Jason Simontacchi #46

Jason William Simontacchi...last name is pronounced sigh-mon-TATCH-ee...graduated from Fremont (CA) High School in '92...attended De Anza CC from 1992-94, San Jose State University from 1994-95 and Albertson (IA) College from 1995-96...earned NAIA second Team All-American honors in 1996 at Albertson after going 13-2 with 9 complete games and a 1.74 ERA...while working way through independent ball, worked as a cab driver and tow-truck driver.

2007

Returned to big leagues for the first time since '04...again struggled with injuries (right hamstring, right elbow)...in 13 starts, went 6-7 with a 6.37 ERA...despite making only 13 starts, 6 wins tied for 3rd among Nationals...received a decision in all 13 assignments...was just the 4th player since WWII to make at least 13 starts and garner a decision in every assignment (also TBR's Ryan Rupe in '02, TOR's Jim Clancy in '77 and HOU's Dan Larson in '76)...suffered strained right hamstring during March 14 exhibition start at STL...began the year at Extended Spring Training...had contract selected on May 8...win on May 13 vs. FLA was first at the big league level since pitching for STL, Sept. 20, 2003 vs. HOU...was placed on the 15-Day DL on July 20, retroactive to July 16, with right elbow tendinitis...Dr. James Andrews performed succesful surgery on Sept. 18 in Birmingham, AL to remove bone spur from the right elbow. Game-By-Game Highlights: Rode shutout into the 7th and worked season-best 7.2 innings before settling for 2nd win in as many road starts, June 8 at MIN...allowed one run on 9 hits in 7.0 innings and out pitched Jeremy Guthriein a 3-1 win, June 14 at BAL...worked 6.0 strong innings, allowing one run on 4 hits, to garner the win in a 3-1 victory, June 24 vs. CLE. In minor leagues: Made 2 rehab starts with Triple-A Columbus...allowed one run in 5.0 innings on April 27 vs.Scranton/W-B...surrendered 6 runs in 5.2 innings, May 2 vs. Rochester.

2006

Signed a minor league contract with CHI on February 2, but had his contract voided on March 3 after experiencing lingering discomfort in his surgically-repaired right shoulder...signed with Bridgeport of the independent Atlantic League, and made 10 relief appearances beginning August 1...went 1-0 with 2 saves and a 0.84 ERA in the Atlantic League...also appeared twice in the playoffs, allowing a run in 1.0 inning of Game 2 of the semifinals at Long Island and tossing 2.0 shutout innings in Game 2 of the championship series vs. Lancaster...recorded first save, August 13 at Newark, pitching the final 2.0 innings of a 6-4 victory...following the season, pitched for Estrellas of the Dominican Winter League.

2005

Jason did not see action in 2005...had labral surgery on his throwing shoulder following the 2004 season.

2004

Simontacchi cracked the Opening Day roster for the second year in a row, but didn't last long: He was sent to Triple-A in late April. He made 33 appearances for Triple-A Memphis, mostly in relief, and posted a sharp 55/12 strikeout/walk differential. He was called up in late September, three weeks after the minor league season ended, and made two appearances.

2003

Jason posted a 9-5 record and 5.56 ERA in his second Major League season...Owns a career big-league winning percentage of .667 (20-10) with a 4.74 lifetime ERA...Opened the season in the starting rotation, but in July he moved to the bullpen and made one start the rest of the year...He worked 5.0 or more innings in 11 of his starts and went 2.0 or more innings in nine of his 30 relief appearances...Tossed his first career complete game with a 3-1 win over HOU on 5/28. He allowed six hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Jason threw an economical 106 pitches in the game and retired each of the last 10 Astros batters from the sixth through the ninth inning...Made his final start of the year in the first game of a 9/2 DH at CHI. Jason pitched effectively, allowing three hits and two unearned runs in 5.0 IP. He did not figure in the 4-2 loss.

2002

Twenty-eight-year-old rookie hurler was a strong factor in the Cardinals' run to the postseason in 2002...Came to the Redbirds after spending time in the Royals, Pirates and Twins organizations, as well as the independent Frontier League, the Italian Professional League and the Venezuelan Winter League...After opening the season with a 4-1 record at Triple-A Memphis, Jason was promoted to St. Louis in April and won his first five decisions...His 11 wins ranked second on the Redbirds staff and he posted a 4.02 ERA in 24 starts...Was named the Cardinals Rookie of the Year by the St. Louis chapter of the BBWAA. Received one third place vote for N.L. Rookie of the Year...He went 6-2 with a 3.15 ERA (25 ER/71.1 IP) at home and 5-3, 4.88 (39 ER/72.0 IP) on the road...Opponents batted just .253 against him, but he allowed a team-high 18 home runs.

He worked 7.0 or more innings in seven of his 24 Cardinals starts and averaged 6.0 IP per start...St. Louis went 15-9 in his starts and Memphis went 5-1 in his starts, losing a 1-0 shutout on 4/7 vs. Fresno...Led Cardinals pitchers with 12 base hits and his .240 batting average ranked fifth among Major League pitchers.

Became the first Cards rookie starter since Allen Watson in 1993 to win his first five big-league decisions...Was signed by the Cardinals in January as a minor-league free agent. Jason was recommended to the Cardinals by former Redbird pitcher Dave LaPoint, who saw him pitch in Venezuela...Was the third Cardinal pitcher to make his big-league debut in 2002 and the 11th starting pitcher to be used by the club...Made his Major-League debut on 5/4 vs. ATL and was impressive, allowing two runs on five hits in 7.0 IP, as the Cards won, 3-2. He retired the first 10 batters he faced before Marcus Giles took him deep with a solo HR in the fourth inning...Went 5+ innings and allowed two runs on six hits in his 5/10 start at CIN. Left the game with a 2-1 lead, but did not earn a decision in the 4-2 win...Working on 10 days rest, improved his record to 2-0 with a 3-1 win on 5/21 vs. HOU...Posted a 7-3 win on 5/26 at PNC Park. He worked 7.1 IP, allowing three runs - all by way of home runs (A. Ramirez and B. Giles). He also collected a pair of hits in the win, his first at the big-league level...Made a bid for N.L. Rookie of the Month honors with a 3-0, 2.73 mark in May...Improved to 4-0 with an 8-5 win at CIN on 6/4. Allowed one run on six hits in 6.1 IP...Lifted his record to 5-0 with a 5-3 win over the Royals on 6/15. Jason went 6.1 innings and allowed two runs on six hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Collected two hits and drove in a run - his first career RBI...Lost his first game of the season 6/23 at CHI, 8-3. It was the Cardinals' first game back after the death of Darryl Kile...Pitched a fine game vs. CIN on 6/28, going 7.0 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits, as the Cards claimed a 3-2 win. Jason allowed a two-out, two-run homer to Juan Encarnacion in the fourth inning for Cincy's only runs...Improved to 7-1 on the year with a 4-1 victory over the Padres on 7/3. Jason went 6.2 innings and allowed one run on five hits. His only run allowed came on a Ron Gant solo homer to lead off the second inning...Received the N.L. Rookie of the Month Award for June, going 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA...In his first start following the All-Star break (7/12 at SD), Jason allowed just two hits and no runs through 6.0 innings before running into trouble in the seventh, when he allowed two singles, a walk and a Bubba Trammell three-run double. Left with the score tied 3-3, but SD scored in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-3 win...Had a no-decision in the Cards' 5-4 loss to SF on 7/17. He allowed three runs and held a 4-3 lead when he departed...Mountain View, Calif., native did not receive a decision at SF on 7/22 when he left with a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. The Giants tied the game at 3-3 in the eighth before Edgar Renteria's ninth-inning double provided the game winner, 5-3...Suffered his worst loss of the season at ATL on 8/2 when he faced 14 batters and recorded just three outs in the 11-5 Cardinals defeat. Jason allowed nine runs in 1+ IP, with seven hits and four walks...In a four-game stretch from 7/27 to 8/12, Jason allowed 24 runs (23 earned), 27 hits and five home runs in 16.1 IP...Snapped his three-game losing streak with a 10-6 win on 8/12 at PIT. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.1 IP with three of those runs coming in the first inning...Pitched a fine game at PHI on 8/17 when he allowed one run on two hits in 7.0 IP. Jason retired 19 of 20 batters in one stretch before Jeremy Giambi clubbed a two-out solo homer in the seventh inning. Jason walked one and fanned a career-high seven batters in the 5-1 Redbirds victory. He also singled and scored a run...Was optioned to Memphis on 8/29. He made one start for the Redbirds, earning a 7-2 win at Salt Lake on 9/2...Was recalled from Memphis on 9/3 and made three starts...Worked an impressive 8.0 IP on 9/8 vs. CHI, earning a 3-1 win vs. Kerry Wood...It marked his season high for innings pitched and was the third time that he'd matched up with Wood and the Cubs in 2002...Had a gutty outing on 9/13 at HOU in which he allowed two runs in 6.2 IP, throwing a career-high 122 pitches in the Cardinals' 3-2 extra-inning win. He allowed 13 Astros' baserunners, but was helped by three double plays and two runners thrown out on the base paths.

Earned his 11th win at COL on 9/19 when he allowed four runs in 6.0 IP in a 12-6 Cards victory. Jason scattered six hits and recorded five strikeouts and just one walk. He retired the last eight batters he faced and 10 of the last 11...Made his final start 9/27 vs. MIL and did not earn a decision in the 2-1 loss to the Brewers. Jason tossed 6.2 shutout innings before allowing a two-out, seventh-inning homer to Matt Stairs...was on the Cardinals' postseason roster, but did not appear in the Division Series vs. Arizona or the League Championship Series vs. San Francisco.

2001

Split time between the starting rotation (18 starts) and the bullpen (14 appearances) for Triple-A Edmonton (PCL) ... Was 5-8, 5.42 as a starter, while he was 2-5, 5.11 ERA as a reliever. ... After one relief appearance, he moved into the rotation for six starts. ... Got the win against Sacramento on 4/14 as he held River Cats to 1 ER in 7.0 IP. ... On 5/1, he threw 7.0 IP of shutout baseball against Tucson. He fanned seven as he notched his second win. ... Did not walk a batter in his first six outings (31.2 IP). ... After a loss against Las Vegas on 5.16, he moved into the Trappers' bullpen. ... Went 0-4, 8.31 (16 ER in 17.1 IP) over a stretch of seven relief appearances from 5/11-5/29. ... Was used as a spot starter in the second game of a DH against Nashville on 6/4 and got the win as he held the Sounds to one run on five hits in 5.0 IP. ... Moved back into the rotation for seven starts after that. ... Lost four consecutive starts 6/14-30 as he allowed 20 ER on 38 hits in 19.0 IP but followed that stretch with a nine-inning complete game win at Portland on 7/5 and held the Braves to one run on six hits. ... Went back to the Edmonton bullpen on 7/19 and picked up two wins in seven appearances. ... Was shuttled back to the rotation one last time on 8/14 where he finished the season and made four starts. ... Was 3-3, 3.06 in 12 games (11 starts) for the Aragua Tigres of the Venezuelan Winter League last winter.

2000

Pitched in the Italian professional league and went 12-1 with a 1.171 ERA. ... Selected as a member of the Italian Olympic Team and competed in the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. ... Was 1-1, 1.17 with 10 strikeouts in 15.1 IP in Olympic competition.

1999

Spent the season at Pittsburgh's South Atlantic League affiliate at Hickory, N.C. ... Was 1-4, 4.86 in seven starts and was 3-2, 1 save and a 3.06 ERA in 16 relief appearances. ... Held RH batters to a .239 average while LH batters hit .302 against him. ... Had a 3.31 ERA in 11 home games.

1998

Pitched for the Independent Springfield (Ill.) of the Frontier League. ... Posted 10 wins in 16 starts. ... Those 10 wins ranked him second in the league. ... Was also second in ERA (2.95) and strikeouts (92), third in shutouts (1), fourth in innings pitched (110.0) and fifth in complete games (3).

1997

Spent the season at Kansas City's Midwest League affiliate at Lansing. ... Was 3-7 with a 6.97 ERA and was released by Kansas City on 7/30.

1996

Signed with Kansas City on 6/6 and started his pro career at Short-Seasdon Class A Spokane. ... Appeared in 14 games, six as a starter. ... Walked just 15 batters in 47.0 IP. ... Led Northwest League releivers in walks per nine innings.