| 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 record | 14–18 |
| Earned run average | 4.07 |
| Strikeouts | 396 |
| Saves | 93 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Matthew Bruce Mantei [MAN-tie] (born July 7, 1973) is an American formerMajor League Baseballrelief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with theFlorida Marlins,Arizona Diamondbacks andBoston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.
Mantei had fourpitches. He had twofastballs, one of which regularly hit 95 MPH and occasionally hit 100, a sharpcurve and an occasionalslider. He was also known to throw aknuckleball 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 theFlorida Marlins and saving 10 games, he was traded toArizona Diamondbacks in exchange forVladimir Núñez,Brad Penny andAbraham Núñez. After posting 32saves in1999 between the two teams, Mantei finished 24th in NL MVP voting, earning three vote points. Mantei was slowed by injuries in2000 and2001, when aright-elbow injury ended his season in April and he underwentTommy John surgery ligament replacement surgery.[1][2]
In2002, Mantei worked hard to regain his old form.[3] Despite the fact that he missed a month in2003, he finished strong in the last three months of the season. He had 29 saves while posting a 2.62ERA.
Mantei missed most of 2004 after a surgery to deal withbone spurs in hisshoulder.[4] In 12games, 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 thedisabled list for the remainder of the year.[5][6]
Mantei was invited to theDetroit Tigersspring 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 until2008.[9]
Mantei threw a bullpen session for theDetroit 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 322.7innings. He also compiled a 1.98strikeout-to-walk ratio (396-to-200) and a 1.39WHIP.
On March 4, 2014, Mantei and his family appeared on theHistory Channel programCounting Cars, commissioning a custom-restored 1953Chevy truck.[12]