Former Phillie of the Day - Kim Batiste

It's really cool when you drive in the wining run of an extra-inning playoff game. You know what's not so cool? Making an error that forces the game into extra innings in the first place.

Which brings us to today's Former Phillie of the Day, Kim Batiste. The third-round pick hailed from Louisiana and played shortstop and third base in a backup role for the Phils. His minor league numbers were OK, but he was a terrible base stealer. I mean, he stole a few bases. But he also got caught a lot. In the minors, he stole 93 bases, but was caught 57 times, a 62 percent success rate. I'm not sure if this is a case of a guy thinking he's faster than he actually is or what.

Batiste started 39 games at shortstop for the Phils at the beginning of the 1992 season. He handled 167 chances and made 13 errors. And he hit .206.  Which might explain why he was sent back to the minors in the middle of June.

But he was back with the big club in that magical 1993 season, and he hit .282 in a bench role. Now, .282 is pretty good. But his OBP for the season was just .298. In 161 plate appearances, Batiste walked 3 times. Yes, three. III. He was intentionally walked twice. When the object of your job is to get on base so you can score runs, 5 total walks kind of sucks.

In Game 1 of the 1993 National League Championship Series, Batiste came in as a defensive replacement for third baseman Dave Hollins in the top of the ninth inning, with the Phils ahead 3-2. In 190 chances during the 1993 regular season, Batiste made 15 errors. It was better than the year before, but not much. He didn't exactly have the kind of resume that made you think "defensive replacement."

Bill Pecota led off the 9th for the Braves against closer Mitch Williams with a walk. Shocking, I know. Then Mark Lemke hit a ground ball to Batiste at third, and he proceeded to throw wildly to second in an attempt to start a double play, and Pecota advanced to third. Rafael Belliard bunted pinch runner Tony Tarasco over to second. Otis Nixon followed with a grounder to short that scored Pecota. Jeff Blauser walked, and Ron Gant ended the inning by striking out. The Phillies hit 3 infield ground balls in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

Williams was still on the mound for the Phils and got the first 2 outs of the inning. Then Terry Pendleton singled to center and Greg Olson doubled to left, with Pendleton making it to third. Williams struck out Tony Tarasco to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 10th, Mariano Duncan led off by grounding out to third. John Kruk followed with a double to right and then Batiste hit a double down the left field line, scoring Kruk and propelling himself from goat to hero.

Batiste was eventually released by the Phils in 1995 and he played 54 games with the Giants in 1996 to end his major league career. He attempted a comeback by playing in independent leagues, with stops in Allentown, Sioux Falls, Camden, Atlantic City, Lehigh Valley, and Nashua, which sounds like the world's worst commuter bus route. Batiste was out of baseball after 12 games with the Atlantic City Surf in 2003.