Ricardo Rincon #73

Started playing baseball at age five...also played basketball, volleyball and soccer as a youngster...attended a baseball academy in Mexico for six months after high school...wife's name is Jaquelin...the Rincons have two children, a daughter; Damaris (5/24/93), and a son, Ricardo, Jr. (7/4/98)...name is pronounced rin-CONE.

2006

First season with the Cardinals amounted to just five games, as he underwent shoulder and elbow surgery on May 11 that ended his season...Had an arthroscopic repair of his left labrum and rotator cuff and arthroscopy of his left elbow with ulnar nerve transposition...The surgery was performed by Dr. George Paletta...Fanned six batters in his 3.1 IP, but also walked four...Made his final appearance on 4/18 at PIT, working a season-high 1.1 IP...Pitched for Team Mexico during the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

2005

Appeared in 67 games with Oakland, all in relief, but tossed just 37.1 innings...those were the fewest innings pitched in Athletics franchise history by a pitcher with 50 or more games pitched...Tossed one inning or fewer in 54 of his 67 outings...faced just one batter in 22 of those outings and two batters 16 times...Faced a total of 162 batters, including 99 left-handers and 63 righthanders...Averaged just 9.3 pitches per game which was second lowest among American League relievers...Was one of the best in the AL at stranding inherited runners as he allowed just 10 of 72 (13.9%) to score which ranked second lowest in the AL to Toronto's Vinnie Chulk (10.8%)...that ranked third lowest by an Oakland reliever dating back to 1974...His 72 inherited runners were the most in the AL and were the most by an A's pitcher since Buddy Groom had 74 in 1998...Allowed 8 of his 42 (19.0%) inherited runners to score before the break but just 2 of 30 (7.1%) after the break...First batters faced hit .276 (16 for 58) with seven walks, a hit by pitch and four home runs...the four first batter home runs tied for third most among AL relievers...Compiled a 4.53 ERA and allowed a .246 opponents batting average...opponents also had a .442 slugging percentage which was the highest of his career...Allowed a career high seven home runs...had allowed just eight home runs in 156 games and 119.2 career innings as an Athletic entering the season...allowed two home runs in his first 11 games (5.2 ip), had a 24-game homerless streak from April 30 to July 2 (15.1 ip) and then allowed five home runs over his final 32 games (16.1 ip)...Opponents batting average included a .250 (22-for-88) mark against lefthanders and .240 (12-for-50) against right handers...Opposition average dropped to .170 (9-for-53) with runners in scoring position, including .217 (5-for-23) with RISP and two outs...Did not allow a run in 25 of his first 31 outings and posted a 2.79 ERA (6 ER in 19.1 IP) over that span...capped that stretch on 6/18 against Philadelphia by tossing a season high 2.0 innings of relief and retiring all six batters that he faced...Allowed at least one run in nine of his 21 outings from 6/21-8/29 for a 9.28 ERA (10.2 IP/ 11 ER)...first batters faced were 7-for-18 (.389) with three walks and two home runs over that span...Finished the season by posting a 1.23 ERA (7.1 IP/ 1 ER) in 15 outings in September...the ERA was his lowest in a month in 2005...inherited 22 runners in those 15 games and allowed just two to score...first batters faced were 2-for-13 with two walks...Committed an error on 9/2 against New York, snapping a 301-game errorless streak dating back to his last error on 6/4/01 at MIN...added a second error seven games later on 9/12 at CLE.

2004

Posted a 3.68 ERA in 67 appearances, all in relief...allowed at least one run in seven of his first 21 outings and had a 7.04 ERA (15.1 ip, 21 h, 12 r, 12 er, 11 bb, 16 so, 2 hr) and .328 (21 for 64) opponents batting average on June 15...then did not allow a run in 39 of his final 46 outings for a 1.88 ERA (28.2 ip, 24 h, 10 r, 6 er, 11 bb, 24 so, 1 hr) and .214 (24 for 112) opponents batting average...allowed a .256 opponents batting average overall which was the highest of his career...was 1-1 with four blown saves...allowed 15 of 57 (26.3%) inherited runners to score...has allowed 68 of 335 (20.30%) inherited runners to score in his career which is the second lowest percentage in the Major Leagues dating back to 1974 (minimum 280 inherited runners) to Trevor Hoffman (62 of 306, 20.26%)...allowed 8 of 13 inherited runners to score over his first 10 games through May 4...then allowed just 1 of 29 to score over a 48-game stretch from May 6 to September 13, including 0 of 17 from July 9 to September 13...then allowed 6 of 15 to score over his final nine games...first batters faced were 13 for 63 (.206) with three walks and a hit by pitch...his opponents batting average broke down to .200 (18 for 90) against left-handers and .314 (27 for 86) against right-handers...walked just five left-handers but 17 right-handers...has allowed a .203 (136 for 671) average against left-handers in his career...his opponents average dropped to .222 (14 for 63) with runners in scoring position including .125 (3 for 24) with RISP and two outs...now has a .207 (86 for 415) career average allowed with RISP, including .180 (36 for 200) with RISP and two outs...tossed just 44.0 innings in his 67 appearances as he pitched 1.0 innings or fewer in all but four of his outings...his season high was 2.0 innings on September 30 against Seattle...had 29 outings of 0.1 innings or less...posted a 1.89 ERA (4 er in 19.0 ip) and allowed a .219 (16 for 73) opponents batting average in 25 outings when pitching on no days rest...had a 5.04 ERA (14 er in 25.0 ip) and .282 (29 for 103) opponents batting average in all other outings...has a 2.49 ERA (29 er in 105.0 ip) in his career when pitching on no days rest compared to 3.80 (124 er in 294.0 ip) with one or more days rest...compiled a 2.70 ERA (5 er in 16.2 ip) and allowed a .206 (13 for 63) opponents batting average in 24 outings during the day compared to a 4.28 ERA (13 er in 27.1 ip) and .283 (32 for 113) opponents batting average in 43 outings at night...allowed all three of his home runs at night...did not allow a run two outings (1.2 ip) against Baltimore and has not allowed a run in 18 career outings against the Orioles (12.0 ip)...was charged with two of his four blown saves in consecutive outings on April 27 at New York and May 4 against New York...struck out six consecutive first batters faced from May 4 to 18...did not pitch over an 11-game span from May 30 to June 11...did not allow a run over a 10-game stretch from June 16 to July 8 (6.0 ip, 5 h, 6 so)...tossed 12 consecutive scoreless outings from July 20 to August 12 (9.0 ip, 5 h, 4 bb, 7 so)...compiled a 0.90 ERA (1 er in 10.0 ip) in 13 outings in July and had a 1.17 ERA (1 er in 7.2 ip) in 12 outings in August...had no decisions over his first 56 outings before recording his first decision of the season, a win, with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in the A's 5-4 victory over Cleveland on September 11...charged with his third blown save of the season on September 17 at Seattle when he inherited a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and allowed a three-run pinch-hit double to Greg Dobbs...had his only loss of the season and his fourth blown save in his final outing on October 2 against Anaheim when he inherited a 4-2 lead and had runners on first and second...allowed a two-run double to Darin Erstad to allow the tying runs to score and Erstad later scored the winning run in the game in which the Angels clinched the AL West.

2003

Was once again one of the best in baseball at stranding inherited runners as he allowed just 7 of 35 (20.0%) inherited runners to score...that percentage ranked fifth lowest among American League relievers...has allowed 53 of 278 (19.1%) inherited runners to score in his career which is the lowest percentage in the major leagues dating back to 1974 (minimum 200 inherited runners)...had a career high eight wins which was tied for third among A.L. relievers...had just 11 wins in 354 career games entering the season...also issued a career high 32 walks and averaged 5.20 walks per nine innings (55.1 ip) which was eighth highest among A.L. relievers...first batters hit .286 (16 for 56) with seven walks and a sacrifice hit for a .359 on-base percentage...had a .213 (67 for 315) career average against first batters faced entering the season...posted a 3.64 ERA and allowed a .230 opponents batting average in 64 appearances...the batting average broke down to .200 (16 for 80) against left handers and .250 (29 for 116) against right handers...now has a .203 (118 for 581) career average against left handers...allowed a .212 (11 for 52) average with runners in scoring position and opponents are now batting .205 (72 for 352) against him with RISP in his career...pitched better in Oakland as he was 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA (8 er in 29.0 ip) and a .182 (18 for 99) opponents batting average in 32 outings at home compared to 4-3 with a 4.10 ERA (12 er in 26.1 ip) and a .278 (27 for 97) opponents average in 32 outings on the road...now has a 2.86 ERA (63 er in 198.1 ip) in 224 career outings in his home ballpark and 4.14 (72 er in 156.2 ip) in 194 career outings on the road...posted a 1.83 ERA (4 er in 19.2 ip) in 23 outings during the day and a 4.04 ERA (16 er in 35.2 ip) in 41 outings at night...had a 4.22 ERA (15 er in 32.0 ip) in 35 outings before the All-Star Break and a 1.93 ERA (5 er in 23.1 ip) in 29 outings after the break...allowed four home runs in 55.1 innings during the regular season after allowing six home runs in 12.0 innings during spring training...allowed two runs in two of his first five outings (4 er in 3.1 ip, 10.80 ERA) but followed that up with seven consecutive scoreless outings and a 9.1 inning scoreless streak through the end of April...then allowed at least one run five of his seven outings in May and went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA (5 er in 5.0 ip) in the month...did not allow a run in eight of his first nine outings in June (2 er in 8.0 ip, 2.25 ERA)...had a 26 game, 23.2 inning, 108 batter homerless streak snapped on June 25 at Texas when he allowed a two-out home run to Rafael Palmeiro in the seventh inning with a 6-5 lead for his first blown save of the season...was also charged with the blown save in his next outing on June 28 at San Francisco...extended his winning streak to a career high four games on July 21 at Kansas City...had the winning streak snapped on July 28 at Anaheim when he allowed the only two runs in a 2-1 A's loss...followed that appearance with 11 consecutive scoreless outings (10.0 ip, 4 h, 5 bb, 8 so) through August 23 and did not allow a run in 22 of his final 24 outings (3 er in 19.1 ip, 1.40 ERA)...posted a 1.46 ERA in 15 outings in August...stranded each of his 13 inherited runners over an 11-game span from August 17 to September 2...charged with his third and final blown save on September 16 at Anaheim...did not allow a run in four outings against Baltimore (1.2 ip) and has not allowed a run in 16 career outings (10.1 ip) against the Orioles.

2002

Appeared in a career high 71 games with the A's and Cleveland which ranked seventh in the American League...had a 4.79 ERA and a .263 opponents batting average in 46 games with the Indians when he was traded to the A's on July 30 for minor league infielder Marshall McDougall...compiled a 3.10 ERA and held the opposition to a .164 batting average in 25 games with the A's...then did not allow a run in two ALDS appearances against Minnesota (3.0 ip, 2 h, 2 so), retiring 9 of the 11 hitters that he faced...allowed 14 of his 62 inherited runners to score (22.6%) during the regular season which ranked seventh lowest among American League relievers...has allowed 46 of 243 (18.9%) inherited runners to score in his career which is the lowest percentage among active relievers with 200 or more inherited runners...walked 11 batters for an average of 1.77 per nine innings which ranked eighth among A.L. relievers...held first hitters to a .087 (2 for 23) batting average with Oakland and retired each of the final 11 first hitters that he faced...first batters faced were 14 for 63 (.222) with six walks and a hit by pitch for the season and are 67 for 315 (.213) in his career...allowed four home runs in 2002 and all came against the first batter he faced in an outing...combined with the A's and Cleveland for a 4.18 ERA and .230 opponents batting average...the average broke down to .203 (24 for 118) against left handers and .267 (23 for 86) against right handers...ranked tied for sixth among all A.L. pitchers in opponents batting average by left handers...now has a .204 (102 for 501) career average against left handed hitters...average rose to .286 (16 for 56) with runners in scoring position and opponents now have a .203 (61 for 300) career average with RISP...held the opponents one, two and three hitters to a .187 (17 for 91) batting average but they hit three of the four home runs off him...had a 3.23 ERA before the All-Star Break compared to 5.33 after the break but held the opposition to a .213 opponents batting average after the break compared to .243 before the break...was traded to the A's prior to the second game of a three-game series while the Indians were in Oakland and switched clubhouses...did not face the Indians that series, making his A's debut on August 1 against Detroit...retired all four hitters that he faced that night, three by strikeout...struck out 8 of the 12 batters he faced in his first four outings with the A's...did not allow a run in 12 of his first 13 outings with the A's (1 er in 11.2 ip, 0.77 ERA) through August 30...had his lone blown save with the A's and his fourth of the season on August 9 at New York, a game the A's would come back to win 3-2...allowed two runs on two hits and a walk without retiring a batter on August 31 against Minnesota and posted a 6.23 ERA (6 er in 8.2 ip) over his final 12 outings...recorded his only save of the season on September 20 against Texas, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning...that was part of a four game streak from September 13 to 22 where he retired all 12 batters that he faced...tossed one or more innings in 13 of his 25 outings with the A's but just 18 of his 46 with Cleveland...had just one outing of 2.0 innings and that came on April 20 at Minnesota...lowered his ERA in each of the first three months of the season, posting a 4.00 ERA in April, 3.00 in May and 2.31 in June...made his 300th career appearance on May 19 against Kansas City...had a 2.63 ERA on June 13 but then allowed at least one run in eight of his final 15 games with the Tribe (12 er in 11.2 ip, 9.26 ERA)...had a 13.50 ERA in nine outings in July, allowing three runs twice on July 11 against New York and July 18 against Minnesota...recorded his lone win of the season on July 14 against New York, retiring all five hitters that he faced in the Indians 10-7 win...did not allow a run in three outings (2.2 ip) against Baltimore and has not allowed a run in 12 career outings (8.2 ip) against the Orioles.

Career:
1990-began his professional career and won all three decisions. 1991-suffered the worst season of his career as he was 2-8 with a 6.54 ERA in 32 games, nine starts. 1992-worked a career-high 89.2 innings and set a single-season high in strikeouts (91). 1993-ranked 16th in the league in ERA (3.17)...set single-season minor league highs in wins (7) and games (57). 1994-was 2-4 with a 3.21 ERA and a save in 20 games, nine starts, in his first year at Mexico City. 1995-tied for third on the Mexico City staff in games (27). 1996-spent the season pitching with the Mexico City Reds, his final year in Mexico...led the staff in appearances (50) and saves (10)...his seven-year Mexican League totals included a 31-29 record, 27 saves and a 4.13 ERA (230 er in 501.0 ip) in 254 games, 46 starts. 1997-spent his first full season in the majors after signing with the Pirates at the end of spring training on March 30...ranked second behind teammate Rich Loiselle among National League rookies in saves (4)...also ranked second in the league behind Loiselle in appearances (62) and third among all major league rookies in that category...led the Pittsburgh pitching staff in strikeouts per nine innings (10.65)...made his major league debut on April 3 at San Francisco...picked up his first major league win on April 19 vs. Cincinnati and collected his second victory in his next outing (April 23 vs. Philadelphia)...tossed 2.0 scoreless innings and notched his first big-league save on May 1 vs. San Francisco...combined with Esteban Loaiza on a four-hit shutout, and picked up his second save, in a 3-0 win at Atlanta on May 3...was on the 15-day disabled list between June 20 and July 4 with an inflammation in his left shoulder...tossed 1.0 inning of relief and combined with Francisco Cordova on a 10-inning no-hitter vs. Houston on July 12...it was the first combined, extra-inning no-hitter in major league history...lost a career-high four consecutive decisions between August 1 and September 14...did not surrender a home run in his last 21 outings since August 1 (20 innings). 1998-posted career high in innings pitched (65.0) with the Pirates and shared the team lead in appearances (60) with Jason Christiansen despite starting the season on the 15-day disabled list...his 14 saves tied the Pittsburgh franchise record for most saves by a left-handed pitcher (also Ramon Hernandez in 1972, Grant Jackson in 1979 and Rod Scurry in 1982)...began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin...made two rehab stops along the way and was recalled from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the D.L. on April 14...picked up his first save of the season on April 24 at San Diego...made 13 consecutive appearances without being charged with an earned run between July 12 and August 13 (14.0 ip)...was successful in each of his first 14 save opportunities (last on August 13) before suffering his first blown save on August 15 at St. Louis. 1999-was inconsistent over the first four and a half months of the season and was outstanding over the last six weeks...despite not allowing a run over his first 17 appearances thru June 15 (10.1 ip, 6 h), he owned a record of 2-3 with a 5.58 ERA thru 43 appearances on August 18 (30.2 ip, 29 h, 19 er)...over his last 16 appearances from August 21 thru the end of year he went 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA (14.0 ip, 12 h, 3 er, 5 bb, 12 so) to lower his ERA to 4.43...his inherited runner percentage of 11.9 (5 of 42) was the lowest mark among all Major League relievers and his .182 (10 for 55) mark with runners in scoring position was the ninth lowest mark among AL relievers...was on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow from April 12 to May 14...the DL stint included a two game rehab assignment at Double-A Akron, May 11-13...it marked his third career stint on the disabled list...44 off his 59 outings were scoreless...made his first career post-season appearance in Game 3 of the Division Series at Boston and allowed three runs, all earned, over 0.2 ip (40.50 ERA)...allowed a three-run homer to Brian Daubach...signed to a one-year contract extension on May 26 thru 2001 with club options for 2002 and 2003. 2000-put together an impressive statistical season despite missing three months after undergoing left elbow surgery in early June...was placed on the 60-day disabled list on May 17 with bone spurs in his left elbow after experiencing discomfort in the region over the first six weeks of the season...had arthroscopic surgery on the elbow on June 8 in Birmingham, Alabama by Dr. James Andrews, who repaired the spurs and removed some debris from the region...at the time of the injury he was 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 16 games (9.1 ip, 8 h, 1 er)...rehabbed the injury in Cleveland before beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on August 20...was activated off the 60-day DL on August 23...after returning he went 0-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 19 appearances (10.2 ip, 9 h, 5 er, 9 bb, 10 so) to finish out the season...allowed only 1 of his 25 (4%) runners to score after leading the major leagues in that category (11.9%) in 1999...29 of his 35 outings were scoreless and 26 of 35 were less than 1.0 inning...held hitters to just a .167 (4 for 24) average with runners in scoring position on the year, the fourth lowest mark among American League relievers...allowed only one homer (Tony Batista on October 1) over his 35 appearances. 2001-was the club's most reliable left-hander, posting an impressive 2.83 ERA in 67 games...his 67 games were second only to Bob Wickman's 70 as were his 19 games finished...was healthy all season and for the first time in his major league career he did not spend any time on the disabled list...did not allow a run over his last 12 outings from August 30 thru the end of the season, covering 10.1 innings (3 h, 2 bb, 13 so)...notched his first save as an Indian on June 1 at New York, his first since August 13, 1998 at Cincinnati...his inherited runners mark of 17.7% (stranded 37 of 45) was the sixth best mark among American League relievers...major league hitters hit .223 off him with three home runs allowed...lefties hit .213 and right handed batters hit .233 with one home run allowed...yielded just a .182 average with runners in scoring position...batters were also 1 for 11 (.091) against him with the bases loaded and 5 for 27 (.185) with RISP and 2 outs...held the league to a .174 average against in the second half.

2001

Was the club's most reliable left-hander, posting an impressive 2.83 ERA in 67 games...his 67 games were second only to Bob Wickman's 70 as were his 19 games finished...was healthy all season and for the first time in his Major League career he did not spend any time on the disabled list...did not allow a run over his last 12 outings from August 30 thru the end of the season, covering 10.1 innings...notched his first save as an Indian on June 1 at New York, his first since August 13, 1998 at Cincinnati...his inherited runners mark of 17.7% (stranded 37 of 45) was the sixth best mark among American League relievers...Major League hitters hit .223 off him with three home runs allowed...lefties hit .213 and right handed batters hit .233 with one home run allowed...yielded just a .182 average with runners in scoring position...batters were also 1 for 11 (.091) against him with the bases loaded and 5 for 27 (.185) with RISP and 2 outs...held the league to a .174 average against in the second half.

2000

Was placed on the 60-day disabled list on May 17 with bone spurs in his left elbow after experiencing discomfort in the region over the first six weeks of the season...had arthroscopic surgery on the elbow on June 8 in Birmingham, Alabama by Dr. James Andrews, who repaired the spurs and removed some debris from the region...at the time of the injury he was 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 16 games...began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on August 20 and was activated off the 60-day DL on August 23...after returning he went 0-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 19 appearances to finish out the season...allowed only 1 of his 25 (4%) runners to score after leading the Major Leagues in that category (11.9%) in 1999...29 of his 35 outings were scoreless and 26 of 35 were less than 1.0 inning...held hitters to just a .167 average with runners in scoring position on the year, the fourth lowest mark among American League relievers...allowed only one homer (Tony Batista on October 1) over his 35 appearances.

1999

Despite not allowing a run over his first 17 appearances thru June 15 (10.1 ip), he owned a record of 2-3 with a 5.58 ERA thru 43 appearances on August 18...over his last 16 appearances from August 21 thru the end of year he went 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA...his inherited runner percentage of 11.9 (5 of 42) was the lowest mark among all Major League relievers and his .182 mark with runners in scoring position was the ninth lowest mark among AL relievers...was on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow from April 12 to May 14...the DL stint included a two game rehab assignment at Double-A Akron, May 11-13...it marked his third career stint on the disabled list...44 off his 59 outings were scoreless...made his first career postseason appearance in Game 3 of the Division Series at Boston and allowed three runs, all earned, over 0.2 ip (40.50 ERA)...allowed a three-run homer to Brian Daubach.

1998

Posted career high in innings pitched (65.0) with the Pirates and shared the team lead in appearances (60) with Jason Christiansen despite starting the season on the 15-day disabled list...his 14 saves tied the Pittsburgh franchise record for most saves by a left-handed pitcher...began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin...made two rehab stops along the way and was recalled from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the DL on April 14...picked up his first save of the season on April 24 at San Diego...made 13 consecutive appearances without being charged with an earned run between July 12 and August 13 (14.0 ip)...was successful in each of his first 14 save opportunities (last on August 13) before suffering his first blown save on August 15 at St. Louis.

1997

Spent his first full season in the majors after signing with the Pirates on March 30...ranked second behind teammate Rich Loiselle among National League rookies in saves (4)...also ranked second in the league behind Loiselle in appearances (62) and third among all Major League rookies in that category...led the Pittsburgh pitching staff in strikeouts per nine innings (10.65)...made his Major League debut on April 3 at San Francisco...picked up his first Major League win on April 19 vs. Cincinnati...tossed 2.0 scoreless innings and notched his first big-league save on May 1 vs. San Francisco...was on the 15- day disabled list between June 20 and July 4 with an inflammation in his left shoulder...tossed 1.0 inning of relief and combined with Francisco Cordova on a 10-inning no-hitter vs. Houston on July 12...it was the first combined, extra-inning no-hitter in Major League history...lost a career-high four consecutive decisions between August 1 and September 14...did not surrender a home run in his last 21 outings since August 1 (20 innings).

1996

Spent the season pitching with the Mexico City Reds, his final year in Mexico...led the staff in appearances (50) and saves (10)...his seven-year Mexican League totals included a 31-29 record, 27 saves and a 4.13 ERA (230 er in 501.0 ip) in 254 games, 46 starts.

1995

Tied for third on the Mexico City staff in games (27).

1994

Was 2-4 with a 3.21 ERA and a save in 20 games, nine starts, in his first year at Mexico City.

1993

Ranked 16th in the league in ERA (3.17)...set single-season minor league highs in wins (7) and games (57).

1992

Worked a professional best 89.2 innings and also set a single-season professional high in strikeouts (91).

1991

Suffered the worst season of his career as he was 2-8 with a 6.54 ERA in 32 games, nine starts.

1990

Began his professional career and won all three decisions.