Angels miss Jeff Mathis’ defense
Jeff Mathis scoffs at the notion that the Angels miss his bat as much as his glove.
Sure, the catcher was off to a hot start at the plate, hitting .324 with one home run and three doubles in 10 games when he broke a bone in his right wrist on April 19, an injury that is expected to sideline Mathis until early June.
But Mathis is a career .206 hitter in 275 big league games, a guy who has hit just 21 home runs and driven in 102 runs in three years with the Angels, and he knows he is not a player the team was pinning its offensive hopes on.
“I was feeling good at the plate, but c’mon now, let’s be serious,” Mathis said before Saturday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics. “I had a couple of hits fall, but it’s still the big boys who are going to carry us.”
Those big boys haven’t done much heavy lifting. Power hitters Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu, Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli are having well-below-par offensive seasons, and the Angels entered Saturday ranked last in the American League in on-base percentage (.310) and 10th in slugging percentage (.387).
Mathis’ bat would actually be a welcome addition to a club that entered Saturday with a 16-21 record, its worst start after 37 games since 2006, and had been outscored, 192-145.
But it’s Mathis work behind the plate that the Angels miss most, that has contributed most to that gap in run differential.
Mathis is one of baseball’s most agile and athletic defenders, a 27-year-old with a strong arm, a quick release and above-average game-calling and receiving skills.
And the numbers support him. The Angels were 6-4 in Mathis’ 10 starts this season and 10-17 in the 27 games in which Mathis has not appeared. The Angels were 7-7 when Mathis went on the 15-day disabled list; they have gone 9-14 since.
“Jeff brings an important part to the team that sometimes is not as exciting to fans and media as some other things you might see on the field,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.
“But anyone who has played that position or understands the pitcher-catcher relationship is very excited about the presence Jeff brings behind the plate. It’s obviously important to us, and hopefully he’ll be back in the lineup soon.”
In 89 innings with Mathis behind the plate this season, Angels pitchers have a 4.55 earned-run average, 69 strikeouts and 31 walks. In 204 2/3 innings with Napoli behind the plate, Angels pitchers have a 5.50 ERA, 163 strikeouts and 109 walks.
Last season, Mathis had a 3.99 catcher’s ERA in 657 innings, while Napoli had a 4.86 ERA in 758 innings. The Angels are 143-86 in Mathis’ last 229 starts at catcher.
“He brings a lot to the game,” Angels ace Jered Weaver said of Mathis. “He’s a firecracker behind the plate, he’s one of the most athletic catchers in the league, and any time you don’t have a guy like that in your lineup, it’s a blow to the team.”
Mathis has done what he can to help Napoli, his roommate, and the Angels, watching every pitch of the game, studying video and taking part in pitcher-catcher scouting meetings.
“I’ll put my two cents in when I see something with Nap behind the plate,” Mathis said, “just like he would say something to me.”
Mathis had the cast removed from his wrist Wednesday, five days ahead of schedule, and he hopes he can shed the splint he’s worn since Wednesday on Monday.
Barring a setback, Mathis will begin exercises to increase the strength and flexibility of the wrist on Monday.
“It’s been tough to watch,” Mathis said. “Whether we win or lose, you want to have a chance to be in the game. It hurts a little bit, but I knew it would be like this. I’m trying to take my mind off it by doing what I can do to keep in shape.”
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