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Biography[]
Born on March 10, 1966 in Midland, Texas, Mike Timlin (Michael August Timlin) played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox over the course of his 16 year career. Timlin broke into the bigs on April 8, 1991 with the Toronto Blue Jays, and put up a 3.16 ERA in 108.1 innings pitched in 1991, his rookie year.
Most people believe that Mike Timlin's best season was 2005, when he posted a 2.24 ERA, notched 13 saves and struck out 59 batters.
Timlin came to the Red Sox before the 2003 season and has been their only consistent reliever since then. In 2005, when Keith Foulke went down, Alan Embree blew up, and no one else stepped up until Jonathan Papelbon came along, Timlin was the man who stepped up and helped to keep the Red Sox together. Timlin stepped into the closer's role and performed well, ending up with 13 saves, his most since 1999.
He's been around for a while and probably still has a couple more seasons in him. He has a 3.50 ERA in 1035.2 career innings and his 893 career games is 17th all time. As Baseball Prospectus said, if Timlin had been made a closer early in his career, he would've performed well, and would be a household name right now. Timlin will have to settle for a damn fine career and devoted fans in several major league cities.
Scouting Report[]
Timlin has proven to be one of the most durable relievers in the game, appearing in at least 59 games in every season since 1996. He throws as hard today as he did back then with a 92-95 mph sinking fastball. He also throws a slider. He keeps the ball down in the zone and gets a lot of ground balls. He has always had good control and doesn't walk a lot of batters. And, for the most part, he keeps the ball in the park.
Statistics[]
Pitching Stats[]
| Year | Team | G | GS | W | L | ERA | K | R | ER | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | HR | BB | IB | WP | HBP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | TOR | A | 63 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 3.16 | 85 | 43 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 108.1 | 94 | 6 | 50 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | 26 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.12 | 35 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 43.2 | 45 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | TOR | A | 54 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4.69 | 49 | 32 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55.2 | 63 | 7 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | TOR | A | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5.18 | 38 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 41 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 1995 | TOR | A | 31 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2.14 | 36 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 42 | 38 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 | TOR | A | 59 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3.65 | 52 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 56.2 | 47 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1997 | TOR | A | 38 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2.87 | 36 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | SEA | A | 26 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3.86 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25.2 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | TOT | A | 64 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3.22 | 45 | 30 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 72.2 | 69 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 | SEA | A | 70 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2.95 | 60 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 79.1 | 78 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 | BAL | A | 62 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3.57 | 50 | 30 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 63 | 51 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 2000 | STL | N | 25 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3.34 | 26 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29.2 | 30 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 | BAL | A | 37 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4.89 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 35 | 37 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 | Total | 62 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4.18 | 52 | 33 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 64.2 | 67 | 8 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2001 | STL | N | 67 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4.09 | 47 | 35 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 72.2 | 78 | 6 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 2002 | STL | N | 42 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2.51 | 35 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 48 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2002 | PHI | N | 30 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3.79 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35.2 | 27 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2002 | TOT | N | 72 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2.98 | 50 | 35 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96.2 | 75 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 2003 | BOS | A | 72 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3.55 | 65 | 37 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 83.2 | 77 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 2004 | BOS | A | 76 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4.13 | 56 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 76.1 | 75 | 8 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | 81 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2.24 | 59 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 80.1 | 86 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | 68 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4.36 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 64 | 78 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2007 | BOS | A | 50 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3.42 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55.1 | 46 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | NL | 164 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 3.44 | 123 | 81 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 199 | 183 | 23 | 53 | 9 | 6 | 10 | |
| Total | AL | 847 | 3 | 60 | 57 | 3.57 | 717 | 420 | 379 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 956 | 925 | 86 | 304 | 59 | 24 | 36 | |
| Total | 1011 | 4 | 71 | 69 | 3.55 | 840 | 501 | 455 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 1155 | 1108 | 109 | 357 | 68 | 30 | 46 |
Fielding Stats[]
| Year | Team | POS | G | GS | INN | PO | A | ERR | DP | TP | PB | SB | CS | PkO | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | TOR | A | P | 63 | 3 | 108.1 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .929 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | P | 26 | 0 | 43.2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1993 | TOR | A | P | 54 | 0 | 55.2 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | .944 |
| 1994 | TOR | A | P | 34 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1995 | TOR | A | P | 31 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1996 | TOR | A | P | 59 | 0 | 56.2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997 | TOR | A | P | 38 | 0 | 47 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997 | SEA | A | P | 26 | 0 | 25.2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .889 |
| 1997 | TOT | A | P | 64 | 0 | 72.2 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .955 |
| 1998 | SEA | A | P | 70 | 0 | 79.1 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1999 | BAL | A | P | 62 | 0 | 63 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .813 |
| 2000 | STL | N | P | 25 | 0 | 29.2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 2000 | BAL | A | P | 37 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2000 | Total | P | 62 | 0 | 64.2 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2001 | STL | N | P | 67 | 0 | 72.2 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .952 |
| 2002 | STL | N | P | 42 | 1 | 61 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .947 |
| 2002 | PHI | N | P | 30 | 0 | 35.2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2002 | TOT | N | P | 72 | 1 | 96.2 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .960 |
| 2003 | BOS | A | P | 72 | 0 | 83.2 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .920 |
| 2004 | BOS | A | P | 76 | 0 | 76.1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | P | 81 | 0 | 80.1 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | .947 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | P | 68 | 0 | 64 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2007 | BOS | A | P | 50 | 0 | 55.1 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .867 |
| Total | P | 1011 | 4 | 1155 | 100 | 179 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 63 | 23 | 2 | .952 |
Batting Stats[]
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLG | 2B | 3B | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SB | IBB | GDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | TOR | A | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | TOR | A | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | TOR | A | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | TOR | A | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | TOR | A | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | TOR | A | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | SEA | A | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | TOT | A | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | SEA | A | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | BAL | A | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | STL | N | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | BAL | A | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | Total | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2001 | STL | N | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | STL | N | 42 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | PHI | N | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | TOT | N | 72 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | BOS | A | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | BOS | A | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | BOS | A | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | NL | 165 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | AL | 847 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1012 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Transactions[]
- Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round of the free-agent draft (June 2, 1987 - signed June 6, 1987).
- Traded by Toronto Blue Jays with Paul Spoljaric to Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jose Cruz (July 31, 1997).
- Granted free agency (October 22, 1998).
- Signed by Baltimore Orioles (November 16, 1998).
- Traded by Baltimore Orioles with cash to St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Chris Richard and Mark Nussbeck (July 29, 2000).
- Traded by St. Louis Cardinals with Placido Polanco and Bud Smith to Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Scott Rolen, Doug Nickle and cash (July 29, 2002).
- Granted free agency (October 28, 2002).
- Signed by Boston Red Sox (January 6, 2003).
- Granted free agency (October 28, 2003).
- Signed by Boston Red Sox (November 17, 2003).