Athletes - Tony Graffanino

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	Athletes - Tony Graffanino

Anthony Joseph (Tony) Graffanino (born June 6, 1972 in Amityville, New York) is an infielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the Atlanta Braves (1996-98), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999-2000), Chicago White Sox (2000-03), Kansas City Royals (2004-05) and Boston Red Sox (2005). He bats and throws right-handed. On March 26, 2006, Graffanino was placed on waivers, meaning any team can attain him as long as they take on his salary.

Career

In a ten-season career, Graffanino is a .268 hitter with 42 home runs and 213 RBI in 759 games.

Graffanino is primarily a contact hitter (just 369 strikeouts in 2100 big-league at-bats before this season) who is able to get on base (career .336 OBP) – and his speed is above average, with 48 stolen bases in 68 attempts. He excels as a situational hitter, being capable of hitting behind the runner and dropping down a bunt. As a fielder, he has the hability to play every infield position and left field. He has an above-average arm, which helps him in the LF and on the left side of the infield.

After spending three years with the Braves, 2 1⁄2 seasons with Tampa Bay, and another 3 1⁄2 with the White Sox, Graffanino played only second base for Kansas City in 2004, but he has moved around more in 2005. Obtained by the Boston Red Sox after the All-Star Game, he started at second base following the cut of Mark Bellhorn.

In 2005 Graffanino hit .298 for the Royals and .319 with the Red Sox for a combined .309 (117-for-379), a career high. He also posted career numbers in RBI (38), runs (68), doubles (17), games (110), and hits.

Fact

Graffanino has been very active in the community during his career. in 2002, he coordinated and led baseball clinics for boys and girls from Mercy Home at U.S. Cellular Field and signed autographs at the James R. Thompson Center to promote the need for organ donors.

Lowlight

Unfortunately, Graffanino is well remembered for his critical error in Game Two of the 2005 American League Division Series. With Boston leading 4-2 over the White Sox in the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out, man on first, and Juan Uribe
at the plate, Graffanino takes his eye off of a slow grounder, thus allowing an easy catch to go through his legs. Two batters later, Tadahito Iguchi
hits a three-run home run, to put the White Sox in the lead for good, 5–4, to take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS. The Red Sox lost the series 3 games to none, and the White Sox went on to win the World Series for the first time since 1917.

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