A Final Mathis Sendoff by Lyle Spencer

by SamuelGorski91 on Dec 3, 2011 10:53 PM PST

A few tweets from Lyle Spencer on the day that Jeff Mathis is shipped to Toronto for pitcher Brad Mills. A back-and-forth between Keith Law and Lyle Spencer:

keithlaw : Very, very slight preference for Mills, because we already know what Mathis is, but Mills still could improve enough to have value.

Lyle Spencer : Mathis is respected and valued only by every pitcher with whom he has worked. No analytics for that.

keithlaw : And is terrible at everything that matters.

Lyle Spencer : Winning doesn't matter. Won 12 more than Napoli in exact number starts for four years together. Nap caught Lacker, Weaver more

A few of Lyle Spencer's tweets today:

LyleMSpencer Catching same staff, Mathis had CERA .88 -- almost a full run -- better than Napoli for four years. Won 59% of games he started.
LyleMSpencer Numbers guys hate Jeff Mathis. Teammates love him. I think Mathis will settle for that tradeoff.#angels
LyleMSpencer CERA is of definite value when evaluating catchers handling the same pitchers over a number of years. I don't care what your crowd says.
LyleMSpencer @13Stoploss Only stat that matters is Angels won more often with Mathis catching than anyone else.
LyleMSpencer @truegrich Angels with Mathis catching: .576. Without Mathis catching: .564. Winning used to matter more than stats.
LyleMSpencer @13Stoploss @truegrich Comparative numbers on a team are fair, yes. Actually I was off. It's .576 with Mathis, .554 with everyone else.
LyleMSpencer Just want to set this straight: Since Jeff Mathis arrived, #Angels are .576 when he starts at catcher, .554 with everyone else. Nice WAR.
LyleMSpencer Last word -- promise. Wouldn't it be hilarious if Jays shipped Mathis to Texas to back up best bud Nap?#angels #rangers
LyleMSpencer : @AnthonySmith_Winning trumps stats every time. And Mathis won more frequently than any catcher Angels have had.
LyleMSpencer : @TonyCapitelli How do WAR/RAR explain Mathis' .576 winning percentage vs. Replacements' .554? Basic math to me.
LyleMSpencer : @BrewCrewBall Catchers and pitchers run the show. Everyone else contributes.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Keith Law

“And is terrible at everything that matters.” – Keith Law’s response to Lyle Spencer describing Jeff Mathis. Awesome.

by SamuelGorski91 on Dec 3, 2011 11:03 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

Try not to repeat what is already posted

YouthofToday had it covered:

http://www.halosheaven.com/2011/12/3/2608430/keith-law-smacks-down-comrade-lyle

"Take a Prozac and calm down. I guarantee that Omar Minaya will NOT be the next GM of the Halos." Mustard Man (10/28/11: He was right!!)

by blast21dave on Dec 3, 2011 11:28 PM PST reply actions

i think it is much better presentation this one

i study all fanshot multiple excursions on Halos Heaven, this one has pretty blue link

by Rev Halofan on Dec 3, 2011 11:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Luminous resistance power

And that’s why Rev is king..

Faith Focus Finish

by b0rd3rline on Dec 4, 2011 1:08 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

I agree

Much better formatting here.

by YouthofToday on Dec 4, 2011 11:06 AM PST up reply actions

Must br pretty sad knowing life wont get any better than this… A middle aged internet beatwriter, mancrushing so hard on a backup catcher. If i ever read the phrase “best bud nap” again, i might vomit.

What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.

by clover_black on Dec 4, 2011 12:12 AM PST reply actions

Can we banish Lyle Spencer to Canada along with Mathis?

I think that would make everyone happy, especially Lyle

We're still gonna fly flags

by Sorbo182 on Dec 4, 2011 12:20 AM PST via mobile reply actions 2 recs

Exile is too good for Comrade Lyle

Send him to the Gulag!!

I see red people

by The Limey on Dec 4, 2011 1:19 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

This is ridiculous

It is one thing to fawn over and defend Mathis with impassioned tweets and articles when he is the starting catcher for the Angels. That was pathetic and unbiased in its own right. Once the Angels have decided to trade Mathis for a journeyman AAA pitcher, thus signaling the organization’s view that Mathis has no value at all, it defies common sense that the team’s beat reporter would spend the entire day defending and praising Mathis in even more strident and desperate terms. His entire article about the trade was a tribute to Mathis. Enough is enough, Lyle. Stop acting batshit crazy, and do your job — write about the Angels, not Jeff Mathis.

by Brody on Dec 4, 2011 6:15 AM PST via mobile reply actions

He firmly believes fans killed Donnie Moore

so, he takes this adamant anti-fan stance for players who are the subject of fan ire. I’m not making this up, I’ve seen his NY Post quotes from back in the day.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Dec 4, 2011 6:19 AM PST up reply actions

That makes sense

Obviously, Donnie Moore was the first athlete in the history of sport to be booed by fans. Therefore, booing fans — not Moore’s own psychosis — must have caused him to kill himself.

by Brody on Dec 4, 2011 6:24 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Let us play

by eyespy on Dec 4, 2011 9:53 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

I love Dead Guy Ale.

Mmmmmmmmm.

R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - Always an Angel

by Kernel on Dec 4, 2011 11:28 AM PST up reply actions

As anyone who's been to a Cubs game at ST can ask...

Where’s “Old School”

If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?

by red floyd on Dec 4, 2011 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

do You mean Old Style?

Still need to try Pliny, but this board is too West Coast oriented. No Three Floyd’s? No Founders? No Goose Island? Dark Lord, Kentucky Breakfast Stout and Bourbon County Stout all kick St. Bernardus’ ass.

by LA Seitz on Dec 4, 2011 6:25 PM PST up reply actions

Pliny is a phenomenon! You must have it.

by yeswecan on Dec 4, 2011 10:04 PM PST up reply actions

Dave Henderson killed Donnie Moore

and the Anaheim police have failed in their duty to arrest him.

by Unclearnie on Dec 4, 2011 10:52 AM PST up reply actions

This Makes Sense

Comrade Lyle’s continual defense of Premium — even after tweeting he was done — is remarkable. I seriously think he needs to see a therapist as his unrepentant actions are indicative of serious mental problems.

Rev, you need to watch your back when going to the big A. A restraining order against Comrade Lyle may be a wise move my man.

by YouthofToday on Dec 4, 2011 11:12 AM PST up reply actions

Just re-scanned all five threads covering ths trade

not ONE FAN is expressing regret over this trade. So weird how unifying this move was for Angel fans. We are one!

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Dec 4, 2011 6:21 AM PST reply actions

Spencer got into the middle of the blogger (mainly HH) uprising against Mathis this summer

now the blogging community (HH) has won as Dipoto and the new front office has validated tha problem at catcher —Spencer lost as his arguments (versus HH data) and he can’t let go, he is still trying to win an argument that was lost. I assume that less public battles like this go on in baseball all the team as teams move from the old fashioned scouting techniques to new analytics, etc.. Spencer hanging on to a lost cause is kinda sad.

In 2012, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Angel's First World Championship

by tanana40 on Dec 4, 2011 7:43 AM PST reply actions

old school sportswriter to a tee

Spent all his energy licking corporate ass to get a gig and gets lazy only to find his mediocrity questioned by a new generation that knows way more about the game of baseball than his uncurious mind will ever comprehend. His passion is for the taste of the publishing media company president’s asshole and he gets everything he wants by gladhanding his way tot he top. Job performance does not matter in Lyle’s corporate world, this is the way the world works, until the audience can talk back and other media outlets have channels of publication on par with corporate biggies.

by Rev Halofan on Dec 4, 2011 7:26 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs

It's clear that Lyle is mentally challenged

The HH community needs to be there for him. The reality is, mental illness is no different from physical illness. Conditions like Mathis-depression, Mathis induced schizophrenia and anxiety disorders affect a person’s body. The emotional and psychological aspects of mental illness make supportive friends and family even more important to a person’s recovery.

So, now you know you can help just by being there and offering your reassurance, companionship, emotional strength, and acceptance. You can make a difference just by understanding and helping Lyle throughout the course of his or her illness and beyond. Lyle’s a special guy, and we just need to show him we care.

From Jeff Mathis' TOPPS card: "Jeff is a defensive catcher, but he can rake it when it counts." Jeff has a lifetime .199 MLB batting average

by mustard_man on Dec 4, 2011 10:20 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

not dumb, not crazy

Lyle is just lazy. But notice the blogging little suckass suckups who don’t bash Lyle, still hoping for pressbox tablescraps in the kids section.

by Rev Halofan on Dec 4, 2011 7:27 PM PST up reply actions

Kids, it's s-a-r-c-a-s-m.....

From Jeff Mathis' TOPPS card: "Jeff is a defensive catcher, but he can rake it when it counts." Jeff has a lifetime .199 MLB batting average

by mustard_man on Dec 5, 2011 4:58 AM PST up reply actions

That Lyle guy has issues, let go already

by Dontbatvlad4th on Dec 4, 2011 10:22 AM PST reply actions

here are some deleted tweets from lyle spencer...

-it’s 8:00am and jeffy isn’t up yet
-9:15 jeffy walks outside and gets the register
-9:45 jeffy looks like he’s having another smoothie w/banana’s and mixed berries, maube another fruit but he closed the blinds
-10:30 jeffy off to the gym, i think it’s arms and chest today
-10:45 yep, arms and chest
-12:30 jeffy hits up wahoo’s, orders his usual
-1:15 jeffy showers, there’s a new shower gel i can’t make out. when did he buy it?
-2:00 jeffy walks the dog
-2:20 jeffy picks-up after sosh does his business
-3:00 nap time
-4:00 jeffy catches up on his dvr
-5:30 jeffy runs on his treadmill (new shorts, same shoes)
-6:30 quick shower for jeffy
-6:50 jeffy off to sushi w/hot blonde (f*%cking bit#h)
-8:30 jeffy catches the muppets movie at the spectrum
-10:30 jeffy goes back to his place with the bitch, she’s hot but she’ll never appreciate him the way i do
-

by thejd on Dec 4, 2011 11:00 AM PST reply actions 8 recs

Over/under on days until he flocks to Toronto?

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.

by SharksFanEst.1994 on Dec 4, 2011 11:40 AM PST reply actions

Lyle Spencer ....

can not be this stupid.

Instead seeing articles they cite Mathis batting .174 last year, I am waiting for an article to say, “Mathis, the worst batter to ever get 1,000 MLB at bats”.

by Barca on Dec 4, 2011 11:51 AM PST reply actions

blaahhhhhh aachhhhh bllaaaaaghhhhhhhhhh

the sound of me vomiting after reading this.

by Wally's World on Dec 4, 2011 12:14 PM PST reply actions

Someone should ask Lyle what would happen if a team batted Jeff Mathis 1-9 in the lineup

This is a sig.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Dec 4, 2011 10:23 PM PST reply actions

Someone should ask Lyle...

…“You claim pitcher opinion as proof of Mathis’ value in spite of being the worst offensive player to ever be granted 1000 at bats in the major leagues. Therefore, now that Ianetta has taken Mathis’ position on the roster, do you expect Weaver/Haren/Santana/et al to fail to support Ianetta during interviews with the press going forward?” (Answer: of course not. Player to media comments about one another are not proof of actual on-the-field value.)

…“You claim winning percentage BY THE TEAM when Mathis was catcher, versus winning percentage BY THE TEAM when others played catcher, as proof of Mathis’ value as a catcher. How many MORE games would the team have won had they used an EVEN BETTER player than Mathis as catcher from 2006 through 2011?” (Answer: 19 if you use Napoli)

…"You claim CERA as the definitive statistic for valuing a catcher. So if Napoli was a poorer defender based on your same-staff comparitive “analysis” using CERA, how do you explain Napoli then having a lower CERA than Mathis in 2011, while catching a pitching staff with a higher overall ERA in 2011?"

…“You claim having observed more than 4,000 games as the foundation for your reasoning. How many more games do you expect to have to observe before you finally figure out that your reasoning is flawed? Further, how many hundreds of thousands of games do you calculate that the balance of MLB front office staffs have observed, leading (nearly all of) them to the position that Mathis has no place on their major leage rosters?”

Dear Texas: "One, two...........THREE!" The next number IS THREE!!!

by Stirrups on Dec 5, 2011 1:26 PM PST up reply actions