Pablo Gutiérrez

From BR Bullpen

Pablo Gutiérrez Delfín

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 10", Weight 147 lb.

BR minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Pablo Gutiérrez was a Mexican League pitcher. He had four brothers who played in the minors: Andrés Gutiérrez, Rubén Gutiérrez, León Gutiérrez and Víctor Gutiérrez.

He debuted in 1969 with the Ciudad Mante Broncos, going 6-2 with a 3.35 ERA. Had he qualified, he would have been 9th in the Mexican Center League in ERA. It was his lone season outside of the Mexican League proper. In 1970, he went 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 43 outings for the Reynosa Broncos. The next year, Pablo improved to 8-4, 2.13 in 56 games for the Stevedores de Tampico. The reliever fell to 8-9, 4.68 in 1972.

Moving to the Cafeteros de Cordoba, the Veracruz native went 10-8 with a 3.97 ERA and four saves (now being tracked for the first time) in 1973. He led the league with 16 intentional walks. He was a swingman in 1974, going 14-9 with five saves and a 2.68 ERA for Cordoba. He missed the league's top 10 in ERA by .10. In '75, he was 10-9 with eight saves and a 2.77 ERA, walking only 36 (9 of those intentionally) in 179 IP. The hurler was 4-6 with 8 saves and a 2.56 ERA in 1976, being used primarily in relief again.

In 1977, Pablo played for the Angeles de Puebla, going 15-9 with a save and a 2.74 ERA. In a pitcher-friendly season, though, a 2.22 ERA was needed to crack the top 10. The next season, he improved to 17-5 with 6 saves and a 2.33 ERA, issuing only 36 non-intentional walks in 212 IP. He finished 9th in ERA, between Diego Segui and Porfirio Salomon, and was tied for 10th in wins.

Gutiérrez went 18-6 with a 2.38 ERA for the 1979 Puebla club, tying for 9th in the LMB in victories. In 1980, he was better yet at 16-4, 1.53, completing 16 of 21 starts with 8 shutouts and a 1.04 WHIP. He tied Ernesto Escarrega for the league lead in wins, tied George Brunet and Gil Rondon for the most shutouts, tied Rondon and Luis Sanchez for the lead in complete games and was third in ERA, behind Rondon and Horacio Pina. Just as he was hitting his peak, though, it all came crashing down, as he was involved in a players' strike that ended the season. While the strike did not last, Gutiérrez was banned from the Mexican League.

Gutiérrez was eventually allowed to play again, making a comeback - 20 years later, having missed peak years. At age 48, he was back with Cordoba, going 2-2 with a save and a 5.40 ERA in 22 games; the control expert still was sharp, walking 6 (4 of those intentionally) in 33 1/3 innings. In 2001, he went 3-3 with four saves and a 2.66 ERA, posting the second-lowest ERA on his club. He struggled in 2002, though, going 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA and retired on his terms.

Overall, Pablo was 129-78 in 467 Mexican League games (147 starts), with 37 saves and 28 shutouts. He had a 2.80 ERA and walked only 345 unintentionally in 1,734 2/3 IP. He made it onto the Salón de la Fama ballot in 2012, his 53 votes tying fellow newcomer Francisco García for 5th in the 10-player pool.

Sources[edit]

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