Serving it up on a Silver Shield

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 6:30 PM PDT in Postgame Report Comment 60 comments

Blame of the Game: Scot Shields

Scot Shields served this game up; the Rays did not win as much as we lost it, choke style, with an assist from Jeff "Just Worthless" Mathis.

Hey, we are back to being the Angels who always lose in the first round of the playoffs, mid-season overachievers who cannot really handle the rigors of a 162-game season.

Maybe this is better than being the 1995 Angels and maybe it is a less painful way of avoidance in not being the 1986 Angels, but if Mike Scioscia does not bench Figgins and Kendrick and Mathis for at least a game (or two) we could become the grinded-into-the-ground 1964 Phillies, and Mike Scioscia, you are better than Gene Mauch, really.

And for you jaded season ticket holders look at the bright side, our coming quick first-round exit means a cap on what Arte Moreno can let John Carpino raise your ticket prices to - nobody is going to let a loser stick it to them!

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load the spaceship with the rocket fuel... load it with the warriors...

by gdog009 on Aug 19, 2008 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just unreal

Scioscia sticks with Shields after that godawful first batter, Mathis chokes away a routine sac bunt, and that’s the game, really.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Aug 19, 2008 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Another truly pathetic display

against another overachieving team that is set to become the ’97 World Series winning Marlins of 2008.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Aug 19, 2008 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

time for SRod and Napoli to see some playing time.

i swear… if Napoli doesn’t get MORE time, I might kill someone

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

MATHIS for BOTG.

douchebag.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He sucks

ass. Time for Naps to be the regular.

I can’t even imagine what Sosh sees in Mathis – but it’s gotta be something. Sosh certainly knows his shit.

by ViolaHalo on Aug 19, 2008 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sosh

Likes the way Mathis calls games. The position is much more complex than offensive production, and there’s very little glory for being good at it. The catcher is responsible for knowing how to pitch to each hitter, knowing a pitcher’s strengths and weaknesses, and knowing what to call when. Sosh has said in the past that he values the way that Mathis does this. Naps does it well too, but apparently not as well.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

so his crappy defense and HORRIBLE offense offsets Napoli's very slight disadvantage?

i highly doubt it.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the quote

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080809&content_id=3280409&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana

“Mathis has probably close to 100 RBIs for us this year with the difference he’s made behind the plate when he catches and when other guys catch,” Scioscia said. “If he’s catching and his ERA is 3.60 and the other guy’s is 4.60, then it’s a run a game right there that he’s in the plus column.”

EAT IT HOWIE!

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

CERA is a completely bogus stat!

Napoli’s CERA got jacked up from catching Adenhart/Moseley/some Garland early in the year.
Personally, i don’t think that catcher has THAT big of a difference in the pitching game. yes, he attributes to it, but not as much as most people seem to think.

and that “one run a game” that mathis supposedly adds with is glove is taken away when he throws balls all over the outfield.
AND napoli can add that one run (and probably more) with his bat.

besides, it’s not "one run a game different. that’s complete BS and you know it.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

First off...

Napoli and his .221 batting average do not ad anything CLOSE to 1 run per game and YOU know it.

Secodly, I didn’t hear anyone complaining about Mathis’ defense earlier this season when he was picking runners off of first every couple of games – everyone thought he was AMAZING defensively then. Now, he has a couple of errors at the wrong times and people start talking like we should call up a minor league catcher? COME ON!

Furthermore, I never said that I, PERSONALLY, believe that Mathis’ 1-run/game CERA makes enough of a difference to keep Naps on the bench, I was replying to why SOSH gives Jeff more PT. As he clearly stated in that interview, regardless of the objections of anyone on this blog, he DOES put that much stock in CERA and wouldn’t trade 1 run of CERA for a .14 difference in BA.

Finally, when Naps was on the DL and Mathis caught EVERY game, we went on one hell of a tear. This offense is perfectly capable of producing while he’s in there.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, i'm pretty sure MATHIS was the reason for our offensive tear

and actually, if you noticed, our pitchers started pitching a lot worse during that stretch.

also, have you noticed that our bullpen, which has suffered lately, has been suffering more when Mathis is catching?

i haven’t seen anyone talking about calling up a minor league catcher, but after 12 errors, i think mathis should see more bench time.

and in my defense, i’ve hated him all year.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately...

You are right about our pitchers struggling during that stretch…and that really bugged me.

No, he wasn’t the reason for the tear, but he’s clearly not the sole reason for our slump now. We have 8 other guys in that lineup capable of producing offensively. They haven’t for 5 or 6 games. That bugs me too.

Anyway, I didn’t mean anything personal. I’m just a little edgy with the losing streak and all.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

as am i, and right now, anything concerning mathis pisses me off. it's nothing personal

and no, he’s not the only reason for the slump, but he sure isn’t helping to break out of it.

what i don’t understand is how the guy still gets as much playing time as he does… during the month that Naps was out, he hit around .200. he had some moments, but still hit .200. that’s about what we can expect from him.

why not give Napoli the same kind of chance? i can just about guarantee that he could hit and play an all-around better game given every day playing time.

considering mathis’ glaring errors (not just tonight’s), why not give the other guy a decent shot at taking the every day time? that’s what we did with Juan Rivera, and look where it got us.

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bench Figgins, Kendrick, Mathis, Aybar, Guerrero, Hunter, Texiera, Anderson.

They all lost it imho; failure in the most epic proportions.

Can anyone explain to me why Arrendondo wasn’t put into the game instead of Oliver?

Tomorrow’s lineup should be:

Catcher: Napoli
1B: Morales
2B: Rodriquez
SS: Aybar
3B: Quinlan
LF: Rivera
CF: Matthews Jr
RF: Wilits (Is he still available?)

Lame…. Fucking Lame. My gf’s is pissed at me for yelling at Mathis, Shields and Rivera for Fucking Sucking.

by Obscurity on Aug 19, 2008 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah, that's what we need

Matthews and Quinlan in the game together.

do you WANT to get swept??

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No...

The point is to shake the lineup.

Maybe if the lineup were shaken up and everyone were benched for a game complacency wouldn’t be the angels new motto.

by Obscurity on Aug 19, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hear ya, but that's not the way to do it.

sit 1 or 2 guys… not half the team.

Howie needs a break. Let SRod play.
Morales needs to start. Sit either your DH or Tex (who was robbed ALL GAME), preferably the DH.
Sit Mathis indefinitely. Naps IS the best catcher we have.
As much as I hate to say it, sit Figgins for Quinlan. I hate Quinlan, but Figgins needs to ride the pine.

once again… i can haz Brandon Woodz???

Mike Scioscia: He provides to unlike method of your team member.

by howiestheman on Aug 19, 2008 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, i think Obscurity needs to head back into his namesake

silly talk.

load the spaceship with the rocket fuel... load it with the warriors...

by gdog009 on Aug 19, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oliver...

Was brought in to face Carlos Pena, who cannot hit left-handed pitching for the life of him.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My GF is PISSED at Mathis, Shields, Howie and Figgins for sucking

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm in the same boat

I know Wood has always sucked at the Major League level but he does seemed to have turned a corner in AAA (just look at this walk/k rate lately) but I’d like to see him get a lot of playing time and not be jerked around every game like Scioscia has always done with him.

by MH252525 on Aug 19, 2008 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you Acuda in disguise?

Has he gotten off his oxygen tank yet?

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 19, 2008 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When was the last time Shields had a good outing?

I can totally see the Rays making an early exit in the playoffs.

by Doctor Wu on Aug 19, 2008 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

When was the last time the bullpen had a good outing?

by Obscurity on Aug 19, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

these loses make it hard to be optomistic about the post season

we were hitting shields and he would have been out of the game sooner if we exercised just a little bit of patience.
too many blown opportunities
bullpen blows it again
mathis is a terrible player who needs to be given a ticket back to salt lake tonight. serious, at this point i am ready to give budde a look

by UCIHalo on Aug 19, 2008 6:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If so...

we traded Kotch for nothing to rent Tex…nice!

Whodathunk we would be rooting for a former Ranger come August...?

by K3YEROUT on Aug 19, 2008 6:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I know it's hard...

But there are going to be games like this. On the bright side (if there is one) Santana was amazing tonight and GA’s streak continues. The fire is still there, we just need a little kick in the pants.

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 6:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

some little fires gotta lite up and we can get going again

The other teams could make trouble for us if they win.
Yogi Berra

by AnaheimHalos61 on Aug 19, 2008 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I blame Scioscia

Having more obvious could it be that Shields had NO idea where the strikezone was? Cut your losses and put in another pitcher. But if he was going to stick it out with him, then why in the world did he take him out after he finally seemed to be throwing strikes?

For the 20th time Soth, Oliver is not a situational lefty. The guy stands on the 3rd base side of the rubber so he has literally no advantage over lefties and the numbers show that so clearly!

Napoli is the MUCH better option to be starting especially against RHP. Napoli seems to be on a tear offensively, he just missed a couple pitches yesterday and he unlike Mathis is the guy that can give a struggling offense a boost when he catches lightning in a bottle like he does every so often.

by MH252525 on Aug 19, 2008 6:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't like Shields

>>off to look for my posts from last year on how bad Shields is

by ladybug on Aug 19, 2008 6:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

we are in a five game funk in August, off the ledge guys

Angels in 08!

by tanana40 on Aug 19, 2008 6:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This

Is a really weird stretch of poor play, because certain facets of the team are playing really well. You know how, on a good streak, teams will find a way to win? Well it’s like we’re finding new ways to crap the bed all of the time – each night is a new way.

Mostly it’s been pitching and defense, though. We’re putting up runs. Frustrating as shit, all of it.

by ViolaHalo on Aug 19, 2008 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually think it's been mostly

The offense, the bullpen and Jeff Mathis’ all around shitty play. Out of the Angels 4 losses on this roadtrip they held the opposing team to 4 runs or under in 3 of the losses and in their other loss the other team only scored 6.

I think the offense is the much bigger concern than the pitching.

by MH252525 on Aug 19, 2008 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone needs to calm down.

You guys are overreacting. We’ve had one bad week. It is not the end of the world. If we continue to play this way next week, maybe we should worry. But it was just one bad week.

We’ve played awesome for practically the entire season and we have a stretch of 5 bad games and you guys are going off the deep end.

Almost every team in baseball would LOVE to be in our position. We’re a lock for the playoffs, we have great pitching, and we’ve got a very good offense.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Aug 19, 2008 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Spoken like a guy

with a beautiful wife and comfortable new home environment. ;0)

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or someone who has missed our quick playoff exists

by UCIHalo on Aug 19, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been around for the playoff exits...

In fact, I worked every home game of the playoff exits.

But I also remember how the White Sox almost choked in 2005 the final three weeks of the season or so…and still won the World Series.

I also remember how the Red Sox were down 3 games to 1 against Cleveland last year…and won the World Series.

The thing is EVERY team goes through tough times. I’d rather have them with a 15 FREAKING GAME LEAD. Remember we also have five solid starters—3 of which are GREAT starting pitchers.

Going 5 and 5 in our last ten is not the end of the world. Yeah we’ve lost two series in a row, but we hadn’t lost one before that since like the Middle Ages or something.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Aug 19, 2008 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mostly agree..

It is just sooooo frustrating to see Shields melt down in a close game. Most of his pitches weren’t even close. I didn’t even have the opportunity to blame the umpire. He flat-assed sucked. And it din’t matter if they were fastballs or breaking pitches.
The offense needed one more clutch hit in the early innings too. Let’s hope they play better tomorrow (beginning to be a recurring theme).

by sothball on Aug 19, 2008 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sucks collecting this data after a loss. :(

== Resident Point Tallier ==

by scottnak on Aug 19, 2008 7:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this post seemed awfully negative

considering how many people get yelled at for being negative on this site

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 19, 2008 7:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You want peaches and cream?

Read the sidebar guidelines – I bitched once and offered a solution.

Posters here get called out for whining incessantly.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i wasnt saying it was in violation of any rule

just that it seemed to be in opposition to the whole “you should be happy we are where we are with who we have or else youre a bandwagon fan” sentiment that a lot of people use to squash negativity on this site. Not directed at just you, theres a lot of those “i hate jeff mathis because he isnt an all star” type posts in here that were referenced a few weeks back that everyone agreed sucked back then.

we’re up like 12,000 games in the division. Ya, tampa bay has our number for the time being but we were slumping even before we came in here…its still understandable.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Aug 19, 2008 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ALL GOOD

Tension is inevitable but we should all be friends in the end. Just not the rear end.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK you folks get pisshead drunk

While I’m thinking about a good post to write tomorrow (my time BST) about why this is NOT 1995.

Doomsayers piss off
We’re going all the way

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 19, 2008 7:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Lead over Rangers trimmed to 15 games

Reality check boys and girls

Don't call me Desmond

by highlandhalo on Aug 19, 2008 7:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Rangers losing big late

Another magic number shaved down regardless of our recent ineptitude ! ! ! ! ! !

by Rev Halofan on Aug 19, 2008 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well that's good news!!!

I think it’s time to check on women’s beach volleyball.

Anyone know if Brazil is playing tonight? That will take my mind off of this loss!!!

by sothball on Aug 19, 2008 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If there's one player who needs a full-time traveling shrink on the payroll

it is Scot Shields. Whether he is wound so tightly that he’s privvy to the occasional snap, he tends to wilt against good teams in crucial series’ (BoSox and, now, the Rays).

He’s still a long ways’ better than Justin “DFA me” Speier.

You ever feel as if your mind had started to erode?

by PieceOfAase on Aug 19, 2008 8:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

With Speier you have a good idea of what your getting.

Good Scot/Bad Scot is much more a roll of the dice.

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 19, 2008 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time to swap out Dondo and Shields?

I think Dondo has earned some 8th inning set up time.

by Ajax on Aug 19, 2008 9:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

FUCK.

I guess the Angels were too busy patting themselves on the backs after sweeping the likes of the RedSox and Yakees. Not realizing that some nobody team is about to kick their asses again. This years ALCS will be exactly the same as last years, except it will be the Rays humiliating the Angels.

Way to make a statement guys.

Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up at the sky with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake... the K-Rod!

by Scuff on Aug 19, 2008 9:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's going to be okay....

Deep breath….

by tbone_cutter on Aug 19, 2008 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a good thing I had no internet access last night

because I’m pretty sure I would have earned a temporary ban. F’in Mathis. True, Shields coiuldn’t throw the ball into the grand canyon, but man on second with one out is a world of difference from 2d and 3d with no outs. On top of that, I was in Yankee stadium on that Sunday when that pig excuse for a catcher threw the ball into left field.

Toss that on top of the 29 straight steals and it just absolute shows how bad our receiving corps is. And to give Mathis or Napoli credit for this pitching staff’s ERA is a joke. Does anyone think that Jose or Benji would have done a worse job?

GA GA he's the man, if he can't do it, no one can

by Moondoggy on Aug 20, 2008 7:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is not 1995... or 2004, or 2005, or 2007

Did it occur to anyone that, in spite of Sosh’s “one day at a time, turn the page” philosophy, these guys know they have the division locked up, and sometimes have trouble bringing it at the highest level every day? I understand we want home field, and so do they, but they’re also human. They’re in a bad stretch, but there is plenty of time for them to get back on track (even Figgy!) before the playoffs.

Of course the playoffs are a crapshoot, and I am worried we are having so much trouble at Tropicana, but this team is built much better for the playoffs than any previous team: we have much better pitching than 2002 (which was insanely hot – I mean Adam Kennedy 3 HRs in a game?), and a more solid lineup than the last few years. Added to which, the Red Sux don’t have Manny, and we went into Fenway and handed them a major ass whupping, and I am confident that we have as good a shot as anyone to go all the way.

The one thing I share is a frustration that Naps doesn’t get more playing time. I think it is clear that the CERA stat is being unfairly biased by Napoli catching Adenhart and Moseley early in the season, and his offensive capabilities are clearly superior to Mathis. I think Mathis has flashes of brilliance defensively, but has had an awful lot of lapses (how many times has he thrown the ball into the outfield?), so I would like to see their time flip-flop. However, Sosh does know things we can’t see (e.g., who do the pitchers like/respond to throwing the game?), so I am trying to trust that Sosh knows what he is doing.

So, I hope everyone had a good night’s sleep, and let’s get off the ledge and watch as the good guys win today!

The future is now!

by halofan91 on Aug 20, 2008 8:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also

Shields has sucked every August I can remember but always seems to find a way to recover. And you can’t just bench him for the month. These are human beings, not Topps cards, and it doesn’t work that way.

The future is now!

by halofan91 on Aug 20, 2008 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BOTG

The BLEEPING hack Mathis.

I am off him. He is an abortion of a “defensive” catcher.

Scot always melts down after errors. See the game where Aybar threw it away and you all gave Scot the BOTG.

Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.

Kobe tell me how my ass tastes

by hauldog on Aug 20, 2008 9:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Love that photo

How much do you want to bet that poor little boy holding the sign is a tranny now? “Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep.”

I swear, if one more person tells me to "work smarter, not harder"...

by Rally Manatee on Aug 20, 2008 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If we have to lose to anyone, I'd rather it be the Rays

The Rays winning means tougher chances for Red Sux and Jankees. So, 15.5 games up, if we have to meet our quota of disappointing loses, let’s give them to the Rays.

I don’t see how any of you fans are freaking out already about losing round 1. We’ll step up when we need to. Even most of our youngest players have playoff experience, but the Rays (who still have a tremendous possibility of choking down the stretch, although I wish them the best) will be very inexperienced in high pressure games. They will succomb to the power of the thunder sticks, or the Mr. Miyagi paddles, or whatever we have this year.

I swear, if one more person tells me to "work smarter, not harder"...

by Rally Manatee on Aug 20, 2008 11:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Get ready to shoot the messenger

Don’t get me wrong, both of these catchers frustrate the hell outta me for different reasons.

The reason Mathis is in playing is defense. It goes beyond the errors (which I agree 12 is unacceptable). Napoli has been charged with 7 pass balls, Mathis has been charged with only 3 in almost 250 more innings caught.

Knowing your catcher is going to block the curve in the dirt give the pitcher some added confidence according to Rex.

Also Jeff has thrown out or picked off 18 out of 46 (39) Would be base stealers, as for Napoli 8 of 38 (21).

by Seik1177 on Aug 20, 2008 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs