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Steve Cishek To Retire

By Darragh McDonald | December 30, 2022 at 9:11pm CDT

Relief pitcher Steve Cishek is retiring. “It’s time,” Cishek tells Rich Maclone of The Bourne Enterprise. “It’s gotten harder for me to bounce back game-to-game. The ball wasn’t coming out as crisp as before, and it felt like I had to pitch differently. I know I’ll get the bug and want to get back out there, but I don’t think I’m pulling a Tom Brady.”

Cishek was drafted by the Marlins in 2007 and eventually made his major league debut with them in 2010. He only got to pitch 4 1/3 innings that year but got a more substantial showing in the following season. He made 45 appearances in 2008, tossing 54 2/3 frames with a 2.63 ERA, 24% strikeout rate, 8.3% walk rate and 56.8% ground ball rate.

Cishek worked his way up to high-leverage spots, recording three saves and a couple of holds in that 2008 campaign. He followed that up with 15 saves in 2009 and then got 34 and 39 in the two following years. Giving hitters fits with his sidearm delivery, Cishek was able to both get strikeouts and ground ball at above-average rates, a difficult combination to pull off.

In 2015, he was traded from the Marlins to the Cardinals after spending parts of six seasons in Miami. He would go into journeyman mode from there, spending time with the Mariners, Rays, Cubs, White Sox, Angels and Nationals. He pitched in 13 MLB seasons from 2010 to 2022.

In Cishek’s career, he got into 737 games, tossing 710 2/3 innings with a 2.98 ERA. He struck out 24.8% of the batters he faced and got grounders on 48.3% of balls in play. He recorded 133 saves, 109 holds and 33 wins. MLBTR congratulates him on a fine career and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

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View Comments (85)
Post a Comment

85 Comments

  1. kiddhoff

    3 years ago

    Zoinks!

    3
    Reply
    • Deadguy

      3 years ago

      He came up with the team known as the Florida Marlins, pretty good relief pitcher, not many better

      Reply
  2. formegn hardgin

    3 years ago

    Finally time to sell sea shells by the sea shore.

    29
    Reply
  3. Eovaldismemes

    3 years ago

    “I’m not pulling a Tom Brady ”

    9
    Reply
    • Baseball Purist

      3 years ago

      Basically he said that he will never be the GOAT and have rings on both hands

      Reply
      • User 899214610

        3 years ago

        Actually it translated to I’m not an idiot like Tom and I know when to hang it up. You’re literary skills lack.

        1
        Reply
        • StephCurry'sWiggleMove

          3 years ago

          *your

          If you plan to reprimand people on their literary skills, try using proper grammar.

          3
          Reply
        • Baseball Purist

          3 years ago

          The GOAT is still in playoff contention with a crappy team.. my literary skills are fine.

          Reply
        • Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes

          3 years ago

          Considering that is auto-corrected 1/2 the time. That tired “gotcha” to someone else’s “gotcha” is annoying, plus you’re wrong and he was right. The first guy failed literacy which has more to do with reading comprehension. Your criticism of the second guy is grammatical which has to do with semantics more than anything else.

          Many great writers have poor grammar making it possible for a whole industry to exist called editors. Petty “gotchas” are very annoying and I brought this up because the first guy completely misinterpreted the quote, while the second guy corrected it, even if a little too judgemental in his form of delivery, it at least was on topic. Yours was out of leftfield, pun intended, and only served to make yourself look smarter.

          My comment is to let you know all of this, “let me tell you about the English language” is stupid and in most cases doubles down on the side of being wrong. Rarely does the English professor, profess to tell another how another’s English is suboptimal. I would have never commented other than to prevent it from happening more often, even if it requires me to be guilty of the same crime.

          Most importantly typos are part of a written community, so failure to understand context is also common while probably being less forgivable. In the end, I hope we can stop acting like we need every comment edited when the context is clear and transparent despite the wrong use of “your or you’re” and “their, there, or they’re.”

          3
          Reply
        • letsplaytwo

          3 years ago

          Well, their ‘ya go Angel guy. There weaknesses will be they’re downfall.
          Your not upset about you’re inability to hit a curveball, are you? 🙂

          1
          Reply
  4. abc123baseball

    3 years ago

    When Tom Brady retires, he’s going to be like “I think I’m pulling a Steve Cishek.”

    37
    Reply
    • Fire Krall

      3 years ago

      applause!

      3
      Reply
  5. SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs

    3 years ago

    Good career. I always liked his delivery.

    18
    Reply
    • BPax

      3 years ago

      When he was a Mariner, I went to a game early to watch batting practice. He was shagging balls in left field when I yelled down to him to toss me a ball. He tossed one up perfectly to where I was standing. I yelled thanks and he smiled and waved. I have been a fan ever since and followed him in the box scores after he left the team.
      Good luck in retirement Mr. Cishek!

      37
      Reply
      • avenger65

        3 years ago

        I think there’s only sidearmer left in MLB, and I believe he pitches for the Giants. Sidearm wind ups are getting extinct along with the knuckle ball (not the knuckle curve or split finger fb), the pitch out and catchers giving pitchers signals with their fingers.

        1
        Reply
        • Poster formerly known as . . .

          3 years ago

          Adam Cimber of the Blue Jays pitches sidearm with a submarine delivery.

          1
          Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          3 years ago

          Scott Effross is kind of a sidearm pitcher. He’s put for 2023 anyway though.

          1
          Reply
        • Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes

          3 years ago

          But Cishek did it at 95+ for many years. Wyatt Mills is supposed to be a better comp for velocity and delivery from what I understand, but it’s whether he can maintain it moving forward and be effective enough to get to the majors and stay there.

          Reply
  6. yankees500

    3 years ago

    Ended with an ERA under 3 and over $40 million in career earnings. Not bad at all

    38
    Reply
    • orange2001

      3 years ago

      Well deserved.

      5
      Reply
    • toptimrubies

      3 years ago

      Very nice career.

      1
      Reply
    • Kruk's Beer League

      3 years ago

      Hit that ten year service mark as well.

      4
      Reply
    • Cora the Destroya

      3 years ago

      Too bad he didn’t get a World Series

      1
      Reply
  7. nitnontu

    3 years ago

    Pretty good career. Wonder why he became a side arm pitcher. Is the side arm throw easier on the arm? Do side armers usually start out as conventional pitchers and change because of injury?

    2
    Reply
    • guilderc

      3 years ago

      Obviously I was never a pro, but at a young age I suffered a back injury, and lowered my arm angle to help. Happened more naturally as opposed to me intentionally lowering it for back support, but I pitched for years and years after. Either that relates to your question or I’m just rambling. Belated Happy Holidays to you, Nit.

      9
      Reply
    • cbraves

      3 years ago

      I was a side armer when I played. It was just my natural delivery. Coaches always tried to change it but when I tried throwing overhand, my arm would be sore and I lost a lot of movement on the ball.

      7
      Reply
  8. fre5hwind

    3 years ago

    His funky sidearm delivery was so cool, oh and his beard to.

    4
    Reply
  9. Pants Rowland

    3 years ago

    Down by the Cishek
    See the boats go sailin’
    Can the people hear
    What the little fish are sayin’…

    4
    Reply
  10. sascoach2003

    3 years ago

    Damn fine career and good luck in retirement

    5
    Reply
  11. RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

    3 years ago

    Solid bullpen piece who had a damn good career. Best of luck in your next journey Steve.

    5
    Reply
  12. joepanikatthedisco

    3 years ago

    Alright fellas: Now that Cishek is retired, who’s got the prettiest eyes in MLB?

    4
    Reply
    • agnes gooch

      3 years ago

      @joepanikatthedisco- I’m not a fella, but Kevin Kiermaier has the prettiest eyes in MLB by a mile

      6
      Reply
    • tstats

      3 years ago

      Kevin K hands down

      1
      Reply
    • Pants Rowland

      3 years ago

      Suzyn Waldman

      1
      Reply
    • the lurking ecologist

      3 years ago

      Kris Bryant

      4
      Reply
    • Pants Rowland

      3 years ago

      the fake mustachioed sunglasses wearing Bobby Valentine

      2
      Reply
    • pinstripes17

      3 years ago

      Patrick Wisdom

      Reply
    • Blue Baron

      3 years ago

      Max Scherzer with the two colors.

      5
      Reply
      • Pants Rowland

        3 years ago

        Mad Max’s brown eye for the win!

        2
        Reply
    • dirkg

      3 years ago

      Fish eye Ryan Braun

      Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      3 years ago

      I was so surprised to learn during the World Series that the Houston Astros have cheerleaders…(that’s totally Texas so I shouldn’t be too shocked lol)…anyways so my vote for best eyes in MLB go to the Astros cheer squad ladies.

      1
      Reply
      • Blue Baron

        3 years ago

        Nobody looks at their eyes!

        2
        Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          3 years ago

          I almost spit out my orange juice, I’m writing that one down, Baron ! Oh boy.

          1
          Reply
  13. BeansforJesus

    3 years ago

    The Bourne Enterprise?

    Now that’s a crossover nobody saw coming or even asked for.

    Reply
    • MLB Top 100 Commenter

      3 years ago

      Not middling, a “good” career.

      1
      Reply
  14. Gwynning's Anal Lover

    3 years ago

    HOF. Okay, maybe not but it was fun watching him pitch and I hope he makes a mid season comeback.

    1
    Reply
  15. matt7

    3 years ago

    Pretty decent career. Almost hard to believe he only threw 0.2 playoff innings after logging all that time in the big leagues.

    2
    Reply
    • disadvantage

      3 years ago

      King Felix would have killed for those 0.2 innings.

      4
      Reply
    • Holy Cow!

      3 years ago

      Two pitches to DJ LeMahieu, a GIDP, and out of the inning.

      1
      Reply
  16. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    3 years ago

    Made a lot of money for a middling career. Good for Cishek.

    Reply
    • DTD/ATL1313

      3 years ago

      Middling? Career ERA under 3, well over 100 saves, over 100 holds… I’d say that’s a solid, very good career.

      10
      Reply
      • MLB Top 100 Commenter

        3 years ago

        Agree. I see that the post that we both responded to is now gone.

        1
        Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      3 years ago

      What part of his career makes it “middling”?

      Reply
  17. This one belongs to the Reds

    3 years ago

    Always liked him and thought the Reds could have used him in that park. Good luck in retirement.

    2
    Reply
    • CravenMoorehead

      3 years ago

      Had some pretty decent years, intriguing delivery that definitely gave hitters issues.

      4
      Reply
  18. Rsox

    3 years ago

    Cishek looked like he was toast in 2015 in Miami. Bounced around and became a journeyman racking up 133 Saves in his career, plus the aforementioned $40 million in career earnings. Not a bad career

    2
    Reply
  19. Duffy S. Cliff

    3 years ago

    Darragh, I hate to be that guy, but you have some major errors in paragraphs 2 and 3, regarding seasons Cishek pitched. Could you revise those? Thanks!

    6
    Reply
    • myaccount2

      3 years ago

      I noticed that, too. His 15 saves were in 2012, I believe, with 34 saves in 2013 and 39 in 2014. He had it as 2008, 2009, and 2010.

      1
      Reply
      • avenger65

        3 years ago

        He was probably on a deadline and these things happen when you have to get a story out in a short amount of time. Amazing that, with that time frame, how few errors the MLBTR writer’s make and how they get so much statistical info into an article.

        Reply
        • myaccount2

          3 years ago

          It happens. Time crunch or no time crunch, people are allowed to make errors. The writers do an excellent job.

          Reply
        • Duffy S. Cliff

          3 years ago

          I absolutely agree with you, 100%. But the errors still make for an extremely confusing part of the article and should be fixed. I don’t think any less of the writers and I think they can handle a little feedback.

          Reply
        • myaccount2

          3 years ago

          Oh, agreed. I was actually responding to the other person as I initially noticed the errors, as well.

          Reply
        • swinging wood

          3 years ago

          The guy is retired. What’s the hurry to rush out an article?

          Reply
  20. Rangers29

    3 years ago

    Great career, hope retirement treats him well!

    4
    Reply
  21. vaderzim

    3 years ago

    I’ll miss Bullpen Daddy from a 2022 of hardship in Natsland. He had a better year than I remember, so I thought somebody would give him a 1 Year/$2-4 Million guaranteed. Perhaps it’s just time for him. Best of relaxation in retirement Steve!

    2
    Reply
  22. junkyard

    3 years ago

    dziękuję

    Reply
    • BaseballBrian

      3 years ago

      Matsuzaka?

      Reply
      • phenomenalajs

        3 years ago

        No, what junkyard said was Polish (or Borat) for “domo aregato.”

        Reply
  23. In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani

    3 years ago

    A very sad day for baseball

    1
    Reply
  24. Saint Nick

    3 years ago

    I felt like he’s been around forever. Great career.

    2
    Reply
  25. DTD/ATL1313

    3 years ago

    Very good career and a very consistent pitcher, enjoy retirement sir

    3
    Reply
  26. davemlaw

    3 years ago

    He’ll be back mid season when he’s most needed and can stay fresh for 3 months. Can’t help it and the money will be there.

    Reply
    • Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

      3 years ago

      Was hoping my Phillies would sign him with a ST invite.

      Reply
  27. Wilmer the Thrillmer

    3 years ago

    4th in the NL in appearances in 2022. 2.98 lifetime ERA. Made over 40mil. That’ll work. Enjoy the next phase in your life!

    Reply
  28. NoNeckWilliams

    3 years ago

    Cishek should build his wife a she shack.

    Reply
  29. Get Off My Mound

    3 years ago

    Underrated career if you ask me. Or atleast not mentioned enough how good he actually was. Was a beast in all the 2k games, lol.

    2
    Reply
    • Bill M

      3 years ago

      Always liked I’m. I thought there was a big more left in the tank

      1
      Reply
  30. Ichirosasaki

    3 years ago

    I’ll miss one of my favorite nickname. Ce-schek-son!

    Reply
  31. Baseball Purist

    3 years ago

    Do we gave any side-armers left in the league? Who and what team? I go back to the Kent Tekulve days so it does give me a touch of nostalgia everything I see them pitch.

    Reply
  32. detroitfan69

    3 years ago

    Future Hall of Famer for sure

    Reply
  33. detroitfan69

    3 years ago

    My post don’t count they won’t post says server air

    Reply
  34. miltpappas

    3 years ago

    Best to you, Steve. 737 appearances and a sub-3.00 ERA career is pretty darn good.

    Reply
  35. Mickey Steverman

    3 years ago

    Solid career, good dude. Tom Brady, he is not, but all the best to him post-baseball-career. Wish the game had more sidewinders like Steve, he was actually fun to watch pitch. I always enjoyed pitching with him in MLB The Show.

    Reply
  36. DanielDannyDano

    3 years ago

    Steve Cishek was a solid Major Leaguer. Nuf ced

    Reply
  37. nrd1138

    3 years ago

    Cishek was a pretty good pitcher, and seeing the other comments on here, had pretty solid stats and earnings through his career..
    Though it is sad that this is the latest ‘White Sox’ related story on mlbtraderumors instead of them actually trying to make their team better.

    Reply

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