Friday, November 23, 2001
Scott Karl went into the 2001 baseball season intent on rebounding from the previous year, when he pitched for four different teams with mixed success. ‘Pretty much retired,’
Karl turns to real estateBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comIt just didn't work out that way even after he joined Pittsburgh's Triple A team in Nashville and posted a 4-3 record with a 3.83 earned run average in 14 starts.
"I thought I had a chance there. I thought I should have been called up by Pittsburgh, but they decided to go with younger pitchers," Karl said.
Instead, he was released June 25 and returned home to California to spend time with his family.
Karl recently spent a week in Japan at the invitation of the Hanshin Tigers, who were looking for a left-handed starter.
"I thought I did everything they wanted and coupled with the fact they haven't done too well the past couple of years, but they declined to offer me a contract," Karl said. "I think I'm pretty much retired now."
He also had offers to go to spring camp with several American teams, but none were accompanied with incentives and that didn't interest Karl.
He and his wife are proud parents of a baby daughter born Oct. 2. They have purchased a new house and are settling in. Karl has passed the California real estate exam and sees that as his new career.
Following three standout seasons as a Hawaii Rainbow, Karl was selected in the sixth round of the 1992 draft by Milwaukee. Three years later he made his major league debut with the Brewers.
He spent 10 summers in professional ball, six in the major leagues.
"I know every time I took the mound, I was as prepared as I could be. When I left the mound I knew I gave everything I had," said Karl. "If you prepare and do the things you should, you walk away with no regrets. I've never had to ask myself, 'What if I tried harder?'."
Two games come to mind when Karl recalls career highlights. One was in 1996 when he pitched a complete-game shutout at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, a rarity for a left-hander. The other was his ESPN debut, when he beat the New York Yankees and the pitcher they were hyping, Hideki Irabu, at Milwaukee with another complete game.
"I had a lot of firsts and a lot of good memories. I hit my first homer, my first triple and won 10 or more games four times. I did everything but steal a base," Karl said.
Notes: Former Rainbow Mark Johnson became a free agent Oct. 20 when the Detroit Tigers declined to include the right-hander on their 40-man roster. He has received interest from several clubs and is letting his agent sort through the offers.
Keith Luuloa is a six-year free agent and also is shopping around for a team that offers the opportunity to play in the major leagues.
The Boston Red Sox have signed infielder Allen Mundon, a 2000 graduate from Kapaa High School.
"I saw him play in a tournament this summer and was impressed with his fielding and hitting," said Boston scout Wally Komatsubara. "He's a shortstop, but we're looking at him as a second or third baseman. He's been working and was about to enter the military, so we we're lucky to get him."
Billy Pieper was released by the Kansas City Royals after one season with Spokane in the Northwest League, where he hit .142 in 37 games. Pieper, who hadn't played baseball since his days at Kamehameha, decided to give the pro game a shot after his football career at UCLA ended.
Infielder Miles Luuloa, after two seasons in the Detroit organization and a career .193 batting average, was released by the Tigers on Oct. 11.
Height: 6 feet 2 inches. Weight: 195 pounds. Throws: Left. Bats: Left. Scott Karl's career statistics
High school: Carlsbad (Calif.). College: Hawaii
Pitching
Year, Team, League G IP W L Pct. H ER BB SO ERA 1992-Helena, Pioneer 9 6123 7 0 1.000 54 10 16 57 1.46 1993-El Paso, Texas 27 180 13 8 .619 172 49 35 95 2.45 1994-New Orleans, Amer. Assoc. 15 89 5 5 .500 92 38 33 54 3.84 1994-El Paso, Texas 8 5423 5 1 .833 44 18 15 51 2.96 1995-New Orleans, Amer. Assoc. 8 4613 3 4 .429 47 17 12 29 3.30 1995-Milwaukee, American 25 124 6 7 .462 141 57 50 59 4.14 1996-Milwaukee, American 32 20713 13 9 .591 220 112 72 121 4.86 1997-Milwaukee, American 32 19313 10 13 .435 212 96 67 119 4.47 1998-Milwaukee, National 33 19213 10 11 .476 219 94 66 102 4.40 1999-Milwaukee, National 33 19723 11 11 .500 246 105 69 74 4.78 2000-Colorado Sprgs, Pacific Coast 2 1323 0 2 .000 15 10 3 9 5.66 2000-Colorado, National 17 6523 2 3 .400 95 56 33 29 7.68 2000-Lake Elsinore, California 1 7 1 0 1.000 5 0 1 5 0.00 2000-Anaheim, American 6 2123 2 2 .500 31 16 12 9 6.65 2001-Nashville, Pacific Coast 14 8423 4 3 .571 79 36 29 54 3.83 Minor League Totals 84 53623 38 33 .535 508 178 144 354 2.99 Major League Totals 178 1,002 54 56 .491 1,164 536 369 513 4.81
Batting Record
Year, Team, League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Avg. 1998-Milwaukee, National 33 56 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 .071 1999-Milwaukee, National 33 60 5 11 2 0 2 7 0 .183 2000-Colorado, National 15 14 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 .286 Major League Totals 81 130 11 19 2 1 2 7 0 .146
Highlights
>> Drafted in the 6th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, June 1, 1992. Signed June 6, 1992.
>> Led the Pioneer League in earned run average (1.46) and tied for the league lead in winning percentage (1.000) in 1992.
>> Named to the Pioneer League All-Star team in 1992.
>> Led the Texas League in innings pitched (180) and tied for the league lead in games started (27), complete games (4), shutouts (2) and balks (7) in 1993.
>> Named to the Texas League All-Star team in 1993.
>> On the New Orleans disabled list, April 27-May 31, 1994.
>> Pitched the Milwaukee Brewers' only complete-game shutout in 1996.
>> Made his major league debut May 24, 1995 against the Cleveland Indians. He pitched 2 innings, allowed 3 hits, no runs, no walks and struck out 1.
>> Led the Milwaukee Brewers in victories (13) in 1996.
>> Tied a Milwaukee record with 8 consecutive victories during the 1997 season.
>> Agreed to a three-year, $7 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, December 18, 1997.
>> Led Milwaukee in sacrifice hits (9), innings pitched (19223 ), hits allowed (219), runs (104) and earned runs (94) and tied for the team lead in wins (10) and walks (66) in 1998.