Chad Cordero #32

Chad Patrick Cordero... Married... Nicknamed "Chief" by college teammate Jon Smith... 2000 graduate of Don Lugo (CA) High in Chino... Played college ball at Cal State Fullerton... As a junior, went 5-1 with 8 saves and a 1.58 ERA in 40 games out of the bullpen in 2003 for the Titans... In 3 college seasons, went 12-8 with 34 saves and a 2.09 ERA in 111 career games... 34 career saves set a CS Fullerton record...in 2003, earned first-team All-Big West honours and was named 3rd-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball...led CSF to the College World Series in 2001 & 2003.

2010

Began the season with Tacoma (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League... Went 6-8 in save opportunities, while striking out 22 and walking on four in 19.2 innings... BACK TO THE BIGS: Had contract selected by SEA on June 3, making nine appearances in relief... Allowed two earned runs in his first six outings... NEW YORK, NEW YORK: On July 15 declared free agency after refusing assignment to minors... Was signed by the Mets on July 22 and sent to Buffalo (AAA) of the International League... Spent the balance of the season in Buffalo, pitching in 17 games, posting a 1.69 ERA... Fanned 14 in 16.0 IP... Combined, pitched to a 3.03 ERA in AAA, with six saves in 34 games.

2009

Signed with Seattle as a minor league free agent on March 12, 2009...rehabed right shoulder in extended spring training...made season debut July 14 with the Arizona League Mariners...made 14 appearances with the AZL Mariners (R) and Everett (A).

2008

Began season on 15-Day DL (right shoulder tendinitis)... made season debut on April 13 vs. Atlanta, allowing one hit and 2 walks in 0.2 scoreless innings...was shut down after experiencing pain in right shoulder during an appearance on April 29 vs. Atlanta...placed on 15-Day DL on May 2, retroactive to April 30, with a tear of his right dorsi muscle...underwent successful season-ending right shoulder surgery (torn labrum) performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles, CA on July 8, 2008.

2007

Struggled some, but for third straight season, successfully converted over 80 percent of save opportunities...posted 37 saves to rank 5th in the NL and move into sole possession of 2nd place on franchise's all-time saves list...with 128 saves in hand, trails only Jeff Reardon (152)...struggled early in the season, but regained familiar form after stay on the Bereavement List, May 8-14 ...from May 15 through season's end, went 3-3 with 33 saves (in 38 opportunities), a .237 batting average against and a 3.02 ERA...upon return from BL, worked 12.0 consecutive scoreless innings to record the 2nd-longest scoreless innings string posted by a Washington reliever in 2007...recorded a 0.82 ERA in May...recorded 100th save on June 12 at BAL at the age of 25 years, 86 days...thus, became the 2nd-youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach the 100-save plateau (only LAA's Francisco Rodriguez-at 24 years, 246 days-was younger...converted 9 of 10 save opportunities and a 1.29 ERA in July...with 1-2-3 9th inning on August 7 at SFG, recorded 100th save since the Nationals relocated to DC in 2005...successfully converted 14 of season's final 15 save opportunities beginning August 7...reached 30-save plateau for the 2nd time by notching save in 6-3 win vs. FLA, September 3...notched save and threw the final pitch in 1047th and final big league game at RFK Stadium, a 5-3 win, September 23 vs. PHI...suffered 9 blown saves: April 18 vs. PHI, April 20 at FLA, April 28 vs. NYM, May 6 at CHI, June 13 at BAL, June 23 vs. CLE, July 25 at PHI, August 6 at SFG and September 14 vs. ATL...5 of the 9 blown saves came in intradivision play...cut down significantly on home runs allowed (8, compared to 13 in 2006)...induced career- high 85 ground balls...posted 7 saves in 8 opportunities against NL East-champion PHI...career-best 7 GIDPs induced matched career total entering the season...worked exactly 1.0 inning in 36 of 37 saves...lone exception was 0.2-inning save, June 12 at BAL...went 3-2 with 18 saves in 22 opportunities in 42 appearances at RFK...retired 70 percent of first batters faced (53 of 76)...posted stellar batting average against (.185) with runners in scoring position.

2006

One year removed from leading MLB in saves, produced solid season, going 7-4 with 29 saves and a 3.19 ERA (26 ER/73.1 IP) in 68 appearances...with 91 in the bag, will enter 2007 just 9 saves shy of 100...notched 29 saves in 33 opportunities (88%)...thus, ranked 5th in the NL in save percentage...29 saves ranked 8th in the NL...compared to 2005 season, saves (47 to 29) and save opportunities (54 to 33) were down significantly...posted 13 saves in 14 opportunities (93%) against NL East foes...posted a .215 batting average against to rank 3rd among NL closers with at least 25 saves...opponents hit just .183 (20-for-109) with runners on base, including .185 (12-for-65) with RISP...7 relief wins led the Nationals and tied for 4th in the NL (tied for 6th in MLB)...fanned 8.5 batters per 9.0 innings...allowed 13 home runs, 6 of which came in blown saves (all 4 blown saves included at least one home run allowed), to tie for 2nd among NL relief pitchers behind only CHI's Roberto Novoa...9 of 13 home runs allowed were hit by right-handed batters...the 4 blown saves (September 6 vs. STL, July 9 vs. SDP, May 13 at ATL and April 10 at HOU)...was significantly better after the All-Star break (2-0, 16 saves, 2.30 ERA) than before (5-4, 13 saves, 3.86 ERA)...went season's first 11 games without a save, then recorded a pair of saves within 24 hours, April 15-16 at FLA...suffered blown save in first save opportunity of 2006 on April 10 at HOU (Lance Berkman game-tying solo homer in 10th inning)...successfully converted a seasonbest 11 straight save opportunities, July 18-Sept. 2...in 18 appearances when pitching on zero days' rest, went 1-0 with a 1.33 ERA (3 ER/20.1 IP) and successfully converted 12 of 13 save opportunities...stranded 11 of 12 (92%) inherited baserunners...retired 47 of 68 (69%) first batters faced...excluding 5 intentional walks, issued just 2.1 walks per 9.0 innings pitched...when the count reached 2 strikes, opponents hit just .154 (24-for-156). Game-By-Game Highlights: On May 7, recorded final 4 outs to record first save of 2006 at RFK in a 5-4 win vs. PIT...on September 3, had a busy day, as he pitched in both games of day-night twinbill vs. ARI...fired 3.0 scoreless innings, retired 9 of 10 batters faced, fanned 5, and notched a win in the afternoon, as well as a save in the evening...became just the 2nd pitcher in this franchise's 38 NL seasons to earn a win and a save in the same day...according to Retrosheets Dave Smith's surreal MLB database, Ugueth Urbina turned the win-save trick for the Expos on August 13, 1998 at COL...that twinbill was necessitated as a result of the April '98 Columbine tragedy.

2005

At 23, Cordero became the youngest reliever to have a 40-save season. ... Led the Major Leagues in 47 saves. .. Cordero's best month came in June. Cordero tied the Major League record of 15 saves in a month. Cordero did not allow an earned run in 16 1/3 June innings, walking two and striking out 14. ... Cordero won Pitcher of the month for June.

2004

Continued advanced development for a pitcher just 22 years old or 18 months out of college...one of NL's top rookies... in 2nd big league season, went 7-3 with 14 saves and a 2.94 ERA...began the season in middle relief and posted 8 holds before assuming the closer's role from Rocky Biddle the first week of June...established new Expos rookie record with 11th save in 8-5 win on July 31 at FLA...surged past Dale Murray, who in '74, at the age of 24, posted 10 saves and a remarkable 1.03 ERA in 32 games with Montreal...7 wins ranked 2nd on the staff behind only Livan Hernandez...led Expos relievers in wins, games finished (40) and saves...fanned more than a batter per inning (83 SO in 82.2 innings)...limited opposing batters to a team-best .221 batting average against...inherited 12 baserunners in 2004, none of which scored...led all MLB rookies in ERA and batting average against...ranked among NL Rookie leaders in wins (tied for 3rd), saves (2nd), games (tied for 2nd), innings (3rd with 82.2) and strikeouts (2nd with 83)...only ARI's Greg Aquino posted more saves among NL rookies...pitched well in middle relief, going 1-1 with 8 holds, one save and a 2.18 ERA through June 6...after the Expos bullpen struggled to finish games, was named Expos closer by Frank Robinson on June 8...did not receive his first save opportunity until 8 days later, on June 16 vs. MIN and was charged with a blown save when the Twins scored twice in the 9th to send the game to extra innings...MIN eventually won, 5-4, in 11 innings...however, converted 11 save opportunities in a row from June 19- August 12...posted a 2.78 ERA in 21 games during the same time span...after a trio of poor appearances, ERA was a season-high 3.66 on August 23...allowed only one earned run in final 13 appearances or 18.2 innings to finish season with a 2.94 ERA...ERA when pitching in consecutive games was 6.28...with one-day rest, ERA was 0.50...2 days rest: 3.16...3 or more days: 3.05...recorded saves on back-to-back days just once: July 22 at NYM and July 23 vs. FLA...pitched the 9th inning on September 29 vs. FLA and thus, is the last member of the Expos to retire a batter in Montreal...after the game, dedicated his game cap to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY...the Expos went 37-32 when Chad pitched...was 2-0 with 7 saves and a 2.70 ERA at Olympic Stadium...posted 3 saves against both NYM and PHI...induced 3 GIDPs...9 of 14 saves came at home, including 7 at The Big O (2 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium)...6 of 8 home runs allowed came with 2 strikes...4 blown saves: June 16 vs. MIN, August 13 vs. HOU, August 23 vs. LA and September 25 vs. PHI...retired first batter faced 48 times in 69 relief appearances...fanned a career-high 5 batters in only 2.1 innings, September 5 vs. ATL...worked scoreless 9th inning to protect one-run lead and successfully convert first career save opportunity at Coors Field, August 20 at COL (W4- 3)...pocketed 8th and final hold of the season on June 4 at CIN...earned first save of the season with 2.0 scoreless innings on May 30 vs. CIN: with the score 5-2, worked a scoreless 8th inning...Rocky Biddle was slated to come in the game until Endy Chavez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 8th to make the score, 6-2...without a save situation, Robinson did not insert Biddle...Cordero then worked a scoreless 9th to nab the save.

2003

Cordero became the first ever Expos draft pick to reach the Majors the same year of his selection ... After participating in the College World Series, he made his pro debut with Class A Brevard County in the Florida State League on July 4, pitching a scoreless inning ... Was 1-1 with six saves and a 2.05 ERA in 19 games when called up by the Expos ... Once in the big leagues, he immediately received a lot of action on the mound in tight ball games ... Made his first Major League appearance on Aug. 30 at Florida with a scoreless inning ... Picked up his first Major League save against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Sept 18 ... Two days later, came into a tie game and notched his first win.