April 20, 2012

BP Unfiltered

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

by Sam Miller

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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 @SamMillerBB
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