Chris Iannetta behind the dish

[Docwaukee]

I must say I am not a big fan. 

 

He blocks the ball decently.

He's probably average to below at throwing runners out

Not a very good receiver or framer.

 

But the real thing that get's me is his pitch calling.  In particular his propensity to call a fastball and set up near the plate when the pitcher is ahead.  Am I crazy here?

 

His offense is ok, but the other stuff is pretty bad.

 

 

[AngelsLakersFan]

I must say I am not a big fan. 

 

He blocks the ball decently.

He's probably average to below at throwing runners out

Not a very good receiver or framer.

 

But the real thing that get's me is his pitch calling.  In particular his propensity to call a fastball and set up near the plate when the pitcher is ahead.  Am I crazy here?

 

His offense is ok, but the other stuff is pretty bad.

 

I made this same comment today. He called something like 7 fastballs in a row for Santiago and he missed wildly on all of them. At some point you have to recognize that the guy isn't controlling his fastball so you need to make him mix it up.

[Taylor]

Doesn't Scioscia call all the pitches?

[Docwaukee]

I feel like he often calls pitches that set his pitcher up to fail.  Pretty disappointing. 

[Homebrewer]

We haven't had a decent backstop since Benjie.

Seriously.

[The Dude]

No you aren't crazy. I agree with most of what you said execpt his offense isn't very good either. he's batting under .100 so far. He can work a walk on occasion but that's about it.

[OregonLAA]

I was just going to post about this. When Mathis was here, Scioscia preached catcher defense up the ass but now that he's gone, he's ok with Ianetta behind the dish? Makes me realize Scioscia is full of it and playing favorites

[Erstad Grit]

His only real asset to me was his ability to walk and apparently that's gone. 

[Stradling]

I was just going to post about this. When Mathis was here, Scioscia preached catcher defense up the ass but now that he's gone, he's ok with Ianetta behind the dish? Makes me realize Scioscia is full of it and playing favorites

It's not like Conger is better.

[robblin17]

Iannetta is a terrible defensive catcher. Every single defensive metric says so whether you put stock into them or not. He is in the bottom third in almost every category.

Before someone calls me out for proof, there was a thread on this last year and I provided the data there. Don't feel like pulling it all again.

[Ohtaniland]

When a player is described as serviceable it means he kinda sucks.

[bloodbrother]

It's not like Conger is better.

 

He was really good at pitch framing last season(apparently) but he also has his issues. Not the best blocker and is pretty awful with throwing runners out

[Marsaka]

Iannetta is a terrible defensive catcher. Every single defensive metric says so whether you put stock into them or not. He is in the bottom third in almost every category.

Before someone calls me out for proof, there was a thread on this last year and I provided the data there. Don't feel like pulling it all again.

 

the odd part is that dipoto is supposed to be a sabermetric GM yet he seems oblivious to this.

[The Dude]

He played for Colorado that trumps the metrics.

[OregonLAA]

Well, Ianetta cost us a few runs in the third and maybe the game.

[Stradling]

Would you rather have Mathis back? Serious question.

[robblin17]

Would you rather have Mathis back? Serious question.

Yes. Gulp, be right back.

I would like to see Conger get a legitimate shot though.

[Ohtaniland]

Would you rather have Mathis back? Serious question.

Kurt Suzuki and Russell Martin were both out there at one point or another.

[Docwaukee]

Would you rather have Mathis back? Serious question.

Mathis' horrible offense offsets his ability as a receiver.  Probably 6 and 1/2.  

 

It's also disappointed from a scouting standpoint and the fact that Hector couldn't execute as well.  But it's seems to be a recurring theme with Iannetta holding the pen. 

[jshep]

Kurt Suzuki and Russell Martin were both out there at one point or another.

Kurt Suzuki is terrible though

[Michifan]

It looks to me from watching the game tonight that Scioscia is calling the pitches. Maybe he doesn't trust Iannetta, or maybe he doesn't trust anyone but himself. But the big problem is that the pitchers don't often throw strikes and get into 2-0 holes. 

[Guest]

I'd rather have Mathis than this guy. Iannetta is probably the worst defensive catcher, he almost never throws out runners, can't frame the ball; and his offense is as effective as having a pitcher in the batting lineup.

Scioscia needs to start Conger instead.

[Brent Maguire]

There aren't very many quality catchers in baseball anymore. 

 

Honestly, we may have one in Conger. He's still young and already provides more pop than Iannetta and is a far superior defender. His pitch framing skills already make him a guy who can get starts in the bigs. 

[YouthofToday]

Just say no to the CERA King.

[nate]

This pitching staff misses Mathis.