. Gordon vs. Tex. on 8/18/98...Did not allow a hit in his first seven apps. for the Red Sox...Retired 18 consecutive batters, 12 via strikeout, from Aug. 7-24...Did not give up an ER in first 11 apps. at Fenway Park...Placed on 15-day D.L. on 7/14 with left elbow inflammation; reinstated 7/29...Pitched 2 inngs. on 8/17 at Minn. and 8/24 vs. Ana., season-longs as a Red Sox...Went 1-2, 2.97 in 32 apps. overall with the Red Sox, striking out 43 in 33.1 IP...Limited hitters to a .203 average with the Red Sox, including a .194 average against (7-36) and 14 K in 10.1 IP in Sept.

2001

Combined to go 1-4 w/7.33 ERA (44 ER, 54 IP) in 61 G for SF and CWS...Traded to Chi. from SF w/cash considerations in exchange for RHP D. Hasselhoff on 6/29...Went on 15-day D.L. w/sprained lower back on 5/23; did not pitch again until 6/19...Allowed 6 of 28 inherited runners (21%) to score...Limited LH batters to .220 avg. (20-91, 2 HR)...Did not allow a run in 11 G (11.1 IP) 8/18-9/ 10...Worked scoreless inng. for only win on 8/28 at Det.

2000

Went 3-5 with a 4.95 ERA and a career-high 2 saves for the National League West Champion Giants...worked scoreless relief in 20 of his final 23 appearances and finished with a 3.52 ERA in the season's 2nd half...stranded 25 of 41 inherited baserunners (61%)...picked up his first win in over a year (June 20, 1999) in San Francisco's 4-2 win vs. St. Louis, July 7...tossed 2.0 perfect innings to collect his first save as a Giant, May 29 vs. Philadelphia...also earned the save by stranding the tying run in a 5-4 win, September 6 vs. Philadelphia...had minor arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow performed by Dr. Gary Fanton, November 22.

1999

One of Dusty Baker's 2 left-handed relievers in his first season with the Giants...pitched in a career-high 68 games...ranked 8th in the National League, first on the Giants, in batting average against (.200, 42-for-210)...also ranked 2nd among National Leaguers with 22 holds...only teammate John Johnstone (28) had more...April 5 at Cincinnati, pocketed the win in his San Francisco debut as the Giants topped the Reds, 11-8...stranded 35 of 47 inherited baserunners (75%).

1998

Went 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA in 20 games for Atlanta before being acquired by Arizona on June 23 in exchange for righthander Russ Springer...then went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 35 games for the Diamondbacks in their inaugural season...worked scoreless relief in 14 of his first 15 appearances for Atlanta...offered scoreless relief in only one of his final 5 games with the Braves before being dealt to the D-Backs...earned his first National League save with 2.0 scoreless innings, July 19 vs. Colorado...following the season, on November 10, was acquired by San Francisco for outfielder Dante Powell.

1997

After spending his first 7 pro seasons in the Indians organization, was acquired by Atlanta in a blockbuster deal on March 25...joined the Braves along with outfielder Kenny Lofton in exchange for outfielders Marquis Grissom and David Justice...became the Braves lone lefthander out of the bullpen when Pedro Borbon and Terrell Wade succumb to injury...in his first full big league season, posted a career-best 2.54 ERA...stranded 37 of 43 inherited baserunners (86%), which ranked 2nd in the big leagues behind only St. Louis' Tony Fossas...went 58 games without allowing a home run to a left-handed hitter (September 15, 1995-June 14, 1997) until Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro ended the run...pitched in just one post-season game for the Braves, working 1.0 scoreless inning in the League Championship Series vs. Florida.

1996

Broke spring camp in the big leagues for the first time...fashioned a 4-1 record and a 3.93 ERA in 20 games for Triple-A Buffalo around 5 separate big league stints with Cleveland...limited left-handed batters to a .186 mark (8-for-43) and no home runs for the Tribe...retired 71 percent (17 of 24) of first batters faced...16 of the 24 runners inherited were in scoring position, of which only 5 scored...went on the Disabled List, July 28-September 6 with bursitis in his left hip...worked in 3 games of the Indians' Division Series vs. Baltimore, allowing one run in 1.0 inning.

1995

Returned to the big leagues for the first time since '92 by enjoying 3 separate stints with Cleveland...registered a 0.89 ERA in 30 games for Buffalo, including a 21.1 scoreless inning streak, May 15-July 4...voted by league managers as owning the top fastball in the American Association in Baseball America's annual mid-season poll...recalled by the Tribe on July 13 and nabbed his first career win in the opener of a July 14 double dip vs. Oakland...collected first save on August 21 at Toronto by working last 2.0 innings of 7-3 Cleveland win...limited left-handed hitters to a .217 mark (5-for-23) as a rookie...also stranded 9 of 12 inherited baserunners (75%)...appeared in 5 post-season games, posting a 2.45 ERA, as the Indians claimed their first American League flag since 1954...4 of his 5 post-season appearances came in the World Series...posted a 2.70 ERA against National League Champion Atlanta.

1994

Returned from June 1993 elbow surgery and pitched in 30 games for Double-A Canton-Akron...ranked 2nd on the staff with 157.0 innings and 27 starts...worked exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time while pitching for the Sun Cities Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League...posted a 2.08 ERA in 15 games.

1993

Pitched in only one game all season due to left-elbow problems...on June 1, underwent an MRI that revealed a torn medial collateral ligament in the left elbow...had surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL on June 15.

1992

Reached the big leagues in only his 3rd professional season, posting a 7.00 ERA in 4 starts for Cleveland (the 4 starts remain his only 4 major league starts)...went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA for Single-A Kinston and Canton-Akron to earn the promotion...following the season, was rated as the No. 2 prospect, and the top pitching prospect, in the Carolina League...led Carolina League starting pitchers by fanning 10.3 batters per 9 innings pitched...was recalled by the Indians on September 12...took the loss in his major league debut on September 15 in Toronto.

1991

Advanced to Single-A Columbus...led his club with 10 wins, 155.1 innings, 137 strikeouts and 3 complete games...also tied for the team lead with 26 starts...ranked 3rd in the Tribe's chain with the 137 punchouts.

1990

Began his professional career with rookie-Burlington, where he tied for the Appalachian League lead in starts with 15...also ranked among league leaders in ERA (8th at 2.64).