And still averaging 5.3 runs since the scareduck 5.0 challenge! Now on to DC, where a certain lazy editor & visiting Beachbum Willy will be gobbling up some sweet lobbyist seats for the three-game!
am a corporate whore and will be sitting behind home plate with my Rodriguez jersey for Tuesday’s game and in a corporate box for Weddnesday’s battle. I’ll definitely look towards the bleachers for Angels gear though.
2 run bomb + the dig on the ugly throw by Figgy leading off the 9th! Can’t go wrong with Shields, but we lost 2-1 w/out Kotch (hitting the 2 run bomb off “not just another left”, but arguably the best lefty in the NL!
My vote is still Kotch! Shields does not have a lead to hold if not for Casey!
I voted for Vlad after the first game….....he gets it the second….....i voted for shields on the game yesterday…...he gets it today…....so today i say Kotch and hopefully he’ll get it tomorrow.
IF you don't believe me that Napoli shouldn't play anymore...
then maybe this will convince you:
Stolen Bases: Rollins 2 (17, 2nd base off Weaver/Napoli, 3rd base off Weaver/Napoli), Bruntlett (7, 2nd base off Rodriguez, F/Napoli), Dobbs (2, 2nd base off Weaver/Napoli).
Greg Dobbs with his career SIXTH stolen base, rips a bag off of the lady-armed Napoli. Also, he’s below the Mendoza line and he has struck out 7 times in 6 games in June.
Maybe his weak-ass arm can’t throw anyone out, but Scioscia can sure as hell take a hint and throw his ass on the bench.
I’m all for benching Salad once you explain to me how he went from being the teams best power hitter to one of the worst. If you don’t play you can’t break out of the slump.
Mathis is just hitting better though, and actually out-hit Naps in April too.
It was only after Naps won the majority starting gig that Mathis tanked hard, going 2-34 in May. Since the beginning of June and his gaining more playing time, he’s hitting really well again.
Right, and if you've ever seen Napoli "frame" a pitch,
if you can even call it that, you will crave the defense of Mathis, which is usually stellar. Mathis makes pitchers look good; so good that they get the benefit of the doubt from his framing.
He also has a much better block of the plate, textbook bunt defense, and a usually strong, accurate arm to throw behind runners or across the diamond to 2nd.
Mathis is an amazing defensive catcher; it’s been his offense that kept him from starting from the outset of his MLB career.
Actually if you remember, the year he succeeded Benji
He was an offensive AND defensive disaster. And it was Naps who stepped up. Don’t you remember the game when Adam Kennedy started a fight with first base, Kotch?, because he didn’t try to call off Mathis on a foul ball?
I don't follow. If he didn't suck defensively, in theory, he wouldn't have
been sent down.
At any rate he’s playing well now. If Naps was mashing, we’d be saying that defense is less of an issue since in general the Halos have been struggling to score. The issue is that Naps isn’t mashing right now, maybe he’s got some kind of minor injury? , so people think that Jeff should play every day.
Either way, Mike is going to try to balance the catching duties as much as possible so key is that they both need to hit to their potential and Naps needs to play better defense. Surprise .. friggin Surprise.
Jeff Mathis as a prospect was that he could rake the ball and was pretty damn handy behind the dish, too.
As of now he’s currently slated as the defensive catcher who is slowly coming into his own against MLB pitchers. Napoli wasn’t even really on the radar until Mathis showed that he couldn’t hit the Mendoza line, let alone major league pitchers, and Napoli stepped up and exhibited his power.
But Napoli is absolutely abysmal behind the dish since his career was formed, and he was never really projected to much more than a moderate power hitter with mediocre to below average defense.
In any case I’d be ecstatic to see Mathis finally live up to the hype that lead to the departure of the brothers Molina in anticipation of his arrival.
Mathis's slightly higher number of screwups is modified by the fact that
he’s thrown out twice as many people as Napoli. It’s not just that he’s throwing more people out, he’s also faster to the ball than Napoli, and has the ability to catch runners napping at first and third. Add in superior pitch reception and superior offense (at least for the time being) and Mathis is clearly the starting choice.
The Whole “defense in a catcher philosophy” is a fine and all, but at a certain point, offense does matter. I’m sure we’re all tired of watching the anemic offense during the playoffs get run out of town by the Redsox. The same could well happen this year. Napoli might be below-average defensively, but he still deserves to play simply because he can hit homers. The Angels didn’t win the world series hitting singles and playing defense, they won because of a powerful lineup. If defense is so important, they should have kept jose molina around. I know this is a crappy comparison, but just to illustrate a point: Would you have a jeff mathis or a defensively weak jorge posada or mike piazza in their primes? I think the answer is clear.
Naps DH-ing and being the part-time catcher would actually be a very good idea. he knows how to walk, even if he isnt hitting he gets his bat going, we get rid of GA/HGH’s crappy bat, and we actually get runners over and in once in a while. at the same time, all the people who are all over Mathis’ defense (which was absoluely terrible this series) can stay happy, too.
ya. i just dont see mike benchin HGH or vlad for a long period of time
and if we DH naps, then the LF spot would be a mad scramble between HGH/Ga/Willits/Rivera. I mean, thats a whole competent (at least 2/3 of) outfield competing for 1 spot. Wheras if we DH vlad, then theyre fighting over 2 spots instead of 1
muchas gracias shields!
Los Angeles de Anaheim - June 22, 2008
Well its def. not Willits
WillGoAngels27 - June 22, 2008
shields dominated the series
let alone the game … way to go scotty
BigBangRobbDawgg - June 22, 2008
Best record in the AL
And still averaging 5.3 runs since the scareduck 5.0 challenge! Now on to DC, where a certain lazy editor & visiting Beachbum Willy will be gobbling up some sweet lobbyist seats for the three-game!
mattwelch - June 22, 2008
Rubixqube will be in attendance as well. Search for Halo unis in the stands.
But his sweetie is a mere intern, so check the belacher seats…
Stirrups - June 22, 2008
I, on the other hand,
am a corporate whore and will be sitting behind home plate with my Rodriguez jersey for Tuesday’s game and in a corporate box for Weddnesday’s battle. I’ll definitely look towards the bleachers for Angels gear though.
Moondoggy - June 23, 2008
Shields
Good call.
All 3 games ended on a popup to Figgy in foul territory. Impressive sweep of a first place squad. Off to DC where we should expect more of the same.
ReggieBullits - June 22, 2008
That's what I thought (about the popouts in foul territory)...
I kept saying “Man, if I was 20 years older, I’d swear I was watching the same game over and over…”
Downing Rules - June 22, 2008
hey watch out
...i resemble that remark…
Rev Halofan - June 22, 2008
this was posted at 1:23 before the game was over
or is taht just a technical error?
anaheim angels - June 22, 2008
at the 2 out mark
...blame me for overconfidently assuming this might occur…
Rev Halofan - June 22, 2008
has to be shields
i agree with that 100 percent.
UCIHalo - June 22, 2008
Phone this one in
Funke5ive - June 22, 2008
Game Panther: Shields. Series Panther: The pitching staff
It is remarkable that the Angels held the Phils to just 5 runs in that ballpark over the course of the 3-game sweep.
Fan Since 1981 - June 22, 2008
I still say it shoulda been Kotch...
2 run bomb + the dig on the ugly throw by Figgy leading off the 9th! Can’t go wrong with Shields, but we lost 2-1 w/out Kotch (hitting the 2 run bomb off “not just another left”, but arguably the best lefty in the NL!
My vote is still Kotch! Shields does not have a lead to hold if not for Casey!
K3YEROUT - June 22, 2008
im always a day behind on my panther voting lol
I voted for Vlad after the first game….....he gets it the second….....i voted for shields on the game yesterday…...he gets it today…....so today i say Kotch and hopefully he’ll get it tomorrow.
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
woah, i have a new favorite player
nathan panther
http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=10962
anaheim angels - June 22, 2008
he's a cutie too
ladybug - June 22, 2008
If you say so ...
I’ve no opinion on the matter, as a married man with a son. However, a look at his minor league stats shows he kinda just … sucks.
Great name though and surely we should have him in our system. A bucket of balls or Justin Speier should do it.
highlandhalo - June 22, 2008
you think theyd take HGH for him?
a crappy player in the majors for a crappy player in the minors
anaheim angels - June 23, 2008
stats?
what’s that?
:-D
ladybug - June 23, 2008
shields has never had more panthers than blames
anaheim angels - June 22, 2008
Shields
And I really don’t mind Vlad and Shields getting it together while we are still in first.
vladtheimpaler - June 22, 2008
Shields must suffer
a bit of the Frankie anti-Panther syndrome.
TheTypingFiend - June 22, 2008
Shields
but damnit, Kotch needs a spot in the ASG
AHaloInSF - June 22, 2008
Nothing against the Phils
but I’m really glad we kicked their asses
highlandhalo - June 22, 2008
IF you don't believe me that Napoli shouldn't play anymore...
then maybe this will convince you:
Stolen Bases: Rollins 2 (17, 2nd base off Weaver/Napoli, 3rd base off Weaver/Napoli), Bruntlett (7, 2nd base off Rodriguez, F/Napoli), Dobbs (2, 2nd base off Weaver/Napoli).
Greg Dobbs with his career SIXTH stolen base, rips a bag off of the lady-armed Napoli. Also, he’s below the Mendoza line and he has struck out 7 times in 6 games in June.
Maybe his weak-ass arm can’t throw anyone out, but Scioscia can sure as hell take a hint and throw his ass on the bench.
shiftyeyedgoat - June 22, 2008
That is to say
Napoli has 1 hit in June.
Ew.
shiftyeyedgoat - June 22, 2008
Teach willits how to catch. He's an OBP machine!
I’m all for benching Salad once you explain to me how he went from being the teams best power hitter to one of the worst. If you don’t play you can’t break out of the slump.
melvintoast - June 22, 2008
i wouldnt call 1 for his last 23.......
and OBP machine…......thats just me though
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
Thank you for pointing this out
hauldog - June 23, 2008
You're joking right?
melvintoast - June 23, 2008
afraid not my friend
norcaliangelsfan - June 23, 2008
He sucks
.228 SLG %
OPS+51
He is a suck machine
hauldog - June 23, 2008
lol.......the man crush overwhelms people sometimes......
norcaliangelsfan - June 23, 2008
Tell me about it
Vlad is the bees knees (sigh)
hauldog - June 23, 2008
maybe you missed the game where mathis SINGLE HANDEDLY.....had two singles for the phillies
and allowed runners to not only steal 2nd twice…...but threw the ball into CF and allowed those same runners to get to third…....food for thought.
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
Mathis is just hitting better though, and actually out-hit Naps in April too.
It was only after Naps won the majority starting gig that Mathis tanked hard, going 2-34 in May. Since the beginning of June and his gaining more playing time, he’s hitting really well again.
Zu Long - June 22, 2008
im more concerned with our Catchers D than O though.......
to me thats the more imporant of the two for that position.
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
Right, and if you've ever seen Napoli "frame" a pitch,
if you can even call it that, you will crave the defense of Mathis, which is usually stellar. Mathis makes pitchers look good; so good that they get the benefit of the doubt from his framing.
He also has a much better block of the plate, textbook bunt defense, and a usually strong, accurate arm to throw behind runners or across the diamond to 2nd.
Mathis is an amazing defensive catcher; it’s been his offense that kept him from starting from the outset of his MLB career.
shiftyeyedgoat - June 22, 2008
Actually if you remember, the year he succeeded Benji
He was an offensive AND defensive disaster. And it was Naps who stepped up. Don’t you remember the game when Adam Kennedy started a fight with first base, Kotch?, because he didn’t try to call off Mathis on a foul ball?
melvintoast - June 22, 2008
I remember
that’s why I said it was his offensive woes that kept him from taking the starting job, despite his promise as the savior post-Molina era in Anaheim.
shiftyeyedgoat - June 22, 2008
I don't follow. If he didn't suck defensively, in theory, he wouldn't have
been sent down.
At any rate he’s playing well now. If Naps was mashing, we’d be saying that defense is less of an issue since in general the Halos have been struggling to score. The issue is that Naps isn’t mashing right now, maybe he’s got some kind of minor injury? , so people think that Jeff should play every day.
melvintoast - June 23, 2008
nonono
I’m agreeing with you… sort of.
Jeff Mathis as a prospect was that he could rake the ball and was pretty damn handy behind the dish, too.
As of now he’s currently slated as the defensive catcher who is slowly coming into his own against MLB pitchers. Napoli wasn’t even really on the radar until Mathis showed that he couldn’t hit the Mendoza line, let alone major league pitchers, and Napoli stepped up and exhibited his power.
But Napoli is absolutely abysmal behind the dish since his career was formed, and he was never really projected to much more than a moderate power hitter with mediocre to below average defense.
In any case I’d be ecstatic to see Mathis finally live up to the hype that lead to the departure of the brothers Molina in anticipation of his arrival.
shiftyeyedgoat - June 23, 2008
Then concern yourself with this-
Mathis for the season- 26 SB, 14 CS, 35% CS rate.
Napoli for the season- 28 SB, 7 CS, 20% CS rate.
While Napoli has fewer errors, Mathis has fewer passed balls, and the total ratio of screw-ups is Napoli 6, Mathis 9.
The final big difference is Mathis’ 33 assists to Napoli’s 9. Assists are created by pouncing on bunts, throwing behind runners successfully, etc.
Mathis is a superior overall defender statistically, before one even gets into intangibles like framing pitches, game-calling, etc.
Zu Long - June 22, 2008
so.........
mathis throws out more people…....but has more errors….....
Napoli, throws out less but has fewer “screw ups”
well…that makes sense…..........clear as mud for me….....
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
looks like ppl are running more on mathis...........
and after this phillies series…....i expect that number to jump up as well
norcaliangelsfan - June 22, 2008
Mathis's slightly higher number of screwups is modified by the fact that
he’s thrown out twice as many people as Napoli. It’s not just that he’s throwing more people out, he’s also faster to the ball than Napoli, and has the ability to catch runners napping at first and third. Add in superior pitch reception and superior offense (at least for the time being) and Mathis is clearly the starting choice.
Zu Long - June 22, 2008
He's already the second catcher.
Mike has rules about his catchers and he doesn’t deviate for anything.
To be fair to Naps though, part of the problem today is Weaver, who is really BAD at holding runners.
Zu Long - June 22, 2008
Yes, he's played much less recently
The Whole “defense in a catcher philosophy” is a fine and all, but at a certain point, offense does matter. I’m sure we’re all tired of watching the anemic offense during the playoffs get run out of town by the Redsox. The same could well happen this year. Napoli might be below-average defensively, but he still deserves to play simply because he can hit homers. The Angels didn’t win the world series hitting singles and playing defense, they won because of a powerful lineup. If defense is so important, they should have kept jose molina around.
I know this is a crappy comparison, but just to illustrate a point: Would you have a jeff mathis or a defensively weak jorge posada or mike piazza in their primes? I think the answer is clear.
oasisman - June 22, 2008
At least he isn't playing catch with Torii Hunter...
a la Mathis.
Downing Rules - June 22, 2008
Weaver and Frankie do not exactly help their catchers out
When I think of Frankie I think of Pitcher’s indifference.
hauldog - June 23, 2008
we could DH naps
solves the problem of the D while ensuing we get a big bad
anaheim angels - June 22, 2008
More PA might very well get his bat going.
Unfortunately, you’d have to convince Mike to take GA or Matthews or someone like that out of the lineup first.
Zu Long - June 22, 2008
good luck
Naps DH-ing and being the part-time catcher would actually be a very good idea. he knows how to walk, even if he isnt hitting
he gets his bat going, we get rid of GA/HGH’s crappy bat, and we actually get runners over and in once in a while.
at the same time, all the people who are all over Mathis’ defense (which was absoluely terrible this series) can stay happy, too.
howiestheman - June 22, 2008
ya. i just dont see mike benchin HGH or vlad for a long period of time
and if we DH naps, then the LF spot would be a mad scramble between HGH/Ga/Willits/Rivera. I mean, thats a whole competent (at least 2/3 of) outfield competing for 1 spot. Wheras if we DH vlad, then theyre fighting over 2 spots instead of 1
anaheim angels - June 23, 2008
scottnak - June 22, 2008
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