/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3344636/119275000.jpg)
So if you haven't pulled out enough hair over the foibles of Mathis at the Plate, here are the players drafted in 2001 AFTER Mathis who played in the major leagues in 2011:
33rd Pick: Jeff Mathis ...........-2.5 WAR (that is negative two and a half WAR, or 2.5 Wins Below Replacement)
38th Pick: David Wright .........32.6 WAR
48th Pick: Kelly Shoppach ......6.3 WAR ...a catcher!
52nd Pick: J.P. Howell .............2.7 WAR
56th Pick: J.J. Hardy ..............14.0 WAR
57th Pick: Dallas McPherson ..0.1 WAR ...Drafted by the Angels in the 2nd round... weird, huh? If the Angels had just drafted D-Mac in the first round and not taken Maths at all, they would have been better with any player or players occupying that roster spot simply performing at replacement level!!!
59th Pick: Brandon League ...2.9 WAR
63rd Pick: Shelley Duncan ....1.6 WAR
67th Pick: Mike Wilson .........-0.3 WAR
72nd Pick: Dan Haren .........30.9 WAR
77th Pick: Jose Morales ........0.6 WAR
78th Pick: Ryan Theriot .........5.6 WAR
84th Pick: Jeremy Guthrie ...17.4 WAR
87th Pick: Jack Hannahan .....3.7 WAR
98th Pick: Scott Hairston .......3.9 WAR
104th Pick: Joe Mather ..........0.1 WAR
108th Pick: Ricky Nolasco .....4.3 WAR
109th Pick: David Bush .........4.6 WAR
114th Pick: Jeff Keppinger ....3.1 WAR
120th Pick: Josh Barfield .... -0.1 WAR
122nd Pick: Chris Resop ......0.4 WAR ...the guy we traded Kevin Gregg to the Marlins for is still at it and wallowing in mediocrity ...but way over the Mathisian War Ditch.
135th Pick: Kyle Davies .... -2.3 WAR ...we have to get to the penultimate fourth round pick of this draft to get to a player who has stuck it out as long as Mathis with a WAR even close to the anti-sublime depths of the Jeff Mathis WAR Ditch.
And with the 4th pick in the 5th round, the Philadelphia Phillies took...
140th Pick: Ryan Howard ..23.1 WAR
141st Pick: C.J. Wilson ........10.5 WAR
143rd Pick: Jim Johnson ......7.1 WAR
147th Pick: Ryan Rayburn ....4.4 WAR
164th Pick: Skip Schumaker..4.3 WAR
Highlights beyond the 5th round included Edwin Jackson (6th, 10.4 WAR), Rich Hill, John Axford, Dan Johnson, Kevin Youkilis (8th round, 29.5 WAR), Luke Scott (10.6 WAR), pitcher Lance Cormier (negative 2.3 WAR), Geovanny Soto, Stephen Drew and Dan Uggla round out the 11th round. UGH.