CHRIS BOOTCHECK

10/24/78; '00 1st (Anaheim); Auburn Univ.
R/R; 6-5, 205

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
HR
BB
K
BB/9
K/9
WHIP
OAVG
ERA
2001 AA (Ana)
3-3-0
6
6
36.1
39
3
11
22
2.7
5.5
1.38
.265
5.45
2001 A+ (Ana)
8-4-0
15
14
87.0
84
11
23
86
2.4
8.9
1.23
.251
3.93
2002 AAA (Ana)
4-3-0
9
9
58.0
64
5
16
38
2.5
5.9
1.38
.283
3.88
2002 AA (Ana)
8-7-0
19
19
116.0
130
11
35
90
2.7
7.0
1.42
.277
4.81
2003 AL (Ana)
0-1-0
4
1
10.1
16
5
6
7
5.2
6.1
2.13
.340
9.58
2003 AAA (Ana)
8-9-0
28
26
171.1
194
19
43
82
2.3
4.3
1.38
.290
4.25
2004 AAA (Ana)
11-9-0
28
28
163.1
202
22
60
105
3.3
5.8
1.60
.306
5.12
2005 AL (LAA)
0-1-1
5
2
18.2
19
1
4
8
1.9
3.9
1.23
.257
3.38
2005 AAA (LAA)
7-4-0
21
21
116.1
144
13
50
90
3.9
7.0
1.67
.312
5.42
2006 AL (LAA)
0-1-0
7
0
10.1
16
3
9
7
7.8
6.1
2.42
.364
10.45
2006 AAA (LAA)
4-3-1
40
5
65.2
84
10
34
43
4.7
5.9
1.80
.318
6.72
2007 AL (LAA)
3-3-0
51
0
77.1
81
7
24
56
2.8
6.5
1.36
.274
4.77
2008 AL (LAA)
0-1-0
10
0
16.0
30
2
12
14
6.8
7.9
2.63
.385
10.13
2008 AAA (LAA)
0-0-1
19
0
28.1
29
2
17
34
5.4
10.8
1.62
.250
2.86
2008 A+ (LAA)
1-0-0
6
0
9.2
9
0
6
10
5.6
9.3
1.55
.257
4.66
2009 NL
0-0-0
13
0
14.2
16
1
9
13
5.5
8.0
1.70
.286
11.05
2009 AAA
3-2-20
40
0
42.2
40
1
7
55
1.5
11.6
1.10
.248
3.38

Bootcheck is a good example of how a pitcher's status as a former first-round pick can keep buying him chances. Bootcheck threw in the mid-90s in college, with a good slider, but never showed that kind of stuff as a pro. During his time with the Angels, he threw mainly 89-93, with a decent slider, change and curve. With the Pirates in 2009 he threw 92-93 and used the slider almost exclusively as a secondary pitch. He never distinguished himself in the minors, with consistently low K rates, lots of hits allowed, and somewhat high HR rates. After being converted to the bullpen, he managed one passable season as a middle reliever with the Angels. He had a sore elbow in 2008, however, and pitched poorly in his brief time in the majors. The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. He pitched well initially and appeared to be a favorite to make the team, but he was sent to AAA before the end of the spring.

Bootcheck pitched well at Indianapolis, with a very good K rate. With their bullpen falling apart following the trades of Sean Burnett and John Grabow, the Pirates purchased his contract in early August and he spent the rest of the year in the majors. After he gave up eleven runs in his first three outings, though, he was relegated mainly to mopup duty. He didn't pitch as horribly as his ERA indicates. It was inflated by a seven-run, take-one-for-the-team outing in his third game. He didn't pitch well, however, and as a veteran he needed to take better advantage of the opportunity. The Pirates removed him from the 40-man roster shortly after the season and he opted for free agency.

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