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.
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Mathis was scorching the ball in BP that day ....
I'm a pitching coach what the hell do I know about hitting?
Thames had a tummy ache.
I called for Travis Snyder first and nobody came on deck.
All My pitchers were busy.
Mathis was hitting 100 points higher (.223) against this pitcher than any other pitcher he had faced in MLB.
Farrell was still "on the plate" with Mathis from a previous' nights poker game.
Prologue - I am guessing AA had a chat with JF about that decision.....AA is sharp.