Olmedo saenz biography template

When Edwin Jackson threw his first pitch for the Oakland A’s on Monday, he tied an MLB record by playing for his 13th different team. That much has become common knowledge over the last few days, as his accomplishment was the starting point for every conversation about his call-up and subsequent 2018 debut. In this post, let’s take a closer look at the journey that brought him to this point.

It should come as no surprise that Jackson’s route to this particular record included a stop with the A’s. After all, the player he tied, reliever Octavio Dotel, counted Oakland as the third team on his own list back in 2004-05. Furthermore, of the three players to suit up for a dozen clubs, professional hitter Matt Stairs swatted nearly half his dingers wearing green and gold and ageless pitcher Mike Morgan began his 22-season career here, with only swingman Ron Villone missing out on the East Bay. Of course the team most synonymous with player movement would take their turn employing the players most synonymous with moving.

As for Jackson, his own pro career began all the way back in 2001, when Moneyball was still just a sparkle in Billy Beane’s eye. When he was drafted by the Dodgers in early June, the A’s roster featured names like Olmedo Saenz, Ron Gant, Frank Menechino, and Terrence Long, on top of the Big 3 and the more famous stars. Current bench coach Ryan Christenson was a 27-year-old outfielder, though he was traded away a couple weeks later. It was a long time ago in baseball terms.

Here are some highlights of the 17 years that followed that draft day, split up among the 13 teams for which he suited up (and one more that he left too quickly to play for). He hasn’t always been a star, but he’s almost always been interesting.

1. Dodgers, 2003-05

Jackson’s journey was already interesting before he ever played pro ball, having been born in Germany to an Army family. After doing most of his growing up stateside in Georgia, he was drafted out of high school

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There was a period of time that I looked forward to the Pittsburgh series at PNC Park because I knew that Olmedo Saenz was going to absolutlely dominate.  For some reason, Olmedo simply loved playing Pittsburgh.  It took former Dodger manager Jim Tracy a few season before he realized that Olmedo really liked playing in Pittsburgh before he put him in the starting lineup.  By 2006, Grady Little needed no promptings, Saenz was starting at first base each game in the Steel town.

Saenz, a key pinch hitter and occasional sub during this past decade, was a great teammate and positive clubhouse influence.  He  always seemed to have a smile on his face.  He came up with some clutch hits over his 5 year span with the team.  Known as The “Killer Tomato” due to the phonetics of his name "Olmedo" that rhymed with the spoofy horror film, he was also known amongst Dodger fan faithful as “Big Sexy.”  His words following a 12-6 win in Pittsburgh on August 5, 2005, (where he went 3 for 5f with a double and a homer) were, “My swing was feeling pretty sexy.”  That was it, "Big Sexy" stuck.

I realize it was a small sample size but take a look at these numbers.  In 36 career at bats at PNC Park, Saenz had 18 hits, including 5 homers, 18 RBI, an On base % of . 556 with SLG. of 1.031 and OPS of 1.567.  33 total bases over 36 at bats.   He was an absolute masher in Pittsburgh.

Since Ned is so in love with aging vets, I say with tongue in cheek that he should have placed a call to Panama and resigned the 41-year old Killer Tomato.  At least for this 3 game stretch.

PNC Park is absolutely beautiful.  This is definitely a place I'd love to visit.  Who after all, can dislike the Pittsburgh Pirates?  Such classy Hall of Famers as Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell excelled for them for so long.   Chuck Tanner was a fine manager and well liked in baseball circles.