Tim Redding: Late 2000's Mets Pitcher (2009)
Timothy James Redding was Born on February 12, 1978 in Rochester, New York. Redding is the great nephew of actress Joyce Randolph. She is most famous for playing Ed Norton’s wife, Trixie on the classic television show Honeymooners. Randolph is the last surviving member of the Honeymooners cast, that also included "the great one" Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, Art Carney as Ed Norton & Audrey Meadows as Alice Kramden.
The five foot eleven right hander, attended Monroe College getting drafted in the 20th round of the 1997 amateur draft by the Houston Astros. By 2000 he was the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year , going 12-5 with a 2.68 ERA. In 2001 he was being ranked as the #3 prospect in the Houston organization. That year he was the Pitcher of the Year in the Texas League.
By 2003 he was a regular in the second place Astro rotation, finishing the year 10-13, as one of four Astros to win double figures. His ten wins were tied for third best on the staff along with Roy Oswalt. In 2004 he fell to 5-7 with a 5.72 ERA &found himself in the bull pen pitching in middle relief.The following Spring he was sent to the San Diego Padres, but after going 0-5, he was traded to the A.L. New York team, where he would only appeared in one game. He signed with the Chicago White Sox and spent 2006 at AAA Charlotte, going 12-10 with a 3.40 ERA.
He has a horrible Spring Training in 2007 & found himself without a major league team on Opening Day. In June he signed with the Washington Nationals, who needed a pitcher when their staff was depleted with injuries. He went 3-6 in 15 games posting a 3.64 ERA.
The following season he started off well, allowing just one hit on Opening Day, pitching seven scoreless innings to earn the win. He won three games in each of the first two months, but then didn't earn another winning decision for two months. By the All Star break he was 7-3, but then lost five of his next six. Although he struggled in the second half, going 3-8, he was the Nationals best pitcher. He was the only Washington pitcher to post double figures in wins going 10-11 while posting a 4.95 ERA. He led the staff in strikeouts (120) & innings (182 - tied with John Lannon). His record would have been better but the bad Washington bullpen blew a league leading seven saves for games in which Redding pitched.
He was let go to free agency & was signed by the New York Mets for the 2009 season. The Mets had hoped to get good things out of Redding, expecting him to be their fifth starter. But he had foot surgery in the off season & rushed himself back to soon.
It started out bad, when he was shut down in Spring Training with a shoulder injury. He was placed on the DL into May, not making his Mets debut until May 18th in a game at Dodger Stadium. He pitched well, allowing just two runs over six innings earning no decision in a 3-2 Mets loss.
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He got hit hard in his next two starts, allowing six runs in Boston to the Red Sox in 4.2 innings of work. He then gave up seven runs to the Florida Marlins, taking losses in both games. By the first week of July, his ERA was at seven & he was placed in the bull pen, pitching in relief until the end of August. On August 27th he pitched into the 7th inning & earned a win over the Marlins in Florida. After two more losing decisions, he earned a September 19th win over his old Nationals team mates at Citi Field.Redding finished the year at 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA. He struck out 76 batters & walked 50 while pitching in 30 games (17 starts) allowing 18 HRs. He was let go to free agency & played in the Dodgers organization in 2011. He was 2-7 at AAA Albuquerque with a 6.59 ERA. In 2012 he pitched in the Blue Jays organization as well as the Independant League.
In his eight year career, Redding is 37-57 with a 4.95 ERA. He struck out 552 batters, walked 337 while pitching in 822 innings in 179 games (144 starts).