Angels interested in Kurt Suzuki

[Inside Pitch]

Yup, Mathis catches shit here but the dude was a mega athlete and it was because of Horne he ended up at C.  Starred at QB many believed he would become a pitcher ...  He's a guy that worked for everything he's accomplished.   He's about a sure a bet to end up coaching as there is, IMHO.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Just now, Inside Pitch said:

Yup, Mathis catches shit here but the dude was a mega athlete and it was because of Horne he ended up at C.  Starred at QB many believed he would become a pitcher ...  He's a guy that worked for everything he's accomplished.   He's about a sure a bet to end up coaching as there is, IMHO.

agreed, he was a pretty cerebral guy. But, I did remember him playing Shortstop in High school and pretty good at the spot. 

[Inside Pitch]

Just now, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

agreed, he was a pretty cerebral guy. But, I did remember him playing Shortstop in High school and pretty good at the spot. 

Yep, Horne's pitching made the switch permanent.   He had just become a full time catcher by then.   Dude was legit at both positions and on the mound.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

1 minute ago, Inside Pitch said:

Yep, Horne's pitching made the switch permanent.   He had just become a full time catcher by then.   Dude was legit at both positions and on the mound.

That still Segway's into my comment we haven't had that in the minor league development process for a very long time. As most of our catchers of late that we have drafted have changed positions to get to the Big Leagues (Ward/Thaiss). 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

I used to own one of his motorcycles...

Edited December 14, 2020 by Ace-Of-Diamonds

[Warfarin]

42 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Considering Langoliers was drafted the same year Minasian joined the Braves I tend to believe they had their draft preferences in place prior to his joining the franchise.   Honestly the history just doesn't support the position that the teams he worked for leaned towards high round catchers.  

The biggest case to made for the Angels targeting a catcher is the lack of quality depth there in the minors and drafting for need is spotty AF.

FWIW, Minasian joined the Braves in 2017 and Langeliers was part of the 2019 draft, so it wasn't in the same year.

But anyway, that minor point aside, I think the biggest part of the equation is your last sentence, and it's my #1 reason as to why we could see it.  Quite simply, we have no catching talent of note in the minors, and Minasian has gone out of his way to say how important catching is.  So just putting two and two together, I think we'll see a concerted effort towards building a catching pipeline of some kind.  

[Inside Pitch]

5 minutes ago, Warfarin said:

FWIW, Minasian joined the Braves in 2017 and Langeliers was part of the 2019 draft, so it wasn't in the same year.  

yep i have Hagen Danner stuck in my head

[ten ocho recon scout]

52 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Yup, Mathis catches shit here but the dude was a mega athlete and it was because of Horne he ended up at C.  Starred at QB many believed he would become a pitcher ...  He's a guy that worked for everything he's accomplished.   He's about a sure a bet to end up coaching as there is, IMHO.

Ive said it before.

Mathis is a punching bag to the fanbase. Here and im sure others.

But hes lasted the better part of two decades in pro ball for a reason. I dont know what the reason is. But its obvious something is there that we fans are too stupid to see.

And ive heard multiple people from multiple orgs rave about him. 

He'll have a job as long as he wants one, and Im sure one after he quits.

[ten ocho recon scout]

2 hours ago, Angels 1961 said:

Suzuki and Stassi make a good combo behind the plate.

In Sosh nickname-ese, they would be "suzy" and "stassi" in after game pressers.

[AngelsLakersFan]

1 hour ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

But hes lasted the better part of two decades in pro ball for a reason. I dont know what the reason is. 

You ever see a guy with a way hotter and way more successful chick? It's probably that.

[Lou]

Mathis has made more than $20 million sucking at baseball.

I bet his wife is hot, too. 

[nando714]

Total Angels move 

[JackDuncan67]

Get busy and get Kurt Suzuki or Yodier Molina before they are gone !

 

[Stradling]

20 minutes ago, nando714 said:

Total Angels move 

It’s a good move, the Angels have done very well getting catchers that are productive on one year deals.  

[Blarg]

3 minutes ago, JackDuncan67 said:

Get busy and get Kurt Suzuki or Yodier Molina before they are gone !

 

That is a terrific idea.

In 2011.

[jsnpritchett]

29 minutes ago, Lou said:

Mathis has made more than $20 million sucking at baseball.

I bet his wife is hot, too. 

 

[JackDuncan67]

Bust a move to improve before somebody else does ! 

 

[Stradling]

Mathis is proof that none of us fans know how to quantify what a catcher means to a team.  Dude is going to get a full pension and probably have a career in coaching upon retiring.

[Stradling]

Just now, JackDuncan67 said:

Bust a move to improve before somebody else does ! 

 

There really is no rush, there are enough catchers available to get a guy that can split time with Stassi.  Not to mention there are always teams that will trade their defensive minded back up catcher this time of year.

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

 

Yep.

[ukyah]

3 hours ago, AngelStew43 said:

I would like this from the catcher position.  His career BA is .259, and he doesn't strike out a lot.  2-3 mil on a one year deal to split time with Stassi, and the team would be in great shape behind the plate.

his full salary was 1.5 million last year. he's not getting a raise. i'd predict he hits right at last year's salary. i'm perfectly fine with him at 1.5 million on a one year deal.

[ukyah]

16 minutes ago, JackDuncan67 said:

Get busy and get Kurt Suzuki or Yodier Molina before they are gone !

 

those two things are in no way equal. suzuki's going to cost 1.5 and he's decent. yadier is going to cost a lot more and he's more than decent, even in his advanced age.

[Warfarin]

12 minutes ago, Stradling said:

There really is no rush, there are enough catchers available to get a guy that can split time with Stassi.  Not to mention there are always teams that will trade their defensive minded back up catcher this time of year.

Especially in this winter, there really is no rush to do anything.

There are so many teams who are effectively sitting out free agency, that the real winners will be the teams that wait until February to do anything.  There will likely be a lot of good players still available then who will sign for significantly discounted prices.

 

[ukyah]

9 minutes ago, Lou said:

Yep.

i know we're trying to be nice here, but his face is so goddamned punchable it overpowers me.

he's giving me the demons!
 

[Lou]

1 minute ago, ukyah said:

i know we're trying to be nice here, but his face is so goddamned punchable it overpowers me.

he's giving me the demons!
 

Ok, you take Jeff and I'll take his wife.

Let's Roll!