Playing Career
He played with the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals all of the American League and the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins and New York Mets all of the National League. He is believed to be the fourth native Australian to pitch in Major League Baseball.
Lloyd was used exclusively as a relief pitcher during his ten years in the major leagues. He ended his career with 30 wins against 36 losses, 17 saves, and 97 holds. At his peak, Lloyd threw a sinking fastball that reached 90 miles (140 km) per hour and a slider. Later in his career, he added a palmball to his repertoire.
For much of his career, he was used as a matchup lefty, or LOOGY (lefty one out guy). This type of pitcher is used against an opposing team's star left-handed hitter(s) late in a game. Lloyd excelled in this role for the New York Yankees in 1998 when he posted a career-best 1.67 ERA. This effectiveness led to the Toronto Blue Jays demanding that Lloyd be included in a package anchored by starting pitcher David Wells when the Yankees traded for Toronto starting pitcher Roger Clemens.
Lloyd missed the entire 2000 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery. In 2001, he received the Tony Conigliaro Award.
Read more about this topic: Graeme Lloyd
Famous quotes containing the words playing and/or career:
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—Charlotte Davis Kasl (20th century)
“Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.”
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)