Tendering Mathis: The One Decision That Will Tell All
by JeffJoiner on Oct 5, 2011 8:59 PM PDT
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PrintCurrently, there is much speculation about who, exactly, is in charge of the Angels. Do the roster decisions get made by the general manager or the field manager? As of now, there is no way to tell with any certainty. That will change, however, with the outcome of one roster decision.
Jeff Mathis is one of the worst offensive players in the history of Major League Baseball. Furthermore, he has come to represent the ineptitude of the previous decision maker as the Angels offense continues to struggle while Mike Napoli enjoys a career year and postseason success. It is safe to say that his lack of production led in some way to the "resignation" of Tony Reagins.
He is also an arbitration eligible player which means the Angels must decide whether to tender him a contract or designate him for assignment and essentially cut him from the roster. This is a decision which is guaranteed to occur and will tell us who is in charge of the franchise for the time being.
Obviously, no general manager with true roster authority will tender Mathis a contract. Building a potent offense and having Jeff Mathis are mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the last thing a guy wants to do when taking a job is exactly what got the last guy fired. With that being said...
If Jeff Mathis gets tendered a contract, it is obvious that Mike Scioscia has the final say on roster decisions and that the title of "General Manager" is merely symbolic.
However, if Mathis gets justifiably DFA'd then we will know that Arte has decided to place roster decision making power in the front office, not the dugout.
Rarely are the inner workings of a front office as publicly demonstrated as those in the Angels are about to be. To me, this decision looms larger than who they name as general manager. After all, if the new G.M. is a puppet does it really matter who he is?
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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I think this would be more of a deciding factor last year.
With napoli they had much more depth. Something about having 3 catchers sounds infinitely better than two. What i realistically see is Mathis being non tendered and resigned to a minor league contract, or released completely with a FA signing of another catcher. Regardless, he needs to disappear.
" With Haren bolstering the rotation, the Angels are set up beautifully for 2011"- Another East coast biased reporter
I agree with you, but
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make our club as a non-roster invitee, starting only when Weaver pitches.
My response to your letter of February 19, 1976, is - kiss my ass.
Sincerely,
Bill Baxley, Attorney General
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Oct 5, 2011 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait, when has that ever happened?
Oh wait, 2010 with Robb Quinlan.
Shit.
Last year will never be clarified. This is about the present forward.
We will never know who pulled the trigger on that deal, no matter what the new G.M. does or says. Of course, if Mathis is on the Opening Day roster in 2012 it will point a big finger at Sosh being the man behind the debacle.
But, a new G.M. cutting Jeff could be interpreted as either taking power away from Sosh or as an indictment on Reagins. Simply put, we will never know the inner workings of that deal.
As far as Mathis getting re-signed to a minor league deal, it seems almost certain. After all, no club will sign him to a major league deal and has to know the only manager willing to consider him at this level is Sosh.
Jason Varitek is a member if the "I heart Mathis" club
Maybe Jeffy shows up in Boston
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Oct 6, 2011 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
You tricked me.
You made me think Mathis had been released. Thanks for getting my hopes up.
Trust the Deception
If the new GM isn't from outside of the organization, I'm going to be very disappointed.
And if I have to put up with Mathis behind the dish another season, I’m seriously going to have to add some new, distracting hobbies next summer…
I woke up in a great mood; I don't know what the hell happened.
Rec'd
although I wouldn’t have stopped at “Jeff Mathis is one of the worst offensive players in the history of Major League Baseball”
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Oct 5, 2011 9:42 PM PDT reply actions 8 recs
I don't normally quote Doyers, but Vin Scully, who must have seen everything possible in baseball after 61 seasons behind the mic, said it best:
“Well, that was a novel approach to throwing out base runner stealing second”
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
by Quad Fin Rider on Oct 5, 2011 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
LOLmathis!
My response to your letter of February 19, 1976, is - kiss my ass.
Sincerely,
Bill Baxley, Attorney General
by sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher on Oct 5, 2011 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Gotta keep the guessing.
That’s how you keep your CERA low. Well, that and catch Weaver and Haren.
Vernon Wells 2011 Stats (.218/.248/.412) and 2010 road stats (.224/.299/.400). The front office shouldn't have been surprised.
This was an obvious ploy my Mathis to improve his CERA
The 2011 Angels, the biggest cocktease ever.
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 5, 2011 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions
One of my favorites.
Thank you, Sir.
"Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter, once said 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.'
Well, Grantland Rice can go to hell as far as I am concerned." - Gene Autry
by Angelsfan015 on Oct 5, 2011 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions
this should be at the top of every page on HH
it never gets old
"id take 5th Dimention Wormhole Rivera over Wells any day of the week"
-clover_black
by the king of CERA on Oct 6, 2011 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Ahhh, one of my all time favorite Mathis CERA plays ever
That and the last “curtain call” play where he called off Callaspo on the bunt and made the premium athletic spin move and threw the ball into right field against the Rangers.
CONGER, CONGER, CONGER !!!
by steelgolf on Oct 6, 2011 5:56 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
So sad
There have been a few curious moments when these two teams have locked up over the years – Chan Ho Park drop kicking Tim Belcher; Cabrera stealing home right in Billingsly’s face; Weaver’s no-hit loss. But this gives Dodger fans the ultimate in-your-face to throw at us and I can’t imagine any other player doing anything more embarrassing than this in the future.
It really felt like a stoner moment, didn’t it? Makes you wonder…
Imagine if Trumbo wasnt looking?!
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champs Tony Romo Super Bowl MVP
-Me, October 3,2011
That's what i thought at the time.
Mathis is lucky Trumbo was paying attention to the ball and not the developing play at second or he might have scored from first.
or he might of hit Trumbo and we could of had another 1st baseman go down with a bizarre injury
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champs Tony Romo Super Bowl MVP
-Me, October 3,2011
The Angels.
With guys of caliber like Veron and Jeff this team is championship caliber.
The 2011 Angels, the biggest cocktease ever.
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 5, 2011 10:13 PM PDT reply actions
I was going for Mike Scoscia but Lyle could work as well.
The 2011 Angels, the biggest cocktease ever.
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 6, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Definitely Offer Him Arbitration
Lyle Spencer says we can trade Mathis for offense. If Spencer says something it MUST be true.
Jeff is just one of those guys who needs a scenery change.
That way he can go suck for another team.
The 2011 Angels, the biggest cocktease ever.
by Angelsrthebest101 on Oct 5, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
4000000 GAMES!
Somewhere, right now, Mickey Hatcher is ruining a swing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 6, 2011 1:07 AM PDT up reply actions
400000000000000000000000000 games!
beat that!
"id take 5th Dimention Wormhole Rivera over Wells any day of the week"
-clover_black
by the king of CERA on Oct 6, 2011 1:22 AM PDT up reply actions
trading Mathis itself implies you get anyone and anyone is better than Mathis, offensively
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Oct 6, 2011 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I bet we could have traded Mathis for Vernon Wells.
Vernon Wells 2011 Stats (.218/.248/.412) and 2010 road stats (.224/.299/.400). The front office shouldn't have been surprised.
If so, I would have applauded the deal
I love this team.
by Downing Rules on Oct 6, 2011 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
or just claimed him off waivers and traded no one for him
toronto wanted that abomination of a contract gone no matter what, oddly we gave up two good pieces for it.
I need to stop thinking about this, it makes me angry.
by Balls and Strikes on Oct 6, 2011 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Think about this, we could have traded Scott Karmis for him, not two people more valuable than Wells.
Vernon Wells 2011 Stats (.218/.248/.412) and 2010 road stats (.224/.299/.400). The front office shouldn't have been surprised.
ATHLETICISM!
Somewhere, right now, Mickey Hatcher is ruining a swing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 6, 2011 1:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Unless the new GM is a baller.
Then he won’t even wait to the deadline to cut him.
by moralesforpresident on Oct 8, 2011 11:24 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Mathis has a track record, so the decision would be easy
Mathis shouldn’t even be a backup at the major league level. I’d rather give 125 AB’s to Henry Blanco, David Ross, or, yes, even Jason Varitek. There are other major league catchers out there, Mike.
If Hank and Bobby are splitting catching duties, I am fine with Kevin Richardson being the emergency call-up. If Mike does not think Hank can handle it, though, we will need to make a move for a front line catcher; not many are available. Chris Snyder and/or Ryan Doumit will likely be free agents – sign one of them to a one year deal plus an option and move forward. (I’m open to any other suggestions – I just pulled these out of my ass, which is still better than Mike and Tony’s decision-making process)
For an organization that prides itself on developing catchers, we certainly have a very dysfunctional look right now.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes
by johnnyangel101 on Oct 5, 2011 11:42 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Yup
I was just looking at the FA list of catchers yesterday. Those two names jumped out at me as back up catchers. Dump Mathis and let Conger take a crack at starting catcher with a veteran back up in case he struggles. Although, I’m still not convinced that Wilson is worthless. At least he can throw out a runner.
Trust the Deception
by Rally Manatee on Oct 6, 2011 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA! DFA!
Pardon me, my enthusiasm got the better of me. (I agree with my enthusiasm 100% by the way!)
"Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter, once said 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.'
Well, Grantland Rice can go to hell as far as I am concerned." - Gene Autry
Do we even have to DFA?
Couldn’t we just not call his agent?
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Oct 6, 2011 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Correct
We don’t need to do a thing. Just let Dec 12th come and go without offering him a contract.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes
by johnnyangel101 on Oct 6, 2011 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Exactly
DFA is done only when someone is currently under contract. A non-tender is just that: an inaction.
As I said, my enthusiasm got the better of me.
That being said, perhaps DFA in this case could be “Don’t Fucking Ask” him to return?
"Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter, once said 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.'
Well, Grantland Rice can go to hell as far as I am concerned." - Gene Autry
by Angelsfan015 on Oct 6, 2011 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
Greenage
"Talent does what it can; genius does what it must." ~ Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Angels 2011 W-L record with the alternate red jersey: 17-12
Or mistakingly call the wrong agent.
“Oh, wait. He was stealing SECOND base?? …”
by moralesforpresident on Oct 8, 2011 11:26 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
HE BETTER BE FUCKING GONE!
OR I AM GOING TO MAKE IT MY MISSION IN 2012 TO LOCATE 44FAN, AND GIVE HIM THE TENDERNESS HE HAS BEEN MISSING FROM HIS LONELY LIFE!
Somewhere, right now, Mickey Hatcher is ruining a swing.
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 6, 2011 1:06 AM PDT reply actions
Wow, Mathis not only sucks at baseball, but he inspires rage among the HH community.
A wise man does not need advice and a fool won't take it.
He sucks at not sucking.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Oct 6, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm thinking somehow you win either way...........
I'm an Angels fan
by ladybug on Oct 6, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
if mike scosia is in charge,
not only will jeff “suck the playoffs out of this team” mathis be on the roster. but there will be NO real changes made with the exception of kendrys morales in spring training long enough to find out he needs another surgery.we will have another season of torii “double play” hunter, vernon"routine flyball" wells and bobby"you can count on my strikeout "abreu. the youth movement will move slowly until they are disgruntled 2nd and 3rd yr. players begging to go to a winning team.if you think i sound upset with this season, your damn right! maddon and black and roenicke were the reason scosia looked good, it is time for a bigger change then just reaggins.
by hoffy loves the angels on Oct 6, 2011 5:14 AM PDT reply actions
Enough platooning already, Sosh!
I wish he’d stop platooning his catchers. Hitters need consistency!
so you are saying mathis just needs to get into a rythm and then he will get hit like hes capable of, then we will all see?
by Balls and Strikes on Oct 6, 2011 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions
If the end result would have been the same for the team.
Yes. i’d rather have given Mathis the job so he could prove himself as the worst offensive player in history. Give him enough ABs to qualify for a batting title. And his name would forever be linked to bad player history.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
it was a joke off the lyle spencer post about how if mathis ever starts to hit we will see how good he can be
by Balls and Strikes on Oct 7, 2011 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I know the Lyle memes.
I was just thinking about how awesome it would have been if Mathis had put up 500+ ABs of his slash line.
The Soth media love would get slaughtered. LIke it has been here for the year and a half I’ve been around (sure that it goes back further)
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
I think you make a valid point. Mathis' presence on the team after December 12 will be the tell-tale sign that either
Mike Scioscia runs the place or there’s a new sheriff (GM) in town.
A wise man does not need advice and a fool won't take it.
Kim Ng
Her name has been mentioned on this site and by at least one writer. Only a woman could stand up to the stubborness and stupidity that Scioscia’s weak side reveals. She could probably use the same tricks that Arte’s wife used to get him to spend more money and prove he’s not cheap. Guys like Anthopolous and Boras wouldn’t be able to fleece her because she’d remember everything and just make them feel guilty by not returning their calls. Every year, she’ll get upset when the other 29 GMs don’t offer her a gift at the trade deadline or the winter meetings.
I could go on, but you get the point. Let’s shake this league up. Kim Ng 2012!!!
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Oct 6, 2011 8:38 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm not sure if women should be offended by that
Or proud that you’re a proponent of one….
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
Oh, they probably should be offended
even though it’s totally in jest. It does make you wonder, though. Hiring the first female GM would shine a lot of attention on the franchise. It may even win over some female fans, who would see the Angels as the progressive franchise among what has always been a boys club. We’ve all heard her name over the years, but one has to wonder: does she get all the attention because she’s a woman who simply holds her own in this industry, or is she really one of the brightest stars who hasn’t had her chance yet?
She's also Vietnamese, too right?
Remember when everyone was saying that Arte was trying to get more Latino players to attract Latino fans? The Angels are adjacent to the second biggest Vietnamese population in the world.
Probably both
Either way, this team needs some bold moves and new thinking.
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Oct 6, 2011 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed on all counts
"And that’s why to hell with the traffic, Diane, we’re staying until the end of the game, and that’s final." ~brokenyard, 8/18/11
Also, she's Asian
and aren’t they, like, good at math?
"And that’s why to hell with the traffic, Diane, we’re staying until the end of the game, and that’s final." ~brokenyard, 8/18/11
Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.
by Commander_Nate on Oct 6, 2011 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
thats emposter!!
Vernon Wells 2011 Stats (.218/.248/.412) and 2010 road stats (.224/.299/.400). The front office shouldn't have been surprised.
Luminous?
Vernon Wells 2011 Stats (.218/.248/.412) and 2010 road stats (.224/.299/.400). The front office shouldn't have been surprised.
I am study every match of it!
"And that’s why to hell with the traffic, Diane, we’re staying until the end of the game, and that’s final." ~brokenyard, 8/18/11
I'm so bummed I wasn't here when we had Matsui.
I told all my friends I was excited we signed him over Vlad because he had disciprine.
by Halowitz on Oct 7, 2011 12:22 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Uniform number 5
I think we can find someone better to wear it next year. Plenty of good number 5’s out there.
When you are epic "suck" like Mathis
your number needs to be retired and your uniform hung from the scoreboard (preferably with Mathis still in it.) along with a short quotation from Lyle Spencer.
CONGER, CONGER, CONGER !!!
"One day he will figure out how to hit and then you'll see"
by Balls and Strikes on Oct 6, 2011 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Too bad
that it won’t be until he’s on someone’s Thursday night coed softball team.
Sosh did say something indicating that Mathis is on the chopping block.
I’m estimating it was in early August. He said something to the effect of, I don’t expect great offense out of the catching position, but we can’t have .190. And mind you, he said that while Mathis was at .190, before he dipped all the way down to .174! The way I see it, Sosh was publicly calling Mathis out, saying he had to improve, or else. Mathis responded by slumping even further. I’m cautiously confident that he will not be re-signed. Plus, Bobby Wilson catching a no-hitter for Santana showed Sosh that Mathis isn’t the only catcher on the team that can call a good game.
Trust the Deception
correct.
“we don’t expect 290 but we can’t have 190”… Sadly, nothing changed the rest of the year. Fingers crossed for 2012.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 6, 2011 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
That did happen
Mathis was benched/played very infrequently for a couple of weeks. It was all Bobby Wilson with a little Conger. Then Mathis hit a homer one game along with another hit or two, and Sosh went back to using him frequently.
This is going to be my team, and we're going to rise together.
-Clipper Darrell
Thanks for all the feedback.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while and wanted to see what the reaction would be.
Mathis
has an incredible PHIL rating.
since 1961
by Chompo on Oct 6, 2011 1:11 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
In lieu of an official graph, let me pull his PHIL numbers real quick...
P (performance) – 0 (speaks for itself)
H (heart) – 3 (tries hard anyway, even if he throws to first to try to get a guy at second)
I (integrity) – 2 (dude, you can’t complain about playing time when you suck)
L (leadership) – 2 (see Integrity. your boys like you, but you don’t lead them)
A couple of things!
Jeff Mathis should NOT be back with the Halos and should not be on ANY major league roster. I mean, is anyone really that stupid???? BY anyone, I mean anyone in the Halos organization.
Screw you mathis! My offseason got off to a great start by firing that Carlton Banks look a like! Dont disappoint me halos! Do the right thing!!
You ain't fresh!
Wondering outloud...
Would Pittsburg being interested in our premium catcher, I’ve heard they’ve got this up-in-comer at 3rd? Dick Wood or something like that. Heard he had a lot of powers in the minors, just might need a change of scenery.
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at First2Third.net
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