Coffey article on NY Times blog

[Principessa21]

Brewers Reliever Hits the Ground Running

By Jack Curry

 

 

Todd Coffey of the Milwaukee Brewers might have the coolest entrance of any middle reliever in baseball. While closers enter games to specific music, Coffey has created his own fashionable entrance by sprinting from the bullpen to the mound.

Coffey does not run casually. He hustles from the time his foot touches the warning track to the time he reaches the dirt on the mound. He is 6 foot 4 and weighs 241 pounds, so he resembles a fullback who stumbled upon a baseball field instead of a football field.

The scoreboard operators at Miller Park have added a wrinkle to Coffey's run by timing it. Even though the Brewers were trailing by six runs when Coffey was summoned to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, the fans roared as if Trevor Hoffman were coming in for a save. Coffey completed his run in 13.53 seconds.

"That's my fastest time at this park," Coffey said.

Coffey first sprinted in from the bullpen when he was with the Cincinnati Reds' Class AA Chattanooga affiliate in 2004. Chattanooga had scored seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to snatch the lead. Coffey was so excited about the rally that he bolted out of the bullpen.

"I liked the way it felt," he said. "I liked the spike of adrenaline. My legs felt good. I just decided to keep doing it."

There was one time where Coffey's enthusiasm created an awkward situation. He ran in from the bullpen at Wrigley Field, which is in foul territory down the right-field line and is closer than bullpens that are behind the outfield fence. Coffey got there so fast that the starting pitcher had not yet left the mound.

Since the incident at Wrigley last season, Coffey has tried to time his entrance better. Still, when he entered the game as part of a double-switch involving the catcher on Wednesday, he arrived on the mound before the new catcher was behind the plate and had to wait to warm up. But that blip will not slow Coffey down.

"I'm always going to do it, as long as I have legs," Coffey said.

 

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/brewers-reliever-hits-the-ground-running/

Edited May 29, 2009 by support

[JCREW]

The Cardinals probably think that isn't classy...

[JET15]

The "incident at Wrigley" cracked me up. I wish I could have seen the look on the pitcher's face. Anyone know who it was and how it went down?

[Teatoe993]

Word on the street is that he's running out to the Ultimate Warrior's theme song. This is the most brilliant idea ever.

[brwrsfan]

He is DEFINITELY running out to the Ultimate Warrior theme, heard it on Tuesday night...it was awesome. Brilliant idea.

[Bikeage77]

I didn't even notice it, the crowd was so loud for him, but that completely rules. Coffey running out to the hill and that fat guy doing the Robot were the only good parts of the game.

[beno78]

The music and the clock are great additions.

[craigharmann]

I really want Coffey to be a Brewer for a long time. Maybe even the closer after Hoffman decided to retire in a few years.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'm not enough of a pro wrestling fan... why is the Ultimate Warrior theme such a good fit for Todd?

 

 

EDIT: Oh... I get it. It must be the physique

 

http://www.wiskate.com/news/data/upimages/UltimateWarrior.jpg

 

 

 

http://blog.silive.com/sportsstories/2009/04/medium_todd-coffey.jpg

[Teatoe993]

It's only the greatest song known to mankind.

 

[brwrsfan]

The Ultimate Warrior used to sprint, at top speed from the entrance ramp to the ring. I think that's where the connection comes in.

[TooLiveBrew]

Ah, there it is. Thanks.

 

And that song is awesome http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[pretendastronaut]

TooLiveBrew, The Ultimate Warrior used to do a dead sprint to the ring, and he was very high energy when he got in there.

 

 

 

Edit: D'oh, already answered.

Edited May 28, 2009 by pretendastronaut