Athletes - Danny Kolb

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	Athletes - Danny Kolb

Daniel Lee ("Danny" or "Dan") Kolb (born March 29, 1975 in Sterling, Illinois) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. Kolb has also played with the Texas Rangers (1999-2002) and Atlanta Braves (2005). He bats and throws right handed.

Kolb was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1995 and made his major league with Texas in 1999. He spent that season and the next three being shuttled between the Rangers and their minor league system. Released before the 2003 season, he signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he became the team closer and shined in that role in 2003-04, converting 60 of 67 save opportunities.

Before 2005, the Atlanta Braves, trying to return John Smoltz as a starter in light of several losses in their pitching rotation, traded young pitcher José Capellán and a minor leaguer to the Brewers for Kolb, intending to make him their new closer. However, Kolb endured a very trying season with the Braves, going 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA while recording only 15 saves before being replaced in the closer's role by Chris Reitsma. Because of his struggles, Kolb was often booed at Braves' home games. He admitted following the '05 season that the pressure of replacing a legend like Smoltz at closer played a big part in his ineffectiveness.

At the 2005 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, Kolb was traded back to Milwaukee in exchange for reliever Wes Obermueller.

Kolb made $3.4 million while pitching for Atlanta. Baseball rules prohibit cutting a player's salary by more than 20% from one season to the next. The Brewers decided to "non-tender" Kolb so they could work out a new deal without going to arbitration.

Kolb was cut by the Milwaukee Brewers once again on December 19, 2005, then signed a one year $2 million deal with the Brewers on January 4, 2006. He will be a set up man to current Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow.

Facts

Attended college at Illinois State University
Is married to his wife, Joy Ann, and they have two daughters, Sidney Lee and Kantthrowstrikes
Is a muscle car collector
Hated by numerous Atlanta fans because of his repeated failure on the mound
Is known to intimidate opposing batters with his thick beard

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Danny Kolb ]

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