Is Jeff Mathis Done?

by Angel Hawker on Mar 31, 2007 9:26 AM PDT

After watching him have a horrible spring (except for 1 good game), I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever make it to the major leagues. It seems that he is one of those career minor leaguers or AAAA guys. He has now spent two years at AAA and still doesn't seem ready for the majors.

I know the rumor has been going around that the Angels might move Jose Molina, but I am definitely not comfortable doing so since Mathis has had such a terrible spring. I think going into spring training it was his back-up job to lose, and he did just that by batting a measly .145 (I know, small sample size). But heck, last year he batted .300 in spring training, and then went on to stink it up in the majors.

On another note, in the rule 5 draft last year we lost catcher Ryan Budde to the Phillies, but isn't he suppose to be offered back to us if he doesn't stay on the major league roster? Anyone hear anything about this?

We sure could use the catching depth, because after Mathis, it looks like the next in line would be Bobby Wilson, who isn't quite ready yet.

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I think the same with Mathis

He is just not ment to be in the BIGS. Hopefully Hank "The Tank" Cogner goes through our system quickly so he can back up Naps or visa versa.

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Mar 31, 2007 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

i still have hope

he is an excellent defensive catcher and last year had a solid year in triple a, he could have pouted but he worked. his value is diminished but it isn't gone.

retire number fifteen.

by rowast on Mar 31, 2007 10:55 AM PDT reply actions

HE IS 23 PEOPLE

Jesus X. Christ, take a Percoset or sumthin'.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Mar 31, 2007 11:04 AM PDT reply actions

Actually...

He is 24. But while I hope is isn't done he's had almost two full years at AAA. Shouldn't he be major league ready by now? Do you really think he'll become a better player by spending another year at AAA? I have my doubts, but I hope I'm wrong.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Mar 31, 2007 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Hahaha.

That confused the hell out of me for a second without the comma. I was about to say, Jose Molina is the only Angels catcher even CLOSE to "23 people".

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Mar 31, 2007 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions

haha

Percoset are dope.

by matt92130 on Apr 7, 2007 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

He is already a better option than Jose Molina

He is close to Molina defensively and has the potential to be a league average offensive catcher. Jose Molina will never hit. EVER!

by riktermiller on Mar 31, 2007 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

How do you think he has...

The potential to be a league average offensive catcher? He hit .289 at Salt Lake (a place that is supposed to inflate offensive numbers) with 5 homeruns. In 2005 he hit 21 homeruns, but why the drop off in power numbers last year? I wish it was injury driven or something, but I see no reason why he should have declined last year so much. Then he comes out to spring training and does lousy. I really hope I'm wrong, because I agree with you that Molina will never hit well.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Mar 31, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Potential

he is young and has had success in the past. Jose Molina is Jose Molina and that is all he will ever be.

by riktermiller on Mar 31, 2007 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

He's a good athlete, and young

According to Baseball Prospectus' major league equivalents, his .289/.333/.430 line in Salt Lake last year translates to big-league totals of .258/.300/.388.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/mathije01.php

That might not sound so fantastic, but keep in mind that Jose Molina's best year was only .261/.296/.374, and that his career averages are .239/.280/.346, and that he's 32 years old and fat.

I'll take the 24 year old with the nice athleticism. Wouldn't be a crime if he played another year at AAA, I suppose, but he needs big-league seasoning in case Napoli goes down, so I'd flip Jose & carry Jeff.

by mattwelch on Mar 31, 2007 3:32 PM PDT reply actions

Amen

Key word: "Athleticsm"

How often is that word even associated with the catching position? Scioscia was already fat at Mathis' age and he had a pretty nice career, no?

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Mar 31, 2007 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

these are catchers, remember

this position's main value is defense, and molina is a far better catcher than mathis. all mathis has going for him is his age.

by yeswecan on Mar 31, 2007 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not sure Molina's that much better

Jose's very good at throwing, but he's not the best receiver (with a staff like ours, the difference between a good receiver and bad is probably like 25 wild pitches). Mathis goes into occasional funks with his footwork, but otherwise his defense has looked excellent to me. And youth/athleticism definitely plays a role in defense, usually a much more important one than we think.

by mattwelch on Mar 31, 2007 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions