page_title: Jason Motte
section_title: 2008–11
hierarchical_section_title: Jason Motte / Professional career / St. Louis Cardinals (2008-2014) / 2008–11
caption_attribution_description: English: Jason Motte during the 2011 World Series victory parade Saint Louis Oct 30, 2011.
context_page_description: Jason Louis Motte is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals drafted him as a catcher in 2003 and he converted to pitching in 2006. Motte played a key role in the 2011 World Series championship run, saving five postseason games. In 2012, he led the National League in saves with 42. Motte had Tommy John surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament injury that kept him from playing all of 2013. After returning to the Cardinals midway through the 2014 season, Motte signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Cubs for 2015.
context_section_description: The Cardinals called Motte from the minor leagues on September 2, 2008.  He recorded a total of 12 appearances, all in relief, with an ERA of 0.82 in his first month in the big leagues.  In 11 IP, Motte struck out 16 batters, allowing three walks and five hits.  He earned his first save on September 18 against Cincinnati in their ballpark, getting the final out in the ninth inning with a fly ball to left field.
  During the 2009 spring training camp, Motte competed with Ryan Franklin and Chris Perez in an attempt to earn the role as the Cardinals' 2009 closer; manager Tony La Russa later said he would not establish a closer.  Instead, he would use a mix of relievers in the ninth inning.  Motte was called on to save the first game.  However, he gave up four runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning.  Pittsburgh won 6–4.  After this blown save opportunity, La Russa moved Motte into a middle reliever role.  Despite the blown the save on opening day and occasional rough outings that contributed to a 4.59 ERA, Motte recorded 14 holds.  Motte became the Cardinals' de facto closer late in the 2011 season – La Russa still had not named him as the closer – helping his team win the Wild Card.  Motte pitched in two games against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2011 National League Division Series (NLDS), in which the Cardinals won the series 3 games to 2.  Motte also pitched in three games in the 2011 National League Championship Series (NLCS) against St. Louis' division rival, the MIlwaukee Brewers.  The Cardinals won this series in six games.  Motte was on the mound for the final out of the NLCS winning the Cardinals their 18th pennant.  He was also on the mound when the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
caption: Motte during the 2011 World Series Parade.
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