The Braves announced that catcher Jeff Mathis has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. As a player with more than three years of MLB service, Mathis had the right to refuse a minor league assignment. However, he has decided to accept a spot on the Atlanta taxi squad and will remain in the organization as non-roster depth, reports David O’Brien of the Athletic (Twitter link).
Atlanta designated Mathis for assignment when they acquired Kevan Smith from the Rays yesterday. The 38-year-old Mathis had only gotten into three games with the Braves before they removed him from the roster. He went 0-9 with five strikeouts in that limited stretch.
Of course, Atlanta wasn’t expecting Mathis to offer much at the plate. Throughout his career, he’s been among the league’s least productive hitters. Mathis’ value is in his high-end defense, and he’s particularly well-regarded for his game calling and ability to work with a pitching staff. The Braves will be happy to keep the respected veteran around behind their current catching duo of William Contreras and Smith. Projected starter Travis d’Arnaud is out for at least the next couple of months after tearing a ligament in his thumb.
There’s a championship out there waiting for someone to take it.
Wise words for such a shallow mind ….
Could this be the end for one guy who made a long career solely with his glove?
My goodness. 8 of his 17 seasons were with a BA of below .200. His career high was .238. His highest OBP was .288.
Gotta respect his glove though. Good quality bench catcher.
I’d like to make fun of Mathis for being the worst hitter in baseball who played enough for anyone to pay attention to him. But damn, he managed to stick around forever, so teams must see something in him. If he wants to, he could be a manager by November (when all the managers get fired).
That’s been the Braves plan since the start of the season. They wanted him to be a player/coach this year and a coach next. Been widely reported in Braves country
Mathis is a very hard worker and takes pride in his craft; and he genuinely loves the game. Had the pleasure of knowing him back in the day when he and Nap shared time behind the dish. I think he might have a chance to add depth for a contender down the stretch.
I think he knew offensively he was never going to work out. Occasionally got a big hit (few and far between). I remember a Grand Slam with the Marlins once (possibly a walk off).
But since he knew his bat was already slowing down early, this dude took the defense very seriously. He’s been the personal catcher of some great pitchers (including our late Mr. Fernandez). One season with the Marlins he caught like 35-40% of the games and the team ERA was like 2 runs lower than anyone else we used catching.
So like Bravesiowafan said, this is a move to keep him in your organization. You want him coaching the second he’s available.
This guy owes Mike Scioscia a plate of pasta.. Go Angels!!
Noooooooooooooooooooo
Tied game in the 10th. Snitker brings in Jacob Webb. More genius bullpen calls from Snit
The Braves did not improve their bullpen from 2020, on the contrary, it’s weaker and it has lost a great deal of depth. When you add O’Day and Melancon it makes an absolutely huge difference. The other thing is that we need another bat in that lineup.
I can’t believe he brought in Webb in a tied game, but I suppose who else is there. I hate the runner on 2nd rule, it’s a joke. If you don’t decide a world series game like this then why is it a lottery in the regular season. Little league rules-‘but we have to end the game quickly to save the pitchers arms’. It is a total farce.
I’ve watched the braves since I was 4 years old and would stand in front of the TV pretending to be the crime dog. I’m from Colorado but TBS was a staple back then. We lived in various countries for my Dad’s work. I love the Braves just as much as the next guy here. That is why I would like to point out the absolute flaws
In Brian Snitker’s bullpen decisions. He is implementing a system where everyone that is fresh gets called in. He wants to see people succeed and I don’t knock that. As much as I want Luke Jackson to disappear from the game of baseball he has managed to garner favor and his position seems unlikely to change. I get it, Snit loves the dude, he is a funny guy. Now to the main point of actual managing. If a dude is trash and key point forgets to cover home plate do you let it slide because you want to see him succeed? Maybe a one timer ok. So when Jacob Webb didn’t cover first base where did the managing step in. I’m sorry but that is inexcusable to allow that man to continue on the big stage. Then he blasts a guy in the face, sorry Kevin for our incompetent manager. And then let’s bring him in a tied game that our offense wants to win. Brian Snitker doesn’t care about wins and losses. Poor Braves fans packin in Truist to see him throw games away
It would be fantastic to see a MLB team actually sign a player/manager again. I wonder who the last one was? But how great would it be for the manager to pinch hit himself for another player on the team? Any team that would do this would need a very strong bench coach but it would be great to see. David Ross could have done for the 2019 Cubs.
Great long career. See you in Cooperstown Jeff…….
Tickets are $24.99
Booooooooooooo
Ok. So, the “let’s praise Mathis Brigade” is out in full force. With that said (and I am sure Mathis can ‘catch a pitched ball with some ability”. Yay).
But to go so far as to say ‘…well, he certaintly takes pride in his craft…” Or…”he works well with a pitching staff”…is a doubly-bubbly batch of crapOLA.
If you “truly take pride in your craft”…then you work tirelessly at it. Always seeking ways to get better”.
Since Mathis was “so great at catching” (as we are constantly being told)…wouldn’t someone who has spent his life playing baseball also know that you have to HIT a baseball sometimes too?
I mean, sure…if he is both “Pitcher and Catcher” then maybe some AL Team can figure out a way to let Mathis “pitch 2 innings”, then catch 2 innings, etc…in order to make him not have to hold a baseball bat.
But wouldn’t (if one were “truly one who took pride in their craft”…and who hasn’t hit a baseball…at all…since what? Age 12?…yet is in the Major Leagues…making millions and hanging around longer than Methuselah (only Methuselah had some talent)…and possibly WORK ON HOW TO HIT A BASEBALL?
I mean truly…”DUH”. Mathis does well (for someone who “takes pride in his craft”) to bat .175, at his rate.
Wouldn’t a baseball player (or better stated “Shouldn’t”) want to work on maybe…just possibly…working all offseason long…until he could at least hit .200? Maybe .220? (It truly isn’t that hard.) See ball. Hit ball.
(It isn’t as if a CATCHER does know the strike zone). So from November to February…all offseason, you work on simply “putting bat on baseball” (we teach children this).
Here is where it gets me though
There are players like this in EVERY era. (From Johnnie LeMaster to Jeff Mathis to Dan Meyer to Herm Winningham to Mario Mendoza to Chris Davis…and many many more)
Players who seem to do “one thing” ok…yet stink at any other thing.
(And the game is called Baseball. Not “just catch it ball”.)
I never could figure out why baseball teams have (forever) kept around players who would not even be capable of playing in my 50 and up SemiPro league.
I understand IF and WHEN the “ol bod breaks down” or the “batting eye seems to fade w age” or “the wheels come off the speedster” etc.
It happens. To all of us.
But for a MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER…to NOT work at “simply not being the guy who hits worse than the pitching staff…yet whom still gets PAID more than half of the pitchers on the staff”? Is a slap in the face to every Minor League Catcher who COULD hit…(if hitting JUST .220 is called “hitting”) and fielding the position adequately.
I have seen bad players come and bad players go.
But Jeff Mathis is Top 5…WORST…ALL TIME. Period.
And remember…this was a 1st Round Draft Pick. Lol. (Dang nabbit Jeff Mathis says…if ONLY we could use “metal bats” in the Majors. Sheesh. I could definitely Bat .197 w those). (Course the league average would be about .350 then. So yeah…Mathis would still suck).
Problem is not so much that I don’t like Mathis.
But how in hell did ANY team see anything worthy of PAYING him 22 Million Dollars for a career?
Anyone…with the ability to (literally) Hold and Swing A Baseball Bat…on here, can bat .100 in the Major Leagues. (10 times out of 100? Simply hold the bat out there and DINK…ball hits bat and ya get lucky. With any modicum of “work”…you can (easily) make it .200. Aka “The Mendoza Line”.
From there on…ya gotta work at it “if you wish to truly take pride in your craft”.
But how many of YOU, may I ask…make 22 Million Dollars…in your working life…to FAIL 83 percent of the time? (Answer is easy. ZERO.)
You have that “pride”…but not that “work ethic”? To a boss? Then yep…You’re Fired.
But Jeff Mathis gets DFAd (Should have DFAd him in 2007…cause he couldn’t hit then and he still can’t hit now).
Some pride in the craft, Jeff.
Worst player in the last 30 years of this game. Hands down.
(But as PT Barnum once said. “sucker born every minute” or as someone on here stated “He will likely be a coach or manager”
Lol. Good. Great. DON’T Let him teach “hitting”)
Scrub couldn’t hit the Broad Side of the Empire State Building with the Titanic.
Oh…but I am sure some SaberMetric stat dork…who holds a bat WORSE than this guy…is somewhere dreaming up a “stat” that tells us well his WHIp, cHIP, ChAIn, DiP, ZiP, SlurRp, WaaaaaHR is like uber-groovy!
Hey “Brian Kenny’s Mom! Brian made a new SaberMetric thingy on RoBlox. Come look.”
Mom says: “I’ve already been down TO my own basement 13 times today…tell Kenny to go swing his baseball bat…outside”.
Kenny’s Lil Friend says “Well Kenny’s mom…he forgot what it looks like…but he still can tell YOU how to hit it”.
THIS kind of crapOLA…right here…is why the game today (as well as its players in it) stink. On ice.
First…ya let the Union take over.
Then…ya go on strike a lot.
Then…ya shorten fences…encourage your players to “roid up” and hit off of half a league’s worth of pitchers…who couldn’t make the 1955 Pirates’ team.
And then? Ya let dorks dream up “quasi-stats”.
Which in turn…allows the real bloodsuckers (the agents) to sell garbage to owners w their bimbo trophy bride and side girl for road trips. (Who are so dumb…that they BUY garbage).
That is your game of baseball today.
It stinks.
Nowhere else…on Earth, could a player play so long and be so INEPT at it. But the MLB.
Wow, you followed up the dumbest lengthy post I’ve seen on here with an even dumber one. All in the name of being jealous of a 17-year big leaguer.
1) Mathis is garbage.
2) he does NOT belong on a major league roster nor a minor league roster.
3) i don’t drink. But thanks for caring enough to ‘send your very best’.
Jeff Mathis is the worst player in the league.
Even worse than Polanco. Even worse than Odor.
Even worse than Chris Archer.
So, “whomever hurt me” before? Is irrelevant.
The fact that YOU abide sub-mediocrity from what is supposed to be a “major league baseball player”..IS relevant.
Raise your standards dummies.
This guy makes Chris Cannizzaro and Bob Uecker look “adept” at the plate.
Can’t hit? Then pitch.
Can’t do either? Then quit.
Support either? Then take it elsewhere. Cause I don’t give a damn about “idol worshipping wannabe fans” who think “making the major leagues” (of TODAY’S world) is truly some ‘accomplishment to be admired’
It isn’t. League is loaded with Jeff Mathis types. A slap in the face to fans who know (and have played the game) a “good player from a garbage player”.
Sadly…you don’t
Learn.
Next case
Whoever hurt you isn’t worth holding on to this much pain. In seeking someone to hate and put down, you aren’t doing anything to lift yourself up.
You can rise above all of it if only you let go of the pain and focus on your goals.
Seems someone started drinking pretty early this morning.
Thank god they didn’t release him, but he needs to be on a major league team.