15-year veteran signed minor league deal with Giants over winter, and by season's end had emerged as staff's valuable swingman...left hander ranks 6th among active southpaws with 710 career appearances, 24th among all lefties in Major League history and tied for 65th on overall all-time list...is 26th among active hurlers (11th among lefties) with 120 career wins...with 48 appearances in 2005, became 15th pitcher to work in at least that many games at age 42 or older (courtesy: Bill Arnold/Sports Features Group)...is 8th portsider in group, joining Diomedes Olivo (1962), Woodie Fryman (1982), Jim Kaat (1982), Rick Honeycutt (1996), Jesse Orosco (1999, 2002, 2003), John Franco (2004) and Terry Mulholland)...after spending 7 years from 1994-2000 as starter, has worked out of bullpen majority of time (282 relief outings out of 354 appearances) over last 5 campaigns (2001-2005)...was reunited in 2005 with former Expos skipper and current SF head man Felipe Alou, having played for Montreal from 1991-96...has also seen big league time with Seattle (1997-99), Texas (1999), Boston (2000), Chicago Cubs (2001-02), St. Louis (2002-03), Colorado (2004) and Arizona (2004)...at 42 years and 184 days of age when he took hill July 2, 2005 at San Diego, became 3rd oldest pitcher to start game in Giants franchise history...only Warren Spahn (44 years and 156 days on Sept. 27, 1965 vs. St. Louis) and Danny Darwin (42 years and 310 days, Sept. 1, 1998 vs. Montreal) have started tilt for club at more advanced age...in fact, became 17th oldest player in Giants franchise history with SF debut April 6 vs. LA, at 42 years and 90 days young.
Graduated from Griffin (Springfield, IL) High School in 1981...attended Lincoln Land (Springfield, IL) Community College and University of Mississippi...married (Cathy McComas, Nov. 10, 1990)...2 sons (Trevor Ryan, Oct. 1, 1991; and Blake Andrew, March 14, 1994)...daughter (Chelsea Rose, June 27, 1996).
Postseason:
Has made 3 trips to playoffs with 3 different teams, going with Seattle (1997), Texas (1999) and St. Louis (2002)...advanced to 2002 NLCS with St. Louis, striking out Giants' Barry Bonds and Benito Santiago during Game 2 in only action during series...in 6 post season contests (1 start), is 3-0 with 1.46 ERA (2er, 12.1ip)...is unscored upon in 4 of his 5 playoff relief appearances, logging 2-0 ledger with 2.07 ERA (1er, 4.1ip) out of bullpen...in only October start, defeated Baltimore in Game 3 of 1997 ALDS for Seattle's lone win in series...surrendered 1 run on 3 hits over 8.0 innings.
2005
Veteran hurler was invaluable to SF staff...moved between bullpen and rotation without skipping beat prior to All-Star Break, then forged 3-1 record with 2.87 ERA (10er, 31.1ip) in 19 2nd-half outings...was excellent out of bullpen overall, posting even 3.00 ERA (21er, 63.0ip) in 42 relief outings...more than wins, losses and ERA, it was his 91.0 innings pitched that served to carry staff through lean times...worked at least 3.0 innings in club-high 6 relief efforts, while logging at least 2.0 frames on 9 other occasions...signed minor league free agent deal over winter, then became 1st left-hander to make SF's Opening Day roster as non-roster invitee since Rich Rodriguez in 1997...served as jack-of-all-trades in Giants bullpen, but also logged trio of stints in SF starting rotation during 1st Half...made 3 consecutive starts May 10-21 during 1st stay in rotation, logged spot start June 8 vs. Kansas City, and earned consecutive starts June 24 and July 2...struggled to 1-4 mark with 6.43 ERA (20er, 28.0ip) in his opening assignments...suffered 5-game losing streak (starting and relieving) May 28-July 2...rebounded to log 2-1 mark with excellent 2.10 ERA (6er, 25.2ip) and .229 avg. against (22-for-96) over his final 12 outings (beginning Aug. 9).
2004
Spent majority of year with Colorado before closing out campaign with
Arizona...combined to go 3-8 with 5.46 ERA in 41 games (12 starts)...at age of 41, became oldest
player in franchise history for Rockies and 2nd-oldest for Diamondbacks, behind Mike Morgan
(42)...attended Colorado's Spring Training as non-roster invitee and eventually made 40 appearances
for Rockies, including 12 starts...contract was purchased from triple-A Colorado Springs April 3 and
appeared on Rockies' Opening Day roster...snapped career-high 10-game losing streak June 19 vs.
Baltimore, his 1st win since June 28, 2003...was his 1st victory as starter since Aug. 9, 2000...tallied
road ERA of 3.23 in 61.1 innings...was granted outright release Sept. 24...signed with Arizona
Sept. 29, making lone appearance for D-Backs that evening vs. Milwaukee.
2003
Appeared in 62 total games, fourth most of his career...went
1-5 with a 6.52 ERA in 56 relief outings and 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA in six
starts...recorded 3 saves, his first rescues since 2001...had one victory,
June 28 at Kansas City...it was the first time in his 20-year professional
career that Jeff didn't win at least two ballgames...his July 22nd start at
San Diego was his first since Aug. 30, 2000 at Tampa Bay...between starting
nods, Fassero made 213 consecutive relief appearances...fanned a season-high
7 over 4.0 innings during that appearance...posted a 2.45 ERA in May.
2002
Split time with Chicago-NL and St. Louis after being traded to
the Cardinals Aug. 25...made a combined 73 appearances, second most of his career (82 in 2001)...worked 2.0 or more innings 13 times and a season-high 3.0 innings on Aug. 20 at Houston. Postseason: Made his third career trip to the postseason, tossing four scoreless appearances...earned victories in Games 2 and 3 of the NLDS vs. Arizona.
2001
Jeff was one of the majors' top left-handed setup men in his first season with the Cubs, appearing in 82 games and going 4-4 with 12 saves, 25 holds and a 3.42 ERA...his appearances total -- a club-record for a left-handed pitcher b tied for 3rd in the National League ... his holds total ranked 3rd in the league and tied for 4th in the majors...Bob Patterson had held the Cubs mark for a southpaw, pitching in 79 games in 1996...retired the first batter he faced in 55 of his outings ... stranded 27 of his 40 inherited runners...was 12-for-17 in his save opportunities, including 9 saves in April -- the most ever for a Cub during the season's opening month (Rod Beck had 8 in April 1998) ... was filling in as the club's closer for the injured Flash Gordon...when he picked up the save in a 2-1 victory over Montreal April 5, it was his first save since the 1993 campaign...when he earned a save in his next outing April 6 at Philadelphia (3-2), it marked the first time he recorded saves in back-to-back games during his big league career...struck out all 3 batters he faced in picking up the save in a 4-2 contest April 13 vs. Pittsburgh...earned saves in both games of an April 18 doubleheader vs. Philadelphia (4-3 and 5-3) ... was the first Cub to accomplish that feat since Bruce Sutter (September 18, 1979, at New York)...from April 26-July 27, he was scored upon in only 2 of 42 appearances (0.48 ERA) ... over the 37.1-inning span, he allowed 3 runs (2 earned) and 23 hits while fanning 38 batters...did not allow any runs over a 23-outing/19.2-inning stretch April 26-June 15...gave up just 2 hits over a 17-game span April 29-June 5...had his only rough stretch of the season July 28-August 17, allowing 13 runs in 7.1 innings over a 10-game span...prior to that stretch, his ERA for the year stood at 2.03...rebounded after that span to allow only 4 earned runs in his final 16 outings spanning 17.2 innings.
2000
Jeff spent the season with Boston, appearing in 38 games (23 starts) and going 8-8 with a 4.78 ERA...went 8-7 in his starts with a 5.07 ERA ... in his relief outings, he recorded a 2.76 ERA...worked solely out of the bullpen in September, posting a 1.20 ERA in 13 games (2 ER/15.0 IP)...picked up his 100th major league victory August 9 at Anaheim (4-2)...struck out 10 batters in an August 15 start vs. Tampa Bay -- his 13th career double-digit strikeout affair...was on the disabled list June 19-July 5 with a cervical strain and left shoulder weakness.
1999
Jeff saw action with both Seattle and Texas, combining to go 5-14 in 37 games (27 starts)...was the Mariners' Opening Day starter - making his sixth season-opening start...struggled most of the year with the Mariners, going 4-14 with a 7.38 ERA in 30 games (24 starts)...when he made his first relief appearance of the campaign June 18 at Cleveland, it was the first time he entered a game out of the bullpen since September 11, 1993 (as a member of Montreal against Cincinnati)...the highlight of his season was a 10-strikeout outing in a 10-0 victory July 5 at Anaheim...made 4 starts and 3 relief appearances for the Rangers after being traded to Texas August 27...pitched in the postseason for the second time, making 1 relief appearance in the Division Series against the Yankees.
1998
Had his fourth straight 13-plus win campaign, going 13-12 with a 3.97 ERA in 32 starts for Seattle...in his 13 wins, the Mariners scored an average of 6.8 runs per game ... in his 12 losses, the club averaged 2.7 runs per contest...tied for 3rd in the American League with a career-high 7 complete games ... however, he went just 1-6 in his route-going efforts...his only complete-game win was a 3-hitter against the White Sox May 5 (8-1)...suffered through a 6-game losing streak July 31-September 9 - yet threw 3 complete games over that stretch...threw 224.2 innings - the 7th-highest total in the league - in surpassing the 200.0-innings mark for the third straight year ... also ranked 7th in the league in strikeouts (176)...surrendered 33 homers - but only 2 against left-handed batters...began the year on the disabled list with an inflamed left elbow ... rejoined the team April 12.
1997
Had one of his best big league seasons in his first year for Seattle, establishing career highs in wins (16), starts (35) and innings pitched (234.1) ... went 16-9 with a 3.61 ERA...his games started total tied for the A.L. lead ... also ranked among the league leaders in wins (tied for 6th), innings pitched (6th), strikeouts (6th with 189) and ERA (9th)...was Seattle's Opening Day starter - and picked up the victory in his A.L. debut April 1 against the Yankees (4-2)...recorded the first-ever hit for a Mariners pitcher July 2 - a bunt single off San Diego's Joey Hamilton...on July 6, he allowed a home run to Anaheim's Darin Erstad - the first left-handed batter to homer off him since San Francisco's Barry Bonds on June 30, 1994...made 86 starts spanning 571.1 innings between left-handed homers surrendered...tossed his second big league shutout September 6, pitching a 4-hitter at Minnesota (9-0)...was selected as the A.L.'s Pitcher of the Month for September after going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 6 starts...started Game 3 of the Division Series against Baltimore and picked up the Mariners' only win, allowing 3 hits and 1 run in 8.0 innings in a 4-2 affair.
1996
Was 15-11 with a 3.30 ERA in his final campaign with Montreal ... made 34 starts spanning 231.2 innings and fanned a career-high 222 batters...walked just 55 batters ... had a 27.0-inning stretch April 13-May 5 in which he did not allow any bases on balls...earned National League Pitcher of the Month honors for both June and July...in 6 June starts, he went 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA...followed up that month by going 3-2 with 2 complete games and a 1.00 ERA in 6 July starts...along with the 5-0 June, he also had a 5-game winning streak July 21-August 22...pitched his first career shutout June 29 in a 1-0 victory at Philadelphia ... the win was the 50th of his M.L. career...fanned a career-high 14 batters during an 8.0-inning stint against the Cubs August 11 at Olympic Stadium.
1995
Made 30 starts for the Expos and went 13-14 with 1 complete game and a 4.33 ERA...tied for 9th in the N.L. in victories and for 6th in strikeouts (164) and innings pitched (189.0).
1994
Was utilized solely as a starter, going 8-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 21 starts...was Montreal's Opening Day starter despite entering the season with just 15 big league starts...on June 13 vs. Pittsburgh (10-2 win), he had a no-hitter through 8.2 innings before allowing a single to Carlos Garcia.
1993
Began the year as a middle reliever before making 15 second-half starts for the Expos ... in 56 overall contests, he was 12-5 with a 2.29 ERA...after recording a 2.25 ERA in 40 first-half relief appearances, he entered the starting rotation July 10 vs. San Diego - and allowed 1 run in 5.0 innings in his first M.L. start...in his starting nods, he went 7-4 with a 2.29 ERA - and averaged over 6.0 innings per start...won 6 straight decisions May 16-August 3...had a career-best 4.0-inning relief stint June 30 vs. Pittsburgh, earning a save in a 9-1 contest...hurled his first M.L. complete game against the Cubs August 19 at Wrigley Field (10-2).
1992
Appeared in 70 games out of the bullpen and went 8-7 with 1 save and a 2.84 ERA...ranked 5th among N.L. relievers in victories and tied for 9th in the league in appearances.
1991
Saw his first M.L. action, pitching in 51 games for the Expos and going 2-5 with 8 saves and a 2.44 ERA...after beginning the season at Indianapolis (AAA), the Expos purchased his contract May 3 ... made his debut the next afternoon against San Diego, working 2.0 innings...picked up his first big league save June 12 vs. Cincinnati (10-9)...recorded his first M.L. win June 17 vs. Houston (3-2)...had a 9.1-inning hitless streak spanning 4 relief appearances July 15-July 24...in his next outing July 26 at Los Angeles, he entered the game in relief of Mark Gardner - who lost a no-hitter when Lenny Harris singled to lead off the 10th inning...he then had his own no-hit stretch broken when Darryl Strawberry singled...this is believed to be the only time that two pitchers lost 9.0-inning no-hit streaks in the same inning.
1990
Spent the campaign in Cleveland's organization, pitching for Canton/Akron (AA) ... in an Eastern League-high 61 contests, he went 5-4 with 6 saves and a 2.80 ERA...went to the White Sox's minor league spring training camp after having been selected in the previous December's Rule 5 draft ... was released at the end of spring training, though, and signed with the Indians.
1989
Spent his final season in St. Louis' organization, pitching in 22 games for Louisville (AAA) and in 6 for Arkansas (AA)...at Arkansas, he pitched a no-hitter June 12 against Jackson (5-0).
1988
Pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time at Arkansas (AA) ... appeared in 70 games (1 start) and went 5-5 with 17 saves.
1987
Was a member of the starting rotation at Arkansas (AA), going 10-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 28 games (27 starts).
1986
Went 13-7 with a 2.45 ERA in 26 starts for St. Petersburg (A), where he earned Florida State League postseason all-star honors.
1985
Pitched for his hometown Springfield (A) club and went 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA in 29 games (15 starts).
1984
Began his professional career at Johnson City (Rookie), going 4-7 with 2 complete games and 1 save in 13 games (11 starts).
