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Grant Balfour

35-Year-Old Pitcher – Oakland Athletics

2013 Stats

W-L

0-0

ERA

1.26

WHIP

1.12

K

29

SV

17

2013 RotoWire Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

K

SV

2013 Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Balfour was tabbed as the A's closer going into the season, but hiccuped early and relinquished the role to rookie Ryan Cook. He returned to his role at the end of games on August 11 and sprinted away...

Read more about Grant Balfour

LEAGUE: Majors   40 MAN: YES   BATS: R   THROWS: R   HT: 6' 2"   WT: 200   DOB: 12/30/1977   BORN: Sydney, Australia   COLLEGE: None   DRAFTED: No   Show ContractHide Contract

$

Grant Balfour Contract Information:

Had $4.5 option for 2013 picked up by the Athletics in October 2012.

June 11, 2013  –  Grant Balfour News

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Balfour converted a one-out save on Tuesday night for his 16th save on the season.

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Grant Balfour Stats
OPTIONS:   Show Partial SeasonsHide Partial Seasons      Show Minor League StatsHide Minor League Stats       Show 5x5 Stats OnlyShow All Statistics       Click stat headings to sort columns.
Year Age Lg Tm G GS SH IP H ER HR K BB W L SV BS HLD ERA WHIP
2006 28 A A 5 0 0 5.2 8 5 0 7 3 0 0 0 7.94 2.12
2006 28 A A 2 0 0 2.0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00
2007 29 AA HUN 8 0 0 11.3 8 3 0 21 4 0 0 2 2.38 1.06
2007 29 AAA NAS 24 0 0 32.0 17 6 2 47 11 1 1 5 1.69 0.88
2007 29 MAJ TAM 22 0 0 22.0 26 15 1 27 16 1 0 0 6.14 1.91
2007 29 MAJ MIL 3 0 0 2.7 4 6 1 3 4 0 2 0 20.25 3.00
2007  (Multiple Teams) 29 MAJ TAM/MIL 25 0 0 24.7 30 21 2 30 20 1 2 0 7.66 2.03
2008 30 AAA DUR 15 0 0 23.7 5 1 1 39 10 1 0 8 0.38 0.63
2008 30 MAJ TAM 51 0 0 58.3 28 10 3 82 24 6 2 4 1.54 0.89
2009 31 MAJ TAM 73 0 0 67.3 59 36 6 69 33 5 4 4 4.81 1.37
2010 32 A+ Cha 2 2 0 1.2 2 2 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 10.80 4.17
2010 32 MAJ TB 57 0 0 55.3 43 14 3 56 17 2 1 0 1 16 2.28 1.08
2011 33 AAA Sac 1 0 0 1.0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9.00 3.00
2011 33 MAJ OAK 62 0 0 62.0 44 17 8 59 20 5 2 2 5 26 2.47 1.03
2012 34 MAJ OAK 75 0 0 74.7 41 21 4 72 28 3 2 24 2 15 2.53 0.92
2013 35 MAJ OAK 29 0 0 28.7 20 4 3 29 12 0 0 17 0 0 1.26 1.12
AccuScore ROS Projections MAJ   Subscribe now to see the 2013 Rest Of Season AccuScore projections for Grant Balfour
2013 RotoWire Projections MAJ   Subscribe now to see our 2013 projections for Grant Balfour
3-Year Averages MAJ   64 0 0 64.0 42 17 5 62 21 3 1 8 2 19 2.39 0.98
Career  (View All) MAJ   427 1 0 439.0 326 158 39 471 192 27 14 51 3.24 1.18

Age is determined on July 1st of each season.       Jump To:     ▼ Advanced Stats      ▼ Pitcher vs. Batter Stats

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Grant Balfour Game Log    (View Full Game Log)
# of Days To Display:    Show 14Show 14    Show 30Show 30    Show 60Show 60
DATE OPP IP H R ER HR BB K HBP WP CG W-L SV BS HLD ERA WHIP
Jun. 13 NYY 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1.26 1.12
Jun. 12 NYY 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.30 1.16
Jun. 11 NYY 0.3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.35 1.13
Jun. 7 @CWS 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.37 1.10
Jun. 6 @CWS 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.42 1.14
Jun. 2 CWS 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.48 1.15
Jun. 1 CWS 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1.54 1.16
May. 29 @SF 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.61 1.16
May. 28 SF 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1.69 1.17
May. 27 SF 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.33 1.18
May. 24 @Hou 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.40 1.19
May. 21 @Tex 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.47 1.15
May. 18 KC 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.56 1.21
May. 17 KC 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.65 1.22
May. 14 Tex 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1.76 1.30
May. 11 @Sea 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.88 1.33
May. 5 @NYY 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 - 1 0 0 2.03 1.28
May. 3 @NYY 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 2.19 1.22
Apr. 30 LAA 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 2.25 1.25
Apr. 29 LAA 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 2.45 1.27
Apr. 28 Bal 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 3.00 1.22
Apr. 24 @Bos 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 2.25 1.13
Apr. 17 Hou 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 2.57 1.00
Apr. 16 Hou 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 1 0 0 1.50 0.83
Apr. 15 Hou 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 1.80 1.00
Last 14 Days
5 Games:  Avg. 0.9 IP/G
4.3 3 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0-0 4 0 0 0.00 0.92
Last 30 Days
14 Games:  Avg. 1.0 IP/G
13.3 7 1 1 1 5 11 0 0 0 0-0 11 0 0 0.68 0.90
Last 60 Days
25 Games:  Avg. 1.0 IP/G
24.7 16 3 3 2 11 27 0 1 0 0-0 16 0 0 1.09 1.09
Today's Game
AccuScore Projection
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Next 7 Days
AccuScore Projection
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Grant Balfour Split Stats    (View Full Split Stats)

Vs. Left

Year Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR BAA
2013531659101.188
2012151401621511.157
201112028921603.189

Vs. Right

Year Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR BAA
20136313711202.204
2012138321220503.163
2011122311123105.209

Home

Year IP W L SV K BB HR ERA WHIP
201318.300818531.961.09
201242.33011421021.060.69
201135.0311351331.801.03

Away

Year IP W L SV K BB HR ERA WHIP
201310.300911700.001.16
201232.30213301824.451.24
201127.021124753.331.04
Grant Balfour Advanced Stats
OPTIONS:   Show Partial SeasonsHide Partial Seasons      Show Minor League StatsHide Minor League Stats      Click stat headings to sort columns.
Year Age Lg Tm G GS IP K/9 BB/9 K/BB HR/9 GB/FB Ratio Strand % Fastball ERA FIP BABIP
2006 28 A A 5 0 5.2 12.12 5.19 2.33 0.00 54.5% 7.94 2.82 .511
2006 28 A A 2 0 2.0 13.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% 0.00 .20 .000
2007 29 AA HUN 8 0 11.3 16.68 3.18 5.25 0.00 75% 2.38 .55 .422
2007 29 AAA NAS 24 0 32.0 13.22 3.09 4.27 0.56 84.6% 1.69 2.11 .258
2007 29 MAJ TAM 22 0 22.0 11.05 6.55 1.69 0.41 1.10 65.9% 6.14 3.59 .416
2007 29 MAJ MIL 3 0 2.7 10.13 13.50 0.75 3.38 1.10 28.6% 20.25 10.48 .399
2007  (Multiple Teams) 29 MAJ TAM/MIL 25 0 24.7 10.95 7.30 1.50 0.73 1.10 60.4% 7.66 4.34 .414
2008 30 AAA DUR 15 0 23.7 14.83 3.80 3.90 0.38 100% 0.38 1.72 .126
2008 30 MAJ TAM 51 0 58.3 12.65 3.70 3.42 0.46 0.45 85.7% 94.6 MPH 1.54 2.33 .233
2009 31 MAJ TAM 73 0 67.3 9.22 4.41 2.09 0.80 0.75 65.1% 93.4 MPH 4.81 3.83 .305
2010 32 A+ Cha 2 2 1.2 15.00 22.50 0.67 0.00 60% 10.80 7.37 .591
2010 32 MAJ TB 57 0 55.3 9.11 2.77 3.29 0.49 0.62 80.7% 92.7 MPH 2.28 2.80 .286
2011 33 AAA Sac 1 0 1.0 0.00 9.00 0.00 0.00 66.7% 9.00 6.20 .415
2011 33 MAJ OAK 62 0 62.0 8.56 2.90 2.95 1.16 0.85 83.9% 92.8 MPH 2.47 3.94 .237
2012 34 MAJ OAK 75 0 74.7 8.68 3.38 2.57 0.48 0.85 73.8% 92.7 MPH 2.53 3.13 .211
2013 35 MAJ OAK 29 0 28.7 9.10 3.77 2.42 0.94 0.86 96.6% 93.2 MPH 1.26 3.79 .247
2013 Projections MAJ   Subscribe now to see our 2013 projections for Grant Balfour
3-Year Averages MAJ   64 0 64.0 8.72 2.95 2.95 0.70 79.3% 2.39 3.26 .238
Career MAJ   427 1 439.0 9.66 3.94 2.45 0.80 75.2% 3.24 3.56 .272

Age is determined on July 1st of each season.       Jump To:     ▲ Basic Stats      ▲ Split Stats      ▼ Pitcher vs. Batter Stats

No No

2013 Stat Review for Grant Balfour    As compared to the top 250 relief pitchers in 2012 (min 20 in)

K/BB/HR Stats

A collection of stats that measure different skills.

Explain This

2.42 K/BB
AVERAGE
9.10 K/9
GOOD
3.77 BB/9
WEAK
93.2 MPH Fastball
GOOD
0.9 HR/9
WEAK
0.86 GB/FB Ratio
BALANCED
ERA/WHIP/FIP

A few general measures of a pitcher's effectiveness.

Explain This

1.26 ERA
ELITE
1.12 WHIP
GOOD
3.79 FIP
AVERAGE
BABIP/Strand

Balls in play avg. and % of runners left stranded.

Explain This

.247 BABIP
LOW
96.6% Strand Rate
HIGH

2013 Projected Stats Breakdown for Grant Balfour

Overall Ratings

2013 projections compared to top pitchers in 2012.

???  Innings
Hidden  Show Rating
???  ERA
Hidden  Show Rating
???  WHIP
Hidden  Show Rating
???  Strikeouts
Hidden  Show Rating
???  Wins
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Oakland Athletics Roster

Career Pitcher vs. Batter Stats    (View All Matchup Data)

Worst Matchups for Grant Balfour (by OPS against, min 4 AB)

Batter Team AB H HR RBI BB K SB AVG SLG OPS
Mark Trumbo ANA 4 2 2 4 0 1 0 .500 2.000 2.500
Eric Thames SEA 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 .500 1.250 1.750
Vernon Wells NY-A 12 6 2 4 0 1 0 .500 1.167 1.667
Curtis Granderson NY-A 4 1 1 3 2 1 0 .250 1.000 1.500
Marco Scutaro SF 7 3 1 2 0 1 0 .429 1.000 1.429
Mark Teixeira NY-A 14 6 2 2 0 1 0 .429 .857 1.286
Aaron Hill AZ 6 2 1 1 1 0 0 .333 .833 1.262
Kevin Youkilis NY-A 7 2 0 3 3 2 1 .286 .714 1.260
Ryan Raburn CLE 4 2 0 0 0 2 0 .500 .750 1.250
Wilson Betemit BAL 4 1 1 3 0 1 0 .250 1.000 1.250

Best Matchups for Grant Balfour (by OPS against, min 4 AB)

Batter Team AB H HR RBI BB K SB AVG SLG OPS
Jed Lowrie OAK 6 0 0 0 0 4 0 .000 .000 .000
Denard Span WAS 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
Alexei Ramirez CHI-A 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
Trevor Plouffe MIN 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .000 .000
Shelley Duncan TB 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 .000 .000 .000
A.J. Pierzynski TEX 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 .000 .000
Adam Lind TOR 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 .000 .000 .000
Jeff Mathis MIA 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .000 .000
Chris Young OAK 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .000 .000
Dustin Ackley SEA 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .000 .000

Note: Stats are from 2002 through the 2012 season.     Jump To:     ▲ Basic Stats      ▲ Split Stats      ▲ Advanced Stats

Grant Balfour: Past News Updates   ( ▲ View most recent update )

Balfour picked up his 15th save of the season (he's 15-for-15 in save opportunities) with a clean ninth inning against the White Sox on Friday night.

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Balfour pitched a scoreless ninth inning Thursday night to convert his 14th save.

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Balfour survived two walks Friday night to save his 10th game in 10 save chances.

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Balfour pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his seventh save of the season and preserve the A's win over the Royals on Friday.

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Balfour pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save of the season Sunday afternoon.

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Balfour retired the only batter he faced (via strikeout) and registered his fourth save of the season as Oakland defeated the Yankees, 2-0, on Friday night.

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Balfour allowed one run in the ninth inning but was still able to record his third save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Astros.

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Balfour threw a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save Tuesday during Oakland's walkoff win against Houston.

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Balfour tossed a perfect ninth inning and earned his first save of the season in Saturday's win over the Astros.

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Manager Bob Melvin indicated that Balfour does not have any limitations and can pitch on back-to-back days, reports Casey Pratt of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

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Balfour will enter the 2013 campaign as Oakland's closer, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

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Balfour (knee) appeared in his first Cactus League game Thursday. He retired the side in order on nine pitches.

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RotoWire's Preseason Outlooks

2013

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2012

Balfour continued his run as one of the better setup men in baseball, allowing just 44 hits and 20 walks in 62.0 innings to go with 59 strikeouts. He got a brief look as the A's closer prior to Andrew Bailey's late-May return on the heels of a few poor outings by Brian Fuentes, and appears to be the favorite for the role with Andrew Bailey's trade to Boston. Keep in mind, however, that his 2.47 ERA was driven largely by an 89 percent strand rate and a fortunate .232 BABIP, so his 3.57 xFIP is probably a better indicator of what you can expect from him in that category in 2012.

2011

Balfour bounced back last season after a dismal 2009, posting a 2.28 ERA with a 1.084 WHIP. The key to his success was the Rays' ability to limit his outings, something they neglected during 2009 when he made a career-high 73 appearances. He's a solid reliever and will post good peripheral numbers in a setup role for Oakland this season. He's never been considered closer material despite having solid stuff so draft him only based on those strong peripheral numbers.

2010

Balfour regressed last season from his remarkable 2008 campaign, pitching his way to a 4.61 ERA. His strikeout rate declined (12.6 K/9IP in 2008 to 9.2 K/9IP in 2009) with a heavier workload possibly being the culprit (22 more appearances last year than 2008). Entering the season, Balfour will likely be among the leading candidates for saves if anything should happen to new closer Rafael Soriano, though manager Joe Maddon has preferred to use him in critical seventh- and eighth-inning situations in the past. If you need a middle reliever to count on for strikeouts, Balfour is your man.

2009

It was a breakout year for Balfour, and if Troy Percival doesn't return as the Rays' closer for 2009, Balfour would be a prime candidate to pitch in the ninth inning for the Rays. The only concerns would be Balfour's so-so postseason numbers in 2008 (six runs allowed, 19 baserunners in just 8.2 innings, seven strikeouts), and how quickly Balfour can be ready for Opening Day if he winds up as the closer for Australia at the World Baseball Classic.

2008

Balfour actually had a streak in August and September where he gave up just one run in 12 outings (18 strikeouts in 13.1 innings), and the Rays will hope that hot streak is more indicative of Balfour's talent than his finish (11 runs allowed in five innings over his final seven outings). The Rays will pencil Balfour in as part of their set-up crew going into the spring.

2007

Balfour spent all of the 2006 season rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder, pitching only nine innings in the minors last year. The Brewers claimed him off waivers in October, with the hope of reclaiming his once vast potential in the bullpen. There's no need to commit a roster spot to him in March, but watch from afar.

2006

Balfour missed the entire 2005 season after Tommy John surgery and then later during his comeback he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. Balfour showed promise in 2004 with a fastball that could top 95-mph while displaying outstanding control, but has struggled with injury issues throughout his career. He'll likely spend most of 2006 working his way back to full strength, and his career at this point is in doubt.

2005

Balfour overcame a slightly torn right labrum early in the 2004 season and made a strong impression in middle relief for the Twins. He especially opened eyes with a dominating performance in the playoffs where he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings and shut down the heart of the Yankees order late in a Game 4 first-round loss. With a fastball that can sometimes top 95-mph, Balfour strikes out more than a batter per inning with decent command (42/21 K/BB ratio). He could compete for the fifth starter job but more likely will return to middle relief. He has the kind of skill set that could pay big fantasy dividends if he falls into the right opportunity.

2004

Balfour enters the spring as one of the leading candidates for the fifth starter's job with the Twins. After spending three years in the bullpen, Balfour flourished when moved into the rotation at Triple-A Rochester. He pitched well out of the bullpen in the majors, but struggled in his one start. If he keeps up the kind of command he showed at Rochester, he could be a nice sleeper.

2003

Balfour was once labeled as the closer of the future for the Twins, but suddenly there is a line of talent ahead of him. He moved up to Triple-A Edmonton last season and held his own. Could get called up at some point this season, but will more likely compete for a bullpen spot in 2004.