Scott Mathieson’s Strange Odyssey
Posted by Corey Seidman, Tue, August 16, 2011 08:00 AM | Comments: 5
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Scott Mathieson was drafted by the Phillies in 2002, and has since had two Tommy John surgeries, been released and re-signed, waived, designated for assignment twice and promoted and demoted at will. The Phillies have thrown every roster move and loophole in the book at Mathieson, to the point where it’s hard to tell if they see him in their future plans at all.
On one hand, the Phils’ constant toying with Mathieson shows they don’t value him too much; on the other, it shows that they value him enough to keep him around.
Jay Floyd got a chance to speak with Mathieson last week after his most recent demotion. Here is what the 27-year-old flamethrower had to say.
On the latest DFA-
“It was revocable waivers, so I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m back on the 40-man, so it didn’t really matter. It was just a different way of sending me down, I guess.”
About they way he’s gone up and down this year and having been asked to switch roles back and forth-
“I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, I’m glad I get the opportunity to go up, but I wish I would get more opportunities to pitch while I’m up there. I just do what they ask me to do and try to do my best at whatever role I’m in.”
On wishing to perhaps get a better opportunity elsewhere-
“I definitely want an opportunity to pitch at the big league level. And I feel like I’ve pitched pretty well in Triple A, in the bullpen and starting, and I’m just trying to prove I can do both and hopefully it will create more opportunities down the road for me.”
On how that opportunity could come-
“I’m out of options next year, so if I don’t make the team out of spring training- if (the Phillies) keep me on the 40-man roster through the winter I’ll go to spring training with them- if I don’t make the team, then I have to go through waivers and I’m not really too sure what happens after that. I know that if I don’t make the team next year and if I’m not on the 40-man, then every other team has a chance to claim me. And if I do clear waivers, I’m not 100 percent sure if I’m free or not.”
As you can see, some of these processes are so confusing that even Mathieson himself is a bit unsure on his future. Thankfully, Eric Seidman of Brotherly Glove also got to speak to Mathieson and explain in detail how the Phillies have moved him up, down and all around, and what the future holds for him contractually.
Posts: 0 Service Time Primer, Starring Scott Mathieson | Brotherly Glove
[...] himself, has expressed confusion over the situation and he isn’t alone among fans and players alike. Hopefully this [...]
Posted: 09:20 AM on August 16, 2011
Posts: 31 Josh
Based on the fact that the Phills have not given this guy a chance to really show what he can do at the big league level, it looks like the Phills do not see a Scott in the long term plans.
Personally I think they have been foolish to not give me the chance. Over the last two years they have let guys like David Herndon and D. Beaz block him because of $$ and Rule 5 status, and I feel they my have missed the boat on what could have been a nice contributor to the bullpen.
I understand that Scott has seen his lumps but he has shown that he has great stuff and that he is probably better than a career AAA pitcher. I hope it works out for him one day.
Posted: 09:50 AM on August 16, 2011
Posts: 31 Josh
…not to give *him* the chance. haha
Posted: 09:51 AM on August 16, 2011
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Josh i concur they gave the like of Herndon a chance but not Mathieson. Baez is a slightly different story. He was an established ML pitcher who just lost his stuff an the Phils hoped he would regain it at one point. Of course he never did an just got worse. Then there was that he serves as a translator an a mentor/bullpen coach to some of the younger guys. It is possible he might get a look at next year. As next year bullpen is on thin side with only Bastardo an Stutes as a lock in. His walk rate is still on the high side he’ll need to work on that some. The thing is with a championship caliber team as this one they rarely experiment much (unless they have to) an leashes are short. Hopefully they will give him a shot next year he will have to capitalize on any given shots such as Stutes did early on this year. This is a good article by the way.
Posted: 03:43 PM on August 16, 2011
Posts: 0 Dr. Strangeglove: The Ballad of Scott Mathieson | Local Philadelphia News Aggregator
[...] Sіnсе thеn, Mathieson’s hаd a fаѕсіnаtіng career wіth thе Phillies, whісh came tο аn еnd thіѕ week whеn hе wаѕ granted hіѕ release. I felt a strong personal affinity fοr Mathieson over thе years, maybe bесаυѕе hе wаѕ thе Phillies’ sleeper relief ace еνеrу year fοr thе past three seasons bυt never gοt thе chance аѕ thе Phillies relied οn thе lіkеѕ οf Danys Baez аnd Mike Zagurski tο fill thе gaps, a sort οf proto-Domonic Brown. Nevertheless, fοr someone whο οnlу pitched 44 innings іn red pinstripes, hе generated a lot οf ink before hе wаѕ traded fοr a hot dog eater. In thаt vein, іt’s appropriate tο remember everyone’s favorite perennial closer-іn-waiting аnd whаt ουr οwn Jay Floyd called hіѕ “ѕtrаngе odyssey.” [...]
Posted: 11:08 AM on December 2, 2011