Could someone please explain to me how some of these items are photo-matched?

Batting gloves and cleats? I do not believe these are photo-matched but style matched, anyone else agree with me?

Unless there is a distinctive characteristic that stands out, you can not photo match an item. Pinstripes on a jersey, stains, rips, tears, hit marks, etc...

I feel many people just want there item to be the one in the photo, so they start seeing things. Again, a photo-match must have a characteristic such as listed above. Just because an item was signed by the player that he used it on a special day, the photo-matching is great, but unless there is something amazing such as the two jerseys with pin-stripe locational matches (that Yankees jersey is so cool) it is very hard to call an item photo-matched.
I couldn't agree with you more. It's been stated several times in this thread yet people continue to showcase "style matched" items. So be it...

Mike Cameron game used Reds helmet
(notice the long white streak on the back side of the helmet present in the photo as well)