Angels Catcher Mike Napoli discussed his hot spring start with Jeff Biggs this afternoon on THE DRIVE on AM-830 KLAA. Check out the Audio: MIKE NAPOLI part 1 (7 minutes) ... MIKE NAPOLI part 2 (5+ minutes)
At the links above, listen to Napoli discuss how he would prefer to play everyday but remians great friends with co-catcher Jeff Mathis. Napoli says it was weird not seeing John Lackey and Chone Figgins at the beginning of Spring but things are fine with the club. He is excited to be catching Scott Kazmir and has good things to say about catching the bullpen. He discusses Angels relievers arm for arm with great detail. LOTS here!
0 recs | 30 comments
eyespy - March 16, 2010
Funke5ive - March 16, 2010
Found this pic while searching the tubes
Wonder if there is any relationship?
eyespy - March 16, 2010
holy crap...
mike napoli is an immortal…
“there can only be one!” – get ready for some carnage.
retrohalo - March 17, 2010
Minor League Catcher in the Dodgers organization, 1951 - 1961:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=napoli001mic
Downing Rules - March 19, 2010
Just got back from a ride in my DeLorean
Wha happened there Rev?
eyespy - March 16, 2010
just call me doc
Marty
Rev Halofan - March 16, 2010
Love that Rodney
has the Bugs Bunny Change up!
ryanfea - March 16, 2010
That was suh an awesome quote
It always reads so lame but sounds so authentic when a jock says it.
Rev Halofan - March 16, 2010
Napoli and our young promising infield...
…are what are keeping me interested when the team this year otherwise feels like a jumble of spare parts and cast offs from New York, Detroit, Minnesota and Tampa Bay.
One day Scioscia and co will wise up, understand that Napoli is the best hitter in the lineup after Morales, and let him play 150 games a year — mostly at DH.
Turks Teeth - March 17, 2010
I'd hardly call them castoffs....
Abreu was a great sign, it completely coincided with an organizational change of perspective at the plate, the results were very positive. Not only did Abreu mke everyone around him better but the apporoach even improved the games of our top minor leaguers like Conger and Bourjos.
How is Scott Kazmir a TB castoff? He was a great pitchr apart of a great staff, and was traded because the Angels pieced together a package stronger than anything else anyone would have presented the Rays.
Rodney was sought after by several clubs. Tell me, how is a bullpen with him, Fuentes, Shields, Jepson, Bulger and Stokes a bad thing? That bullpen looks AWESOME to me.
I’m all about the homegrown talent but come on, we aren’t spare parts. We’re division champs. The 2nd best team in baseball.
Halowood - March 17, 2010
Cast offs = bargain expendables.
Stokes and Rodney are certainly cast-offs. When players like Abreu and Matsui can only net one-year contracts for a fraction of what they were previously making (in ‘08 and ’09 respectively), that suggests “cast off” to me. Doesn’t mean that they aren’t good value for bargain hunters — and I’m not criticizing them as value propositions. The shortness of their contracts makes them even more valuable.
But I’m swoon at dollar stores — it’s hard to get passionate yet about a collection of rentals. I’m passionate about the Angels as a franchise — I wouldn’t listen to 150+ games a year, have a seven-year-old cat named Figgins, and have attended Angels fantasy camp in a place I loathe (Phoenix) if I weren’t.
But with a few exceptions for the characters in the game (say, Vlad or Torii), I get excited about the players that came through our player development system first and foremost.
As far as “2nd best team in baseball” — sorry, that sounds like fishing for fanbase cred to me. The Angels are my #1 team — but I don’t need an inflatable castle in my dream theater to love them. They were the second-best team in baseball last year. This year — I’m not buying it yet. I’ll cross my fingers, hope the inevitable injuries are fewer than probabilities suggest, hope we have a fair amount of luck this year, and hope we have a second strong draft in as many years. Maybe we’ll squeak through into first place again this year if the stars align.
Turks Teeth - March 17, 2010
Damn the typos.
“But I’m swoon at dollar stores” should read “But I don’t swoon at dollar stores”.
Turks Teeth - March 17, 2010
if the stars aling?
heavy sabremetrics there Turk…
Rev Halofan - March 17, 2010
I'm ecumenical.
My mother “kept” an astrologer for twenty years as counsel.
Turks Teeth - March 17, 2010
Almost completely disagree.
The angels have the best pitching staff in baseball, one of the best bullpens in baseball, arguably the most talented-and young- infield in baseball, a glut of catchers to make almost any team jealous, and an outfield that is very good. Rivera is solid, hunter is the personality of the team and although some argue he is aging, the dude can play, and abreu is good for another .300/ 15-20 hr year with a ton of walks.
Matsui is a mecca for media attention and look at him like this- if he’s healthy, he’s good for 25+ hr and less gidp than vlad not to mention being a left handed threat. If he’s not, you know who’s gonna get those dh at bats, napoli. Pretty good fall back plan. Either way, we ought get 30 homers from our dh.
This team is solid top to bottom. Yeah we don’t have an “ace” but Kazmir, weaver, santana could all step up and be aces this year. Even if they don’t, there is a very good chance our team era from our Starters will be well under 4. If they do, it may well be under 3. This team should easily win the west and challenge for a world series crown.
Balls and Strikes - March 17, 2010 via mobile
I would say
That if Napoli plays 150 games a year we will hit AT LEAST 32 Homeruns…
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - March 17, 2010
easy 40
DAD OF VLAD - March 17, 2010
40 women?
SalmonStream - March 17, 2010
THe wilt Chanmberland of Baseball
First member of the 40/400 club
40 homeruns and 400 women
Player
DAD OF VLAD - March 17, 2010
He would not be the first.
Rev Halofan - March 17, 2010
New post for Halowood?
Best Angels Playas
DAD OF VLAD - March 17, 2010
lol
howiestheman - March 17, 2010
Hmmmm
Newport Beach. Just sayin’…
RedFog - March 18, 2010
I predict that he will hit 25 HR's this season
Wally's World - March 17, 2010
But did you guys hear what Napoli said
about “getting this catching thing together”? WTF? Makes me shake my head.
agent_99 - March 17, 2010
Yeah I was busting up...
I don’t think I ever heard a player sound so non-caring. I mean he sounded like he wanted to improve but “Hey, whatever”.
When I heard his general tone about it all, it was the first time I could see where all the rumors about how Sosh feels about him regarding that would come from.
Also, this is the first season that you can tell one or both of them want to get away and start every day. Yeah, they still do the whole ‘friends’ thing which I’m sure they are, but they seem somewhat tired of the whole arrangement now.
I’d see Naps getting traded before Mathis, unless Mathis hits like he has in ST so far…
RedFog - March 18, 2010
Before someone says LINKzzzz!!!!11uno!!1
I mean by rumors just the general info you read in blogs, heard on sports talk, etc. Quotes from Rotoworld, BP.com, etc.
It seems Sosh has/is frustrated with Naps defense and his approach to it. We saw what happened in the playoffs last year.
Naps seems comfortable with his strength – offense. Mathis openly talks about improving his strength – defense, while doing all he can to improve his offense. And we know Sosh places more value (much more) on the defensive aspect of catching, and for good reason.
So thats all I’m saying as to why I can see Naps being traded near the trade deadline if we’re in a position to make the playoffs…
RedFog - March 18, 2010
Jeff Biggs sucks
I’m sorry . . . I just can’t stand . . Jeff Biggs . . . He pauses too . . . many times between . . . his words. It is . . . so annoying.
MattSwift - March 18, 2010
So just listen whenever Long Beach Lenny calls.
You get 15 minutes of Lenny’s rants without a single word by Biggs.
red floyd - March 19, 2010
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