Where Did Brian Daubach Go??

[DickZ]

Does anybody know where Brian Daubach is now? I remember seeing him in the Red Sox uniform during the regular season, but he wasn't with the post-season squad.

He doesn't seem to be listed with any other teams for 2004 in the various online baseball information sources.

[VTSoxFan]

After spending almost half the season with the Sox, he was sent to Pawtucket when Nomar was activated and spent the rest of the season there. He was dropped from the 40-man roster due to a plethora of 1B-DH type players.

He was, however, according to Howie Singer (Sox in the City, www.theremyreport.com ) with the team at least as a spectator in St L. and was welcomed with open arms. He probably won't be with the club this coming season, what with Millar, Ortiz and Minentkeiwicz on hand. :(

I always liked the guy. I hope he gets a share, and a ring.

[DickZ]

.... I always liked the guy. I hope he gets a share, and a ring. ...

Thanks, Annie. I liked him too. I remember a couple of Ortiz-like game winning home runs in regular season games, but they were probably a few years ago - before he went off to the White Sox and later returned.

[VTSoxFan]

I'm dusting off this old thread, having found a rather poignant article while Googling for info on one of my favorite players this morning:

Dauber article (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12617675&BRD=1713&PAG=461&dept_id=24490&rfi=6)

Ol' Dauber may have been streaky, but he never complained. I'd love to see him back again, but he doesn't fit the Jamesian mold.

[SoxSon]

That's a really nice, sad article, Annie.
I, too, have always had a soft spot for Daubach.

[RedSoxFan4eva]

I always wondered what happened to Daubach.
Thanks for the info.

[norride6]

my favorite memory of dauber was back in 2000. i live in jersey and made my annual trek up to fenway for some games. the sox were playing the jays and it started to rain. the stadium cleared out so i was able to move intot he first row. in the bottom of the tenth with a guy on dauber hit an opposite field shot over the monster to win it. he had the biggest smile on his face as he hit home plate. i have liked him ever since.

as a side note, this guy might be one of the most liked red sox guys in recent memory, behind sweet lou merloni. Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan spend a decent amount of time rooting for him in their book

[FlashGordon]

as a side note, this guy might be one of the most liked red sox guys in recent memory, behind sweet lou merloni.Among the fans, yes. There is some lingering resentment toward him from players around the league who still think of him as a scab. He was once hit by a pitch (in Tampa Bay, I think) and it was rumored that the motive was his work as a replacement in early 1995.

[VTSoxFan]

From all I've read, about him being a well-liked teammate, I don't think any of his mates on the Sox resented him for that. Sweet Lou Merloni himself was a replacement player, too, and was welcomed in the Sox clubhouse. Other players on other teams might have resented him -- quite possibly the motivation behind the Rays' repeated attempts to bean him in the Aug. 29, '00 game (they missed him every time) -- but his sox teammates welcomed him back in '04 with open arms.

[VTSoxFan]

I found this today in the Mailbag (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/news/bos_news.jsp?ymd=20050211&content_id=942019&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp) feature at redsox.com:

I am really excited about Kevin Millar staying with the team and Doug Mientkiewicz being traded. I think that was the right decision. Is there any talk about Brian Daubach returning to the big club? I thought he made great contributions when called up and is wasting his talent in Pawtucket. Is Daubach invited to Spring Training? I think he would be a better backup for Millar than David McCarty. -- Chris L., New Bedford, Mass.

Daubach does not factor in to the team's plans for this season. Daubach remains unsigned, so I'm not sure if he might be playing in an Independent League or somewhere else. The Red Sox think they'll be fine with McCarty or Kevin Youkilis backing up Millar, and David Ortiz will also spend time there. A darkhorse might be Roberto Petagine, who was a force in Japan the last six years and recently signed a minor league deal with Boston.

:(

[mef]

Update on Brian

The Mets sent LHP Tim Hamulack and catchers Jesus Flores and John Pachot to minor-league camp, leaving 59 players with the big club. Flores, 20, is a fast-rising prospect who should begin the season at Single-A Hagerstown or St. Lucie. ... 1B/OF Brian Daubach, who hit .294 with 21 homers and 73 RBI as a Red Sox rookie in 1999, is in minor-league camp. ... Kris Benson, rained out five days ago, makes his first Grapefruit League start today, against Orioles LHP Erik Bedard.

Hope he gets a chance!

[VTSoxFan]

Thanks for the update, mef. I was hoping someone would pick him up; he really deserves a chance. Streaky within a season though he is, he's remarkably consistent year-to-year if he gets the playing time. He's also a solid defensive 1B, much better than he's given credit for.

After the '03 season I read in Sports Weekly, in Bob Nightingale's column (I do believe) that as a member of the White Sox, Dauber was the "most misused player in the majors."

This guy must really, really love The Game, to stick with it after being shoved aside as he has been in the last couple of years.

Good luck, Dauber!

[lldevo]

Thanks for the article, Annie. Daubach was one my family's favorites for his love of the game and team attitude. It was great for my son to have a role model who was more about team than himself. I hope somebody gives him a shot -he could surprise someone else just like he surprised the Sox his first year.

[uthminsta]

I just moved to central Georgia a few months ago, but I used to live, for about 4 years, where Brian is from - Belleville, IL. I never met him, but some of the men from the church where I worked in Belleville said he was a really nice guy who just happened to be great at baseball.

There are a total of 18 past and present MLB players born in Belleville. Some recent ones:

Neal Cotts, who debuted in 2003
T. J. Mathews, 1995-2002
Brent Brede, 1996-1998

Just a little interesting stuff from baseball-reference.com, where you can apparently find out anything.

[rsocks4418]

Daubach was also one of my favs. Although he didn't play very much, he was still very passionate about the game. He's kinda like Adam Hyzdu. He's great.

[Betelgeuse]

What I love about Dauber is that he is such a quintessential hard-scrabbling dirt dog kind of guy...no pretensions, probably not the most gifted athlete, but a testament to hard work, persistence and positive attitude...and welcome to the real world, not always being rewarded.

Even the story of his wedding is heartwarming, but with a "but" (I might be a bit fuzzy on the details). I think he met his future wife in Baltimore which was cool because the Sox visited the Orioles at least three times during the season. But by the time he was ready to propose he was with the White Sox and his window of opportunity was down to one set of away games, when he did propose. They got married after the 2003 season, and , of course, he got cut by the White Sox while on honeymoon!!!

In any case, the latest on Brian: he's starting out the season in the Mets system with AAA Norfolk in the International League. And a final note, just before the regular season started, you remember Pedro pitched to the Mets minor leaguers to work out some back stiffness...he whiffed Brian with a nasty breaking ball!

[Ichiro51]

I saw Daubach playing tonight with the Norfolk Tides in Durham.

[uthminsta]

Is this also where Jeff Keppinger is playing?

If so, then by an amazing coincidence, two of the MLB-caliber people I "know" may be on the same team! The preacher at the church where I minister is Jeff's uncle. Wow.

[mef]

http://www.norfolktides.com/news/?id=7368

yes Keppinger is there as well

Brian Daubach - one of my all time favorites is doing well at Norfolk. He leads the team with 5 HRs and is batting .297

Player AVG G AB R H H2B H3B HR RBI TB

J Keppinger .349 17 63 16 22 3 3 0 6 31
B Daubach .297 18 64 14 19 6 0 5 21 40

[mef]

http://www.norfolktides.com/news/?id=7376
"Brian Daubach continued his hot hitting with three hits and a home run as the Tides knocked off the Durham Bulls 9-4 Monday night.

Jeff Keppinger also homered as the Tides hit four home runs in a game for the first time this season. "


http://www.norfolktides.com/news/?id=7369

April 25, 2005 - Brian Daubach has been named the International League Player of the Week after hitting .400 with three home runs and 12 RBI during the week of April 18 - April 24.

Sox should have kept him and gotten rid of Millar, I think they are equal players, but Daubach has a more professional attitude

[Ichiro51]

Is this also where Jeff Keppinger is playing?

If so, then by an amazing coincidence, two of the MLB-caliber people I "know" may be on the same team! The preacher at the church where I minister is Jeff's uncle. Wow.

Yes, I had an opportunity to meet Jeff too and he look like he's getting bald! :eek: Daubach has a great serie at Durham.

[FlashGordon]

Sox should have kept him and gotten rid of Millar, I think they are equal players, but Daubach has a more professional attitudeI'll agree that Daubach has a more professional attitude but I'll dissent on them as equal players. I love Dauber, but he'd likely be a bench player behind Millar.

[SoxSon]

I'll agree that Daubach has a more professional attitude but I'll dissent on them as equal players. I love Dauber, but he'd likely be a bench player behind Millar.


Daubach is twice the defensive player that Millar is (granted, that's not tough). I've always felt that he had more offensive potential than was getting out. I just don't think he ever saw enough consistent at-bats to find it.
All that being said, it wouldn't be wise to take Millar's bat out of Fenway.

[FlashGordon]

Daubach is twice the defensive player that Millar is (granted, that's not tough). I've always felt that he had more offensive potential than was getting out. I just don't think he ever saw enough consistent at-bats to find it.
All that being said, it wouldn't be wise to take Millar's bat out of Fenway.Ironically, Millar (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=millake01) and Daubach (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=daubabr01) first reached the majors in the same year as team mates for the Marlins. From 1998 to 2004 Dauber made 639 appearances, 410 as a starter, while Millar had 731 appearances, 622 in the starting lineup. Overall their fielding numbers are comparable.


Millar has a career fielding pct. of .991, Daubach's is .990.
Over their careers in that span, Millar made 30 errors, Daubach 31.
Although Millar's range factor is two points lower than Daubach's (5.63 to 7.71), it should be noted that Millar's is tempered by the significant amount of time he spent as an outfielder.
Last year Millar made 6 errors in 69 appearances at 1B (+3ER in RF), the most in a season in his career. In 2001 he made 2 errors all year.
Daubach made 5 errors in 2002 over 60 appearances at 1B, 11 over 106 appearances in 2001, and 8 over 61 appearances in 1999.

Offensive numbers are a little difficult to compare because Millar has had about 550 more ABs, that said his career BA (from 1998-2004) is .292 to Daubach's .261, Millar has nearly 100 more RBI, 200 more hits, 40 more BBs, but 80 fewer Ks.

In general, I would put the two fairly even as defensive players, but Millar gets the nod for offense. Still, I much prefer Daubach's presence in the clubhouse to Millar's almost juvenille behavior. I don't hate him, but I wish he were just a little more professional at times.

[SoxSon]

No need for all the research, Flash. Do a quick poll of who Boston fans would want defensively at first base in the ninth inning of the 7th game of the ALCS, with a one run lead to preserve.
I could be crazy, I suppose, but I think you'd find that the fans that watched Daubach would be unanimous.

[mef]

Flash - I agree

Daubach has it all over Millar for professionalism. He just wants to play, he loves the game, he's not full of himself. Everywhere he's been they management and other players really like him. LAst year enough nice things couldn't get said about how great a person he is form the owner of the PawSox on down. When did you ever hear him whine when he wasn't starting a game. A lot a players could take a clue from Daubach - not just Millar.

But that being said - I think K needs to get over himself and just concentrate on playing.

I don't have loyalty to many players, they come and go, for me it's the uniform, the team. But I will always root for Dauber and follwo what he does.

[legalsec]

I've always liked Brian Daubach, and was glad to learn that he (and everyone else who played for the Red Sox at all last season) got a World Series ring. I'd love to see him get more of a chance to hit his stride in the majors.

[TheBump11-7-33]

According to ESPN.com, Daubach is currently in the Mets' minor league organization.

I agree with what some other people said-- Daubach was a gamer, he never complained and just went out every day and did his job. He was also a pretty good clutch hitter and in his final year in Boston he flashed some leather too.

But I also believe that Daubach has too much of an uppercut, grooved swing to consistently hit MLB pitching as he gets older. Although he supplied fair power, he always had a low average in Boston. I just don't think he was the right man to have that long-term first base job.

[Ichiro51]

Brian is up to replace Miguel Cairo who was put on the DL, I expect to see him platoon in 1B with Doug M...however you spell it. I expect Doug to take over at 2nd for Matsui in some close games like what he did for Boston last year.

I met Brian last week again when Norfolk came through town, that guy was wearing long sleeve in jeans while sweating like crazy walking in the stadium in the 93 degrees heat!

[DickZ]

As I live in the Washington, DC area, I was just sitting there last night watching our new Washington Nationals playing the New York Mets. In the top of the ninth inning, who should come to the plate as a pinch-hitter for the Mets but Brian Daubach?

He struck out, but it was nice to see that he's still around.

[JDamon'sChic]

He went to AAA,but not with the pawsox. He went to the mets

[mef]

Alas, I fear Brian's career has finally come to an end, on Saturday the Mets designated him for assignment. It's not likely anyone will pick him up.

It's too bad, he's one classy guy!

[pesky6]

For anyone who's interested, Brian Daubach is going to ST with the Cardinals as an NRI, and Lou Merloni is with the Indians as an NRI.

[VTSoxFan]

I am interested. Thanks for the update, Pesky! Here's hoping the guys make their respective teams. It'd be especially cool for Dauber, as the Cards are his hometown team.

[diehardsoxfan]

Hi
I was just thinking about Dauber and decided to check the internet to see if I could find some info on him and I found this site. I got to know him when he was in Boston (his #1fan) what a nice man. I was glad to hear that he was indeed awarded a World Series ring from the team for his play with the team earlier in 2004.
I read one of the postings here about how he met his wife. He did not meet her in Baltimore, he met her in Boston. The sportscasters that do the radio broadcast of the Sox games were talking about it one day. One of them, Joe Castiglione was saying how he goes to a certain place to have his hair cut and he was telling a girl that worked there that he had the perfect guy for her. He was nice, a gentleman and hard-working. She did not want anything to do with a professional ballplayer, but Joe said, just give him a chance, I guarantee you will like him....and the rest is history. He married her a year later and they had a son last year.