|
|
| Jeff Mathis is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Mathis has been catching the right-handers in the rotation, and Mike Napoli has been catching the lefties. |
Our View: Napoli is the offensive catcher, and Mathis is better-known for his defense. Both will split time for the rest of the season, and expect the right/left split to continue.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in tonight's 6-0 win over Tampa Bay at Angel Stadium. He hit a single and a double. |
Our View: Mathis is hitting .368 over 19 at-bats this month, after holding an anemic .147 average in July. He is worth consideration in AL-only leagues while swinging a hot stick.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis is feeling better in his recovery from a stiff back, and believes he may be ready to return to the diamond Sunday, according to MLB.com. He said, "I may be in there if it feels good tomorrow." |
Our View: Mathis is not a viable fantasy option when he comes back, as he holds a poor .193 average with only four homers over 145 at-bats.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis is dealing with back stiffness, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: That explains why Bobby Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to provide depth at catcher. Mathis' ailment is not believed to be serious.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis will get a lot more playing time the next few weeks, as the Angels plan on using regular catcher Mike Napoli at DH while Vladimir Guerrero is out, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Mathis has 19 RBI this season, but is batting just .189 through 126 at-bats. He is not an option in any format.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis was 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base as the Angels beat the Royals 18-12 on Sunday. |
Our View: It was the third home run of the spring for Mathis who is hitting .333. He is the Angels No. 2 catcher behind Mike Napoli, but it's very possible Napoli sees a lot of starts at DH in 2009, opening up more at-bats for Mathis. However, Mathis has never hit well in the majors and he would be a very risky fantasy option.
|
|
|
|
| Catcher Jeff Mathis was 2-for-2 with two solo home runs on Monday as the Angels defeated the Rockies 12-3. Both shots came off of Rockies' starter Franklin Morales. |
Our View: Mathis has been a poor hitter over his three seasons of spot duty in the majors. He is just 25 and stands to improve, but it's unlikely he is anything more than a backup to Mike Napoli this season.
|
|
|
|
| The Angels have been shopping Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli to the Red Sox with the belief the club won't re-sign Jason Varitek, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: The Angels could be inquiring about young pitchers Justin Masterson or Clay Buchholz, as they are likely to lose Jon Garland in free agency.
|
|
|
|
| Angels catcher Jeff Mathis will get the start behind home plate in Game 2 of the ALDS to catch Ervin Santana according to the L.A. Times. "From what we're looking at on the defensive side, Jeff and Ervin have been incredible together," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. |
Our View: Mathis and Santana work well together, with Santana's ERA at 3.19 with Mathis behind the plate, compared to 4.68 when regular backstop Mike Napoli catches him.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to irritation in his right eye, according to the OC Register. |
Our View: Mike Napoli took his spot in the lineup at catcher. Mathis is considered day-to-day.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis had the best day of his major league career with four hits and a career-high six RBI for the Angels in their 14-11 victory over the Indians. |
Our View: One of the hits was Mathis' eighth home run, the second straight game that he has gone deep. Mike Napoli should be back soon to take away some at-bats from Mathis, but regardless of who starts, the Angels have quite the power hitting duo to turn to behind the dish.
|
|
|
|
| The Indians and Angels put on a great show for baseball fans this evening, but in the end the hometown fans were rewarded with a 3-2 win for the Angels. Their efforts were led by catcher Jeff Mathis , going 1-for-3 at the plate with his seventh home run of the season to post two RBIs and two runs scored on the night, also adding his second stolen base of the season. |
Our View: Mathis has really struggled at the plate this month, hitting .195 through July with one home run and seven RBIs coming into today.
|
|
|
|
| AL-only owners might want to take a flier on Angels catcher Jeff Mathis. With Mike Napoli heading to the disabled list Mathis figures to see the majority of the work behind the plate. |
Our View: Mathis recorded three RBI on Sunday against the Blue Jays and only has to compete with recently promoted Ryan Budde for at-bats.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Sunday's victory over the Blue Jays. |
Our View: Mathis entered the game in a 1-for-20 slump. With Mike Napoli lurking on the roster, he does not figure to be a relevant contributor in fantasy. If one of the two were to go down, the healthy catcher may be worth considering.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis has a growing reputation as a great receiver, thrower and teammate, according MLB.com. The team is 13-5 with Mathis behind the plate. |
Our View: No matter how good the defense is, he will continue to lose playing time to Mike Napoli given the fact that he is batting .246 with a .266 OBP.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis went 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs, and three RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Red Sox. |
Our View: Mathis is playing every other day right now, with Mike Napoli taking the other starts. That may need to change. Jeff now owns three homers, seven RBI, nine runs, and a .379 average over nine contests and is putting his disappointing rookies season behind him. He could be a fine fantasy backstop if the Angels break up the committee.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis is listed as the starting catcher on Tuesday against the Red Sox, the Boston Globe reports. |
Our View: Now seems a good time to mention that Mathis and Mike Napoli are rotating games. Mathis also started on April 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. Napoli got the call on April 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Mathis went 2-for-2 against Colorado on Thursday, and raised his spring average to .343. This was a good day for him in his bid to beat out Mike Napoli for the starting job at catcher. |
|
|
|
| With Mike Napoli being activated from the DL, Jeff Mathis should be sent back to Triple-A Salt Lake soon. Mathis is expected to be optioned when the Angels bring up Joe Saunders either Friday or Saturday, according to the LA Times. |
|
|
|
| The Angels recalled catcher Jeff Mathis from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday to take Mike Napoli's spot on the roster, according to the AP. Mathis was hitting .244 with 14 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 26 RBI in 66 games with Salt Lake. |
|
|
|
| Unless the Angels trade Jose Molina, Jeff Mathis should begin the season at Triple-A, according to the LA Times. "I'm disappointed I didn't do well when I had the opportunity (last year)," Mathis said. "I'm still around the game. I hope I can maybe make the club. I just want to be part of the team." |
|
