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| Height: 6-3
Weight: 225
Throws: R
Bats: S Born: Aug 25, 1974, San Francisco, CA |
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| Profile | Player News | Articles | Split Stats | Game Log | Eligibility | Player Comparison |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
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December 2, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. is not expected to be ready to play until at least a month into the 2009 season, according to MLB.com. Our View:Matthews Jr. is continuing to recover from offseason knee surgery, but it's doubtful the Angels lineup will miss him much anyway after he batted just .242 last season. |
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October 29, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr.'s availability for opening day is uncertain after he had knee surgery Tuesday to repair the patella tendon in his left knee, according to the Los Angeles Times. Our View:Matthews Jr. didn't put up good fantasy numbers in 2008, so missing the start of 2009 probably means you'll want to avoid drafting him. |
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September 30, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. will bat eighth and start in right field in Game 1 of the ALDS, according to the Orange County Register. Vlad Guerrero will DH. Our View:Matthews had a rough season but he finished well hitting .318 with a .860 OPS in 66 AB in September. Perhaps he can offer some substantial production in the playoffs given his failures for most of the season (he hit .242-8-46 in 426 AB). |
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September 28, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI in the Angels 7-0 victory over the Rangers on Sunday. Our View:Matthews wrapped up a disappointing regular season hitting just .242 with 46 RBI and eight home runs. |
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September 4, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. went 4-for-5 with two doubles while scoring two runs in the Angels 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Our View:This was a good game for Matthews, considering he had just seven hits in the entire month of August. His fantasy value is zero, because he simply does not play enough games. Not to mention his .236 average. |
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July 21, 2008 The Angels are yet to decide whether or not to place Gary Matthews Jr. on the DL after suffering a slight tear in his left knee, according to the LA Times. Manager Mike Sciosca said, "We're going to talk to Dr. Lewis Yocum. We're going to put our heads together and evaluate what Gary can do. Right now, he feels he can contribute at the plate. There's a role for him to play. If his leg allows him, there's a big role." Our View:If Matthews plays through the injury, he isn't expected to make an impact. He currently holds a .235 average with only seven homers and 34 RBI over 311 at-bats. |
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July 19, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his left knee, but at this point there are no plans for surgery or to place him on the disabled list, according to the AP. "The plan now is to continue to treat it and strengthen it," Matthews said. "Sooner or later, hope it gets better; probably a little more aggressive with the treatment. It's a lengthy surgery to have, we don't feel the surgery is completely necessary. If it blows out and becomes detached, you have to have the surgery, no choice." Our View:Matthews has started only one of the last seven games and is five for his last 36, so this has clearly affected him at the plate. He'll play through it, but don't expect a big second half. |
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July 19, 2008 The Angels report outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. has undergone an MRI exam, hoping to clearn worries about the slugger's left knee, according to the LA Times. Our View:Matthews' test was given on Thursday and will he will be giving a follow-up examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Sunday, according to manager Mike Scioscia. Matthews irritated his patellar tendon last September, an injury that knocked him out of the American League division series against the Boston Red Sox. The knee continues to bother the outfielder in 2008, a disappointing campaign in which he is batting .235 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and a .310 on-base percentage. Whenever the team announces the official diagnosis, we'll be passing it along to you. |
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July 11, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. is displeased with riding the pine for the last two games, according to the OC Register. Matthews said, "I don't know if any player ever agrees with taking unwanted days off. I do know my numbers should be better than they are." He was also surprised to be called into Mike Sciosca's office on Wednesday, which is when he was told he would be sitting in favor of Juan Rivera. Our View:Sciosca commented that Matthews has been dealing with tendinitis in his right knee, and Matthews added that he came into the season knowing the knee pain probably would be chronic. But he doesn't want to use the ailment as an excuse for his poor production. Matthews does not know how long he will be limited to the bench, but Rivera is expected to get most of the at-bats through the All-Star break. |
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July 10, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. will be sitting on the bench for the time being, according to the Los Angeles Times. Juan Rivera will continue to start in his place. Our View:Matthews is not having a good year, with a .236 average and .313 on-base percentage. If you are in an AL-only league and have him on your squad, it's time to look elsewhere. |
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July 5, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. might be on the trading block as the Angels look to unload the $33 million he is due in 2009-11, according to MLB.com. Our View:The veracity of this report would receive a huge boost if the team were to follow through on the other rumor that has them acquiring Matt Holliday as the money going to Matthews would then be funneled to pay Holliday. |
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June 10, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. is not in the lineup on Tuesday due to an upset stomach, the Orange County Register reports. He may be available to pinch-hit. Our View:What bad timing. Matthews has been on a roll (finally) over the past week or so. It doesn't sound like the outfielder expects to be out too long. |
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May 25, 2008 The Angels managed just three hits this evening in the 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox, leaving outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. as the lone point of positive reflection. Matthews went 1-for-4, hitting his sixth home run of the season to total two RBIs on the day. Our View:This was just the second homer Matthews has hit this month, touting just eight RBIs during that same span. |
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May 17, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. returned to the Angels' lineup on Friday, according to the LA Daily News. He returned to his second spot in the order. He was given the day off on Thursday so he could work with hitting coach Mickey Hatcher in the batting cage. Manager Mike Sciosca said, "Mickey said he hit the ball really well. He's just trying to get a feel and hopefully he's taken some steps toward that. Now we'll see if he can carry that into a game." Matthews has been struggling at the plate, which is why he was given the day off to work on his hitting on Thursday. Our View:Matthews responded well to the day off to practice, as he went 2-for-4 in the Angels' 4-2 win over the Dodgers. |
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May 14, 2008 Manager Mike Scioscia isn't ready to pull the plug on Gary Matthews Jr. as his leadoff hitter. The outfielder is struggling at .223 on the year and .212 in May. "Gary hasn't hit his stride yet, but as far as the bats we need to get going, he's the best option to lead off now without taking somebody out of the lineup. We're not at that point right now," Scioscia tells the Los Angeles Times. Our View:We'd love to see Reggie Willits get a shot at holding down the leadoff spot until Chone Figgins returns, but Scioscia doesn't like to mess with his veterans. Pity that. |
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May 10, 2008 With just three hits for the entire team on the evening (none resulting in runs), the Angels carry few offensive notes of worth. CF Gary Matthews Jr. went 1-for-2 with two walks on the night. Our View:Matthews has battled with pitch selection thus far, nothing new for the free swinger. However, his steady regression in the batting average category could use any sign of reversal. This may be just what the doctor ordered. |
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April 24, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. had three hits and three RBI on Thursday as he boosted his average to .266. Our View:Matthews has now hit in 4-straight games, and with seven RBI in his last four games, he has pushed his season total up to 18 as he settles into the #2 spot in the Angels order. |
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April 23, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. used a strong evening against the Boston Red Sox to reach a career milestone as the Angles put Boston to bed, 6-4. Matthews hit not one but two homers on the evening, both off of Jon Lester, giving him four dingers on the year and 100 home runs for his career. Our View:Matthews went 2-for-4 at the plate overall, walking once and striking out once. This is only his fourth multi-hit game of the season and his first home runs hit since April 11th. |
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March 31, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. is ready for opening day, according to MLB.com. He was nursing a sprained right ankle, but stated that the ankle is fine and he is ready to go. He notably had a solid spring training when in action. |
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March 28, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. said Thursday that his sprained ankle was feeling better and that he expects to take batting practice on Friday, according to the LA Times. "It's feeling significantly better," said Matthews. Hopefully, he'll be over the injury in time for opening day, especially since his bat has been smoking hot (.449 batting average) this spring. |
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March 25, 2008 Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that Gary Matthews Jr. is questionable for opening day, according to the LA Times. "We'll just have to see; only time will tell," Matthews said. "It depends on how I respond to treatment. It's sore, but I'll have to play through it." Matthews sprained his right ankle during Monday's game. |
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March 24, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. injured his ankle on Monday, this according to MLB.com. Matthews is being listed as day-to-day though he had to be helped off the field when the injury occurred. This is the same ankle that Matthews injured last year, and with his injury struggles thus far in camp, it's starting to look like he is far from the solid option he was thought to be just a month ago. |
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March 21, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. left Thursday's game after the third inning with a bruised left gluteus, according to MLB.com. Matthews should be fine. He's hitting .442 this spring. |
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March 19, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. went 4-for-4 against Oakland on Wednesday, and continues to enjoy a solid spring with a .415 batting average. It was another good day for him, but he remains a fantasy risk due to concerns about his knee. |
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March 15, 2008 Gary Matthews Jr. hit his first homer of the spring against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, which was notably the only run surrendered by Randy Johnson. It was a good day for Matthews, but he remains a risk heading into the new season due to concerns about his knee. |
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February 17, 2008 Gary Matthews admits to MLB.com that his left knee is "not 100 percent" at this point. He opted for rest over surgery this winter. "He's got some pretty deep inflammation in there that was bothering him during the season," manager Mike Scoscia explains. "We're going to monitor him to get Gary where he needs to be on Opening Day. We're going to work him slowly until he gets his legs under him." Matthews' numbers declined sharply over the second half in 2007, and his knee was part of the problem. This news gives us reason to worry about his 2008 projections. |