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Matt Mantei

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Matt Mantei
Pitcher
Born: (1973-07-07) July 7, 1973 (age 51)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 18, 1995, for the Florida Marlins
Last MLB appearance
July 1, 2005, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record14–18
Earned run average4.07
Strikeouts396
Saves93
Teams

Matthew Bruce Mantei [MAN-tie] (born July 7, 1973) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.

Career

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Mantei had four pitches. He had two fastballs, one of which regularly hit 95 MPH and occasionally hit 100, a sharp curve and an occasional slider. He was also known to throw a knuckleball earlier in his career. Two issues concerning his play were his control and his ability for his arm to stay healthy.

Between 1995 and 1996, Mantei had only pitched in 26 games for the Marlins. He missed the 1997 season due to injury and came back in 1998 to post an ERA of 2.96 in 42 games.

After starting the 1999 season with the Florida Marlins and saving 10 games, he was traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Vladimir Núñez, Brad Penny and Abraham Núñez. After posting 32 saves in 1999 between the two teams. Mantei was slowed by injuries in 2000 and 2001, when a right-elbow injury ended his season in April and he underwent Tommy John surgery ligament replacement surgery.[1][2]

In 2002, Mantei worked hard to regain his old form.[3] Despite the fact that he missed a month in 2003, he finished strong in the last three months of the season. He had 29 saves while posting a 2.62 ERA.

Mantei missed most of 2004 after a surgery to deal with bone spurs in his shoulder.[4] In 12 games, he was 0–3 with an 11.81 ERA and four saves. At the end of the season he was signed by the Red Sox. 2005 was yet another injury-plagued season for Mantei, as he only pitched 26.3 innings before being placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the year.[5][6]

Mantei was invited to the Detroit Tigers spring training camp in 2006 to make a comeback try.[7][8] After suffering more arm troubles early in the spring, he left camp and was out of baseball until 2008.[9]

Mantei threw a bullpen session for the Detroit Tigers on January 11, 2008 and signed a minor league contract with them.[10] However, after experiencing discomfort in his arm a few games into spring training, he was released and retired on March 4.[11]

In a ten-year career with Florida, Arizona, and Boston, Mantei owned a 14–18 record with a 4.07 ERA and 93 saves in 322.7 innings. He also compiled a 1.98 strikeout-to-walk ratio (396-to-200) and a 1.39 WHIP.

Post MLB Career

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On March 4, 2014, Mantei and his family appeared on the History Channel program Counting Cars, commissioning a custom-restored 1953 Chevy truck.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Season Preview". USA Today. February 19, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  2. ^ Citizen, Tucson (June 14, 2001). "D'backs closer Mantei admits his season is likely at an end - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993-2009)". Tucsoncitizen.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Mel Reisner (February 4, 2002). "D'Backs Closer Recovers From Surgery - Midland Reporter-Telegram". Mrt.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Snow, Chris (February 11, 2005). "Back in business". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  5. ^ "Red Sox counting on Papelbon". TSN. September 13, 2005. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  6. ^ "Ankle Injury May End Mantei's Season". Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tigers Sign Matt Mantei to minor league deal - Fantasy Baseball Cafe 2006". Archived from the original on May 13, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  8. ^ Beck, Jason. "Mantei gets Minors deal from Tigers". Milb.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "Family ties bind Mantei to Detroit Tigers, for now". Detroit Free Press. February 16, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  10. ^ "Tigers get Mantei for league minimum $390,000". Detroit Free Press. January 12, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  11. ^ "Larry Stone Can Blue Jays fly into first?". The Seattle Times. March 9, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  12. ^ "Counting Cars - 'Major League Muscle' Episode Info - MSN TV". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
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