Angels sign Ryan Mattheus

[KevinJ14]

From Alden Gonzalez:

Can confirm # signed former# RHRP Ryan Mattheus to a Minor League contract with a Spring Training invite, as #JamesWagnerWP said

Fun fact: Used (still uses??) Katy Perry's "Firework" as his walkup song.

"We were just out after a game one time, and we heard the song," Mattheus said. "It was early in the year, so neither of us had a walk-out song yet. I'm like, 'Dude, I'm just gonna do this. Katy Perry.' And it was kind of fun, kind of a joke. And then I got (to the majors), and I had had success using it, so I was like, 'I gotta do it.'

"I was kind of nervous about it at first, like 'What's everyone going to think when I run out of the bullpen with "Baby, you're a firework" playing all over the stadium?' I kind of went with it, and last year I didn't give up a run at home, so this year I came back (with it)."

Unfortunately, the Katy Perry home scoreless streak ended on Monday when he allowed a run in the eighth inning of a win over the Astros. Mattheus says now that the magical ride is over, he's considered switching his song, but hasn't come to a decision just yet.

"I'm kind of debating it," Mattheus said. "But I think it's fun. The fans now are starting to get a little reaction out of it. It's just a fun song, kind of a joke. That's why I used it."

But what about the whole intensity factor that leads most relievers to pick a song that's a bit - how should I say this - heavier? Doesn't Mattheus worry that the pop song might snap him out of the fierce mound mentality that relievers try to create?

"Yeah, see, I think I'm over the top the other way," Mattheus said. "I'm always intense, and when I'm in there anyway, I feel like if I have that song, I can kind of calm down a little bit, maybe. Make me laugh and lighten up instead of getting more intense. It's just fun."

As you might expect, Mattheus' teammates have gotten on him about the song a little bit, singing it as he walks by and making Katy Perry jokes from time to time. But Mattheus, who always seems to have a smile on his face, takes it all in stride.

"They give me a hard time about it all the time," Mattheus said. "Gio (Gonzalez), he hadn't heard it yet, so (Monday) night he was singing it to me. He was going, 'Baby you're a...' It was funny. He loves it. I just hope that's the reaction from everybody."

[Chuck]

The contract includes an invitation to spring training. Mattheus was an important member of the Nationals' bullpen as recently as 2012, posting a 2.85 ERA over 66 1/3 innings of work, but injuries and inconsistency have knocked him in recent years. The 31-year-old will look to earn a bullpen job with the Halos in spring.

[Guest]

Not sure why you posted all that babble about his walkup song, but I like this move by Dipoto.

[tdawg87]

Jeff Mattheus

[KevinJ14]

Not sure why you posted all that babble about his walkup song, but I like this move by Dipoto.

Didn't mean to include the entire article lol sorry

[Angel Oracle]

Signings like this are never bad.     Extra depth is never a bad thing, especially pitching depth.

[Guest]

Didn't mean to include the entire article lol sorry

Haha no worries. I just found the article to be useless...not your fault.

[Hollyw00d]

Mike found jeppy's replacement

Edited January 16, 2015 by Hollyw00d

[Bobster7587]

In before he gives up "Fireworks" on the mound in the 8th inning and blows the game; which results in more fireworks from AO. 

[ELEVEN]

Mattheusn't

[Ohtaniland]

Mattheusland