| Chris Lambert | |
|---|---|
 Lambert with theToledo Mud Hens in 2009 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1983-03-08)March 8, 1983 (age 42) Burlingame, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 26, 2008, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 2009, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 1–3 |
| Earned run average | 7.36 |
| Strikeouts | 26 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Christopher Raymond Lambert (born March 8, 1983) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theDetroit Tigers andBaltimore Orioles.
Although born inCalifornia, Lambert moved toManchester, New Hampshire, where he attendedManchester Memorial High School. Lambert initially planned to attendHolderness School, but while playingAmerican Legion baseball the summer out of high school his 90–95 mphfastball attracted attention from college recruiters. With offers fromFlorida State University,Clemson,LSU andBoston College, Lambert opted for Boston College, praising its "great academic reputation", "very good baseball program" and its closeness to Manchester.[1] Lambert started at BC in early 2002, and immediately made a strong impression, going 9–3 with a 2.76ERA. TheBig East conference named him "Rookie of the Year" and "Pitcher of the Year", whileBaseball America granted him "Freshman All-America honors."[2] In the summer of 2002, Lambert pitched for theConcord Quarry Dogs of theNew England Collegiate Baseball League, going 3–2 with a 1.55ERA in nine appearances.[3] Lambert remained strong for the 2002-2003 academic year, posting an 8–2 record with a 2.71 ERA and continuing to receive accolades.[4] After the 2003 season, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theChatham A's of theCape Cod Baseball League.[5] Lambert returned to Boston College for a third year, going 6–4 with a 3.02 ERA. Impressed, theSt. Louis Cardinals selected Lambert as their No. 1 draft pick, 19th pick overall.[6]
The Cardinals assigned Lambert to the Single-APeoria Chiefs in theMidwest League and began playing immediately, posting a 1–1 record with an ERA of 2.38 in ninestarts. Promoted to the Single-APalm Beach Cardinals for the 2005 season he continued to dominate, going 7–1 with a 2.63 ERA in ten starts and earning a quick promotion to the Double-ASpringfield Cardinals in theTexas League. The transition to Double-A baseball proved difficult; Lambert went 3–8 with a 6.35 ERA. In an interview, Lambert admitted that he "hadn't pitched that well, yet."[7] A bright spot came at the end of the year when he was named to theUnited States national baseball team.[8]
Lambert returned to Double-A for the 2006 season and showed improvement, posting a winning record (10–9) and a lowered ERA of 5.30. Lambert made a single appearance at the end of the season with the Triple-AMemphis Redbirds, but was tagged for aloss, giving up threeruns in four innings. After stints inspring training and minor league camp to open the 2007 season, Lambert was back in Springfield again. After a strong start, however, the Cardinals promoted him to Memphis, this time for good. However, for the first time, Lambert would be working out of thebullpen: after years in the minors, he was no longer the power pitcher he had been in college.[9] Lambert was philosophical about the change: "I guess that's just the way they thought I'd get to the big leagues. I've had my good innings and bad innings."[10] Lambert would not, however, reach the majors with the Cardinals; on August 30, 2007, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers as theplayer to be named later to complete the deal which sent pitcherMike Maroth to the Cardinals. The Tigers assigned Lambert to theToledo Mud Hens, their Triple-A club.[11]
Lambert's time as a relief pitcher for Memphis had not been a success: in 28 appearances he was 1–4 with an ERA of 7.49. The Tigers, accordingly, returned Lambert to a starting role. He made one start at the tail end of the 2007 season; a six-inning performance in which he allowed just onehit whilestriking out ten. The Tigers invited Lambert to 2008spring training, but he did not make the major league cut and returned to Toledo, where he went 5–3 with an ERA of 3.37 in his first 12 starts.[12] On August 23, the Tigers announced their intention to recall Lambert to start on the 26th in place of the strugglingNate Robertson.[13] Lambert made his first major league debut for the Tigers on August 26, against theCleveland Indians. He struck out the first batter he faced, IndiansoutfielderGrady Sizemore, but would end up going 2-1, with an ERA of 5.66 to finish out the year.
Lambert was designated for assignment August 18, 2009.
Lambert was claimed off waivers by Baltimore August 20, 2009.[14] He would appear in four major-league games with Baltimore at the end of that season, pitching a total of5+2⁄3 innings, all in relief. His contract was not renewed for the following season, and he did not return to the minor leagues, so that his professional baseball career ended after 2009.