Baseball's Over 40 in 2012

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 11, 2012

Baseball's Over 40 in 2012

Ra&#250;l Iba&#241;ez

The Yankee outfielder showed some late-game heroics during Game 3 of the 2012 ALDS against the Orioles. Down one run in the ninth inning, manager Joe Girardi decided to use Ibanez to bat for Alex Rodriguez. Ibanez stepped up and took Jim Johnson deep in the ninth inning for a solo shot to send the game to extra innings. He then hit a leadoff homer in the 12th inning, giving the Yankees a 3-2 win over the Orioles. Ibanez became the first player in postseason history with a homer in the ninth inning and a homer in extra innings in the same game.

Chipper Jones

In his final season with the Braves, Chipper Jones defied his age. He batted .287 with a .377 OBP and collected his 2700th hit, as part of a two-homer game, on August 16th. He also passed George Brett for most career RBI by a third baseman.

Andy Pettitte, SP

A three-time all-star, Pettitte went 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts for the Yankees. He fractured his left ankle on June 27 and missed nearly three months before returning late in the season.

Darren Oliver, RP

Darren Oliver is still getting it done out of the bullpen. He posted a 2.06 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched.

Jason Isringhausen

Drafted by the New York Mets in 1991, the two-time all-star reliever has pitched for four different teams over the past four years. Izzy finished 2012 with a 3-2 record and 4.14 ERA with the Los Angeles Angels.

Omar Vizquel, 2B/SS/3B

A three-time All-Star and 11-time Gold Glove winner, Omar Vizquel was a part-time player in Toronto who played at every position except pitcher and catcher in 2012.

Miguel Batista, RP

Batista has been on five different teams over the past four years. He began the 2012 season with the New York Mets, but signed with the Atlanta Braves almost immediately following his release by the Mets in late July.

Jim Thome, 1B

After starting the year with the Phillies, Jim Thome was traded to the Orioles where he hit .257 with three homers and 10 RBI in 28 games as a designated hitter.

Mariano Rivera

The greatest closer of all time began the season in typical form, posting a 2.16 ERA with five saves in April, before tearing his right ACL and missing the rest of the season.

Jamie Moyer

The Rockies starting pitcher, at 49 years of age, became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win a game when he beat the San Diego Padres, 5-3, at Coors Field. Moyer went seven innings, throwing no harder than 79 mph on any of his 87 pitches. He was release less than two months later.

Jos&#233; Contreras

The Phillies reliever threw just 13.2 innings before suffering a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Henry Blanco, C

Henry Blanco tore a ligament in his thumb on August 5th against the Phillies and had surgery that forced him to miss the rest of the season. The D-backs catcher was hitting .188 with a homer and seven RBI in 21 games.

Takashi Saito, RP

After spending the first three months of the season on the disabled list with a calf strain, Takashi Saito returned to Arizona in July. He pitched in 10 games before landing on the DL again on August 14th. The injury-prone pitcher threw just 12 innings in relief for the D-Backs with a 6.75 ERA

Jason Giambi, 1B

Giambi was used primarily as a pinch hitter, batting just .225 with a homer and eight RBI in 60 games with the Rockies.

Baseball's Over 40 in 2012