Freddy Garcia...or Freddie Garcia?

[TheFunkMonkey]

Maybe I'm being anal, but shouldn't a sports writer know how to spell Freddy Garcia's name? He is an All-Star pitcher! What I really don't understand is how the author can use Freddy *and* Freddie in the same article.

ESPN.com news services

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox acquired All-Star pitcher Freddy Garcia from the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, bolstering their rotation for the AL Central race.

The White Sox gave up young catcher Miguel Olivo, top prospect Jeremy Reed and minor league infielder Michael Morse in the trade. Chicago also gets catcher Ben Davis and cash from the Mariners.

"It's hard for me to leave," Garcia said. "I do love playing here."

Garcia, who can become a free agent after this season, will pitch for White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, one of his best friends.

"You've got to be a professional. Everybody knows he's my friend, but I want to do business," Garcia said. "I'll go there and pitch the way I can pitch."

Garcia was 4-7 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 starts for last-place Seattle this season. The two-time All-Star is 76-50 in his six-year career with a 3.89 ERA.

"We have an opportunity to challenge for the division in a better way," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said.

The 25-year-old Olivo, who is batting .270, hit his seventh homer of the season off Cubs right-hander Greg Maddux on Sunday. He has good speed and a strong arm.

Olivo was too upset after the game to comment, a team spokesman said.

"It was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had with a player," Williams said.

"We had to make a tough call today, but ultimately we had to decide whether or not it was in our best interests to get a top end of the rotation guy or hang on to a little bit of our future. As you all know, it's been a long time here in Chicago since we've done anything special in the postseason," Williams told ESPN Radio on Sunday night.

"We're just not looking at Freddie for this year. Hopefully we can sign him to an extension and he can be part of our future as well."

 

LOL

 

[wilheim]

Freddy

Or Freddie

wil.

 

[TheFunkMonkey]

I was absolutely scared shitless of Freddy (Krueger, not Garcia) when I was a kid. Tried to avoid seeing him at all costs. Obviously, I didn't go see the movies. But I'd even turn off the TV when the "Nightmare" commercials came on! Unfortunately, from time to time I'd catch 3-4 seconds of the commercial, and then I'd be scared for a couple days.

Anyway, thanks for the pic Wil. Now I'm gonna see Freddy in my dreams!

 

[wilheim]

Funk, so sorry to scare you. I found a nice happy pic. of Freddy Garcia in a White Sox cap that I hope helps a little bit.

wil.

 

[5teamparlay]

From Newsday:

Righty Garcia could be late-season pickup
<DL class=byline>KAT O'BRIEN <DD>July 17, 2008 </DD></DL>Freddy Garcia, who has not pitched this season while recovering from surgery on his right labrum, is preparing to work out for clubs, his agent Peter Greenberg said by phone yesterday. The Yankees and Mets are among the dozen or so clubs that have expressed interest.

"We're hoping to showcase him, if possible, by the end of July," Greenberg told Newsday. "We think he's going to help somebody in the majors this year, September and October."

Garcia, 33, is 117-76 in his career with a 4.07 ERA. He has spent most of that time with the Mariners and White Sox, but was traded to the Phillies before the 2007 season. Bothered by shoulder problems, he went 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA.

Greenberg said Garcia is likely to sign for just this season, then go on the free-agent market. "You never know," Greenberg said. "If there's somebody that wants to sign him to a multiyear deal, we'll be receptive to that. Our preference is just to sign Freddy for the rest of this year."

Garcia has resumed throwing from a mound. His next bullpen session is expected to be today, throwing 45 pitches (fastballs, changeups), then adding curveballs next time.

The Yankees and Mets could have holes in their rotations. The Yankees don't know when or if Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes will return. The Mets don't want to count too heavily on Pedro Martinez, whose health has been iffy.

 

[5teamparlay]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20100125&content_id=7965404&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

01/25/10 5:12 PM EST
'Big Game' Freddy still has game

Right-hander looks to give White Sox edge at No. 5

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- A legendary but true tale has lived on for the past five years regarding Freddy Garcia and the most significant start of his highly successful career, in the White Sox most momentous game in franchise history.
Garcia got the call for Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, with the White Sox looking to complete the four-game sweep of Houston. Before that contest even began, Garcia made it known to his team that Game 5 of that postseason competition would not be needed with him on the mound.
After that proclamation, Garcia proceeded to throw seven shutout innings in the White Sox 1-0 championship-clinching victory. Garcia's statement certainly wasn't meant as a slap in the face of the National League champs at the time, but instead a show of the special bravado possessed by a pitcher known as "Big Game Freddy," who returns for a second full-time run as part of the White Sox rotation.
"Freddy happens to be pitching out of the No. 5 spot in the rotation," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams of Garcia, speaking during this past weekend's SoxFest festivities at the Palmer House Hilton. "But he's not the No. 5 starter."
With Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Garcia, the White Sox rotation appears to be one of the deepest starting five in baseball.
"You really could make a case for Freddy at three in the rotation," said John Danks, who figures to open the season at No. 3. "Freddy is proven, and he gives us as much of a chance to win as the next guy. There's really no drop off for us at three, four or five."
Certain parts of Garcia's game have changed since he permanently stamped his name in the collective memory of White Sox fans. He had right shoulder surgery at the end of August 2007 in his one and only season with the Phillies, a National League stint during which Garcia won exactly one time in 11 starts, and then rushed his recovery a bit by making three starts for Detroit during the 2008 campaign.
When Garcia struggled after signing with the Mets before the 2009 season began, there was talk Garcia's stellar decade-long career was coming to a close. Ask Garcia, 33, about that rough period now and the veteran hurler will brush the topic back like a hitter trying to crowd the plate.
"No, those days are over," said Garcia, smiling but motioning as if to indicate "next question" when the Mets subject was broached. "I threw a bullpen [last Wednesday] and I feel good.
"Last year was the past. I'm just trying to get back to throwing free."
According to Garcia, he was told after the 2007 surgery how it would take 15 to 18 months to return to form. That timetable might explain why Garcia's September 2009 showing for the White Sox, when he posted a 3-2 record with a 3.66 ERA, might have been the best indication of good things to come in 2010.
There was a victory over Boston on Sept. 4 in which Garcia gave up just one run in six innings. He limited the Royals to two runs on five hits in eight innings during a 2-1 loss to Kansas City on Sept. 20, and then shut down the Tigers at Comerica Park on Oct. 3 by yielding one run in seven innings and striking out a season-high seven.
In total, Garcia made six September starts and five of the quality start variety. Garcia earned the fifth starter's job for 2010, with the White Sox picking up his $1 million option.
"He proved that at the end of last year," Williams said. "The great thing is he's further away from his injury which could translate into something really special out of the fifth spot."
"That was the time I really was back," said Garcia of his strong September showing. "I should have listened to the doctor, but I wanted to get on the field and pitch. Now, it's different."
Make that different, also, in the sense that Garcia appears to be in the best physical condition of his career or at least his time with the White Sox. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound native of Venezuela showed off a trim frame at SoxFest, courtesy of a more intense offseason workout plan.
"To me, he's in the best shape he's been in a long time. His work ethic is better because he had to do it," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of Garcia, who happens to be married to Guillen's niece. "Freddy will help us on and off the field. He's a gamer and knows how to pitch. He gives you everything he's got every time out."
"I'm having a good offseason, working out really hard to get in good shape," Garcia said. "I'm just happy to go to Spring Training at 100 percent."
Don't expect this positive vibe surrounding Garcia to translate into ace-like numbers of 17 or 18 victories, as Garcia's stuff isn't the same as it was five years ago, even in prime physical shape. The 2010 White Sox aren't about living above reasonable expectations to produce ultimate success, though. They do know that Garcia is a special pitcher who thrives against the best or in high-pressure situations at the back end of their rotation.
"You can't help but be excited," Williams said. "When I see Freddy against anyone, I'm not afraid in the least bit. He can shut someone down." "Now, I gotta pitch," said Garcia with a laugh. "When I was younger, I could throw fastballs by them. Now, I gotta hit my spot all the time."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

[BillyWaltersJr+]

Met him in person back in 2000 when he was with the Mariners. Very good guy..I hope he does well with the White Sox this coming season - it very well may be his last chance in the big leagues if he gets injured again!

Good luck, Freddy!

 

[5teamparlay]

http://www.southsidesox.com/2010/6/15/1520246/freddy-garcia-should-teach-classes 7-3 freddy PROPS!!!

Freddy Garcia Should Teach Classes on "How To Win"

by The Cheat on Jun 15, 2010 10:13 PM CDT
The White Sox starting pitchers have gotten themselves back on track in recent outings. Even in losses, the recurringly lackluster offense rather than the starting pitching had been the main culprit. Freddy Garcia sought to end that streak Tuesday.
He used up every pitch in his arsenal by the end of his warmup tosses. By the time the Pirates actually stepped into the batter's box, he was serving up hanging sliders, hanging splitters, phat 87MPH fastballs, you know, his usual stuff. But it wasn't exactly working, as even the outs were loud.
Thankfully, Freddy Garcia knows how to win. And in this case the best thing you can do to assure victory is face off against the Pirates, losers of their last 8 straight. Brad Lincoln took 2-0 lead and quickly evened the score. Before long he had surrendered the lead. And even though Freddy tried to give it back, the league's worst offense was all to happy to let him off the hook with the slimmest of margins.
The Sox bullpen showed what a series of real pitchers look like when facing Pirates' hitters, combining for 6 Ks against 2 hits, 1BB and, of course, no runs allowed. Although Bobby Jenks surrendered one of the hits, it was about the third time in his last few outings we've heard Hawk exclaim "that's the best Big Bobby has looked in a long time," which has a shade of truth to it, but also the notion that some other club might be watching broadcast and in the market for late-inning relief.

 

[eoghater]

He is unbettable for me, his starts are never straightforward.

 

[5teamparlay]

Congrats Freddy!!

5/25/13

Freddy Garcia (1-2) allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings to win for the first time since Aug. 15, 2012, when he beat Texas while pitching for the New York Yankees. Garcia walked none and struck out one.