Jason Louis Motte (born June 22, 1982 in Port Huron, Michigan) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Motte graduated from Valley Central High School in 2000 where he was also a catcher.[1]
[edit] Career
Originally a catcher in the minor leagues, he converted into a pitcher in 2006 after he broke his thumb and his batting average dropped. Since then, he has soared in the minor leagues and was added to the Cardinals 40-man roster in early December of 2007 to avoid the rule 5 draft as one of the Cardinals' top pitching prospects. He was called up from the minors on September 2, 2008.
Motte spent the majority of the 2008 season with the Memphis Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A farm team from the Pacific Coast League. Motte would go on to have a total of 12 appearances in 2008 with a microscopic ERA of 0.82 in the big leagues. In 11 innings of relief, Motte struck out 16 batters, allowed 3 walks, and 5 hits. Motte earned his first save on September 18 against Cincinnati in their ballpark, getting the final out in the ninth inning, with a fly ball to left field.[2]
Motte's primary pitch is a dominant, lively fastball, which was clocked in the upper 90s during 2008. During the 2008-2009 off-season, he added a slider as a secondary pitch, which he continues to work on and develop.
During the 2009 spring training camp, Motte competed with Ryan Franklin and Chris Perez in an attempt to earn the role as the Cardinals' 2009 closer; Manager Tony Larussa said there would be no closer, and that he would use a mix of relievers in the ninth inning.
After posting stelar numbers in Spring Training, although no official announcement was made, it appeared Motte had earned a role as the Cardinals Closer for 2009. Thus, on Opening Day he was tabbed to Save the game. However, when called upon, Motte gave up four runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning, costing the Cardinals a two-run lead and the victory. Pittsburgh won 6-4. After this blown Save opportunity, Cardinals manager, Tony LaRussa moved Motte into a Middle Reliever role, where Motte has been effective. Through April 29th, 2009, Motte had allowed only one run in nine relief appearances since blowing the Save on Opening Day.
Motte and Chris Perez continue to be primary candidates for the Closer role in the St. Louis Cardinals' future.
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