BP Unfiltered

A First for Jeff Mathis? A First for Eric Thames.

by Sam Miller

Jeff Mathis, career .196/.256/.309 hitter, career .211/.276/.338 hitter against lefties, was called on to pinch-hit for Eric Thames Friday night. It was the 14th time Mathis has pinch-hit in his career. The previous 13 batters who were deemed less qualified to hit baseballs than Jeff Mathis:

2005:

Garret Anderson (blowout, Mathis' major-league debut)

2006:

Adam Kennedy (blowout)
Garret Anderson (second-to-last game of season, no playoff implications)

2007:

Reggie Willits (down six, made last out of the game)
Garret Anderson (blowout)

2009:

Torii Hunter (blowout)
Maicer Izturis (blowout)
Chone Figgins (blowout)
Vladimir Guerrero (blowout)
Bobby Abreu (final game of season, no playoff implications)

2010:

Hideki Matsui (blowout)

2011:

Bobby Abreu (blowout)
Torii Hunter (blowout)

So, with the possible exception of the time he hit for Reggie Willits in 2007, every other time that Jeff Mathis has pinch-hit has been in an inconsequential situation. On Friday, it was with a runner in scoring position and Toronto up by two in the eighth. A consequential situation.

Mathis flied out to shallow left, according to Gameday. He is 1-for-14 as a pinch-hitter, with a single.

Sam Miller is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @SamMillerBP
Click here to see Sam's other articles. You can contact Sam by clicking here

1 comment has been left for this article.

<< Previous Article
The BP Wayback Machine... (04/20)

<< Previous Column
BP Unfiltered: Trackin... (04/16)

Next Column >>
BP Unfiltered: But How... (04/20)

Next Article >>

Daily Hit List: Friday... (04/20)

RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS Raising Aces: Splitting the Platoon: Lefty-P... Daily Hit List: Friday, May 24 Transaction Analysis: Demotion Pictures What Makes a Good Changeup? What You Need to Know: Searching for Jesus Eyewitness Accounts: May 24, 2013 Overthinking It: The Longest Plate Appearanc...	MORE FROM APRIL 20, 2012 Pebble Hunting: Lester's Long Inning Resident Fantasy Genius: Value Picks Paying ... Fantasy Beat: Fantasy Chat Accountability Collateral Damage Daily: Friday, April 20 Daily Hit List: Friday, April 20 What You Need to Know: Friday, April 20 The BP Wayback Machine: Ode to Jamie Moyer
MORE BY SAM MILLER 2012-04-22 - BP Unfiltered: Brendan Ryan's Final Swing 2012-04-21 - BP Unfiltered: Aubrey Huff Playing Second Ba... 2012-04-20 - Pebble Hunting: Lester's Long Inning 2012-04-20 - BP Unfiltered: A First for Jeff Mathis? A Fi... 2012-04-20 - BP Unfiltered: But How Close Was It? 2012-04-18 - Pebble Hunting: Doing Lines 2012-04-13 - Pebble Hunting: The Best Pitches Thrown This... More...	MORE BP UNFILTERED 2012-04-22 - BP Unfiltered: Brendan Ryan's Final Swing 2012-04-21 - BP Unfiltered: Aubrey Huff Playing Second Ba... 2012-04-20 - BP Unfiltered: But How Close Was It? 2012-04-20 - BP Unfiltered: A First for Jeff Mathis? A Fi... 2012-04-16 - BP Unfiltered: Tracking 2012's Top Prospects 2012-04-16 - BP Unfiltered: Watching Pedro Alvarez 2012-04-13 - BP Unfiltered: The Whole Ball Player More...