Comments on: Players with fewer than 100 at-bats

By: Friday Links (25 Jan 08)

Friday Links (25 Jan 08) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:08:10 +0000

[...] to the good folks at Stat of the Day, no team had more players with fewer than 100 at-bats in 2007 than the Padres. That’s a lot of holes to [...]

By: BunnyWrangler

BunnyWrangler — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:18:12 +0000

Atlanta Braves:

Pete Orr - Bench player who was the team's primary pinch-running option. He was sent down to the minors at some point in the season, and I think he was only called up again late in the year. He was released this off-season.

Martin Prado: Prado failed to win the second base job in spring training, so he started the season in the minors and actually hit well there. He didn't do well enough in the majors to stick as Chipper Jones's backup, though.

Craig Wilson: Originally the Braves's starting first baseman against lefties, Wilson was released less than halfway into the season with a sub-.200 batting average.

Brayan Pena: Brayan backed up a more prominent Brian (McCann) at catcher. If I remember correctly, he suffered a concussion and was replaced by Saltalamacchia, who played well enough to block Pena from returning to the majors. Considering that the Braves chose to call up Corky Miller after they traded Saltalamacchia probably says something about Pena's recovery progress.

Ryan Langerhans: Like Wilson, Langerhans was a platoon starter (left field against righties) and was gone (traded to Oakland) before he could get that batting average above .200.

Julio Franco: Before they traded for Teixeira, this is how dire the Braves' first base situation was: after the Mets released Julio Franco for being too bad or too old or some combination of the two, the Braves snatched him up quickly, believing that he could help at first base. The Braves realized that Julio Franco was not the solution, but he agreed to go to the minors so that he could play again in Sepetember, which he did. He was not re-signed in the off-season. He wants to play until he's 50, and I wish him the best of luck.

Corky Miller: He was called up because the Braves needed a backup catcher. He didn't hit particularly well, but he infield single in extra innings against the Astros allowed Matt Diaz to tie the game with a two-run homer off Brad Lidge. The Braves went on to lose anyway.

Brandon Jones: B. Jones was a September call-up who alowed the Braves to feature a starting lineup that contained A., B., and C. Jones. Not since the 1999 Pirates of Adrian, Brant, and Emil Brown had one team started three players with the same last name in one lineup.

Clint Sammons: Like B. Jones, he was a late-season call-up. He served as a third catcher.

By: Samurai Sam

Samurai Sam — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:01:20 +0000

I'll try and break down Oakland:
Jeff Davanon: Acquired in August.
Rob Bown: Backup catcher acquired midseason.
Milton Bradley: Injured and then traded to San Diego.
Daric Barton: September callup.
Todd Walker: Got some playing time early in the year due to injuries and then was DFA.
J.J. Furmaniak: Don't know much about this guy. He spent most of the year in the minors and probably got playing time because of injuries.
Bobby Kielty: I think he was hurt, and he was released.
Adam Melhuse: Purchased by the Rangers midseason, wasn't an everyday player to start with.
Danny Putnam: Don't know much about this guy. Looks like he bounced around the minors and earned some big-league playing time early, likely due to injuries.
Kevin Thompson: Claimed off waivers midseason from the Yankees.
Dee Brown: I don't know why he got playing time, since he hadn't even been in the majors for three years. Guess Oakland was REALLY banged up in the first half of the season
Hiram Bocachica: Claimed off waivers by the Padres early in the season. Wasn't an everyday player.
Chris Snelling: Acquired from the Nationals for Ryan Langerhans. Missed most of the season due to injury.
Ryan Langerhans: Acquired from the Braves early in the season for no apparent reason, and then they realized that it was a stupid acquisition and traded him a few days later for Chris Snelling.
Kevin Melillo: Don't know much about this guy, except that he's played mostly in the minors. He got only one PA in 07 (his first career PA), and he walked. Interesting.

By: gswitter

gswitter — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:10:10 +0000

Lemme try this again...

Rob Bowen (less than 100 ABs for TRHEE different teams) is that guy who's in every picture, but no one remembers him being there.

By: gswitter

gswitter — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:09:13 +0000

Rob Bowen (

By: wboenig2

wboenig2 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:30:15 +0000

I changed the criterion to a maximum of 129 plate appearances (just short of the standard to define a rookie), then searched for the non-pitcher with the most such seasons. Tom Prince gets the award for the ultimate bench-warmer -- thirteen seasons with fewer than 130 plate appearances.

By: Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:29:24 +0000

Red Sox (as best I remember)

Bobby Kielty: late season addition for playoffs
Brandon Moss: September call-up, got hurt
Kevin Cash: AAA catcher, came up due to injuries
Royce Clayton: SS call up
Jeff Bailey: short-term call up, feel-good story for journeyman
David Murphy: showcased to trade