Manny Sarmiento
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Manny Sarmiento [sar-ME-EN-toh], born Manuel Eduardo Sarmiento Aponte (February 2, 1956 in Cagua, Venezuela), is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1976-79), Seattle Mariners (1980; 1981 on the disabled list) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1982-83).
Sarmiento was a four-year member of Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine". During this period he posted a 14-8 record with 138 strikeouts, six saves, and a 4.12 ERA in 132 appearances (including five as a starting pitcher).
In 1980 Sarmiento was injured while with Seattle, requiring season-ending surgery and more than 18 months of rehabilitation. Sarmiento was happy to be back in the National League after an early 1981 trade which brought him to the Pirates. For part of the season, he switched from the bullpen in an emergency move, and proved effective as a starter. Down the stretch he had a 9-4, 81 strikeouts, 3.39 ERA record, returning to relief duties in the 1983 season.
In a seven-season career, Sarmiento compiled a 26-22 mark with 283 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA in 513 innings pitched.
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"Sarmiento was a fine fielder with a lively split-finger fastball and a singing voice good enough to once sing the National Anthem before a game. As a 20-year-old rookie in 1976, the slender Venezuelan helped the Reds to a World Championship with five relief wins". - Ed Walton, at Baseball Library.
