Angels Official Website: Iannetta back to getting bulk of playing time

[AngelsWin.com]

Catcher Chris Iannetta, who had been splitting time behind the plate with Hank Conger, has started 12 of the Angels' 19 games since the All-Star break and seven of the last eight -- including Tuesday's game against right-hander Yu Darvish.

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[Angel Oracle]

Uhh Scioscia, did you not see the two bungled blocks of bad pitches the past two nights or the SIX SBs tonight?

Conger >> Iannetta.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

"Hank's going to get time," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Chris' defense is starting to play a lot more, and that's important. At the plate, he's been pretty consistent with what he's done. He's taken his walks, I think he's starting to feel a little more comfortable in the batter's box. But, I think on the defensive side, he's doing a good job."

 

 

His defense has been terrible! 

[Homebrewer]

Iannetta can't even get close to throwing crucial runners out on a f'n pitch out.

Yet Conger needs to sit, watch, and learn.
Young players in this org must pray at bedtime to PLEASE get traded.

 

Now as I lay me down to sleep,

I pray to not wind up

On Scioscia's trash heap

If I can be traded before I awake
I'm hoping I go to the Redsox and rake.

Amen

 

(or the Rangers)

[CaliAngel]

Conger was getting consistent playing time and was performing waaaay too well.

 

Time to turn the page and let the crappy catcher get some time.

 

Scioscia sure knows how to screw up momentum with his boneheaded stubborness.

[Michifan]

It relates to this http://www.halosheaven.com/2013/8/7/4596986/mike-scioscia-angrily-defends-chris-iannetta

 

For some reason, Scioscia has a blind spot for Iannetta and just an odd relationship with catchers. Time to turn the page on Scioscia. 

[Jason]

I wish this team had a clear cut, frontline catcher. Honestly, they have two serviceable back ups.

[DMVol]

I have been hopeful that Conger might grab the job and run with it....but, despite the Scioscia bashing, I just don't think Conger is an every day big league catcher...he's not done enought to win the job or earn significant playing time in my mind....a good AB here, a decent defensive play there, but then he slips back and looks awful....we need to upgrade in the offseason, badly....and I don't have much faith that DiPoto will get that done....It would be nice to have Chatwood right now....

[Michifan]

I didn't see the game, all the way out here in Michigan, but I can' imagine six stolen bases with different pitchers was all the fault of the pitchers. How were Iannetta's throws? Offline, close at all? What is his speed at getting his throw off?

[gotbeer]

I didn't see the game, all the way out here in Michigan, but I can' imagine six stolen bases with different pitchers was all the fault of the pitchers. How were Iannetta's throws? Offline, close at all? What is his speed at getting his throw off?

 

 

I don't know.  I stopped paying attention when he let the two balls get past him in the first inning.  

[Angel Oracle]

It's like he only cares about the underdog. That will win you squat.

His act is getting moldy old.

This isn't like when the Halos used to pull the plug on managers regularly in the old days. FOURTEEN years!

[OregonLAA]

More poor Scioscia decisions. I don't understand how this guy makes it past this year

[HaloFan85]

This year Conger has been much better at throwing out runners, is one of the best in MLB at framing pitches (per Fangraphs?), has fewer passed balls per innings caught, and above all else has a CERA (Sosh's hard-on stat) more than half a run better than Iannetta's, yet Sosh still sits him in favor of Iannetta.  What happened to 'defense first' for his catchers.

 

Scioscia has contradicted himself one too many times when it comes to the catching position.  I take anything he says about catching with a grain of salt these days.

[ettin]

Did any of you stop to think that perhaps (and this may not be the case I'm just sayin'!) they are trying to "showcase" Iannetta for a possible trade?

 

I'm pretty sure the Angels think Conger is their main catcher moving forward but if another team or teams have shown interest in catching, Iannetta is a tradeable asset.

[Angel Oracle]

I have been hopeful that Conger might grab the job and run with it....but, despite the Scioscia bashing, I just don't think Conger is an every day big league catcher...he's not done enought to win the job or earn significant playing time in my mind....a good AB here, a decent defensive play there, but then he slips back and looks awful....we need to upgrade in the offseason, badly....and I don't have much faith that DiPoto will get that done....It would be nice to have Chatwood right now....

This is why we need a veteran mentor for a 2nd catcher.   Trade Iannetta and give Conger 100-110 starts in 2014, and see what happens by having a real mentor and not Iannetta here.

 

I hope this is showcasing Iannetta for a trade later on this month, or in the off-season.

[stevestevens]

How were Iannetta's throws? Offline, close at all? What is his speed at getting his throw off?

None were to the bag. All of them were about 4-5 feet off the ground. Players just did under the tag every time. The wild pitches that were easy blocks were more concerning because on Monday he failed to block a ball to that was pretty routine. Of course he can't get every block but he is missing a lot

[Corona]

Chris Mathis, Hank Napoli.

[ettin]

This is why we need a veteran mentor for a 2nd catcher.   Trade Iannetta and give Conger 100-110 starts in 2014, and see what happens by having a real mentor and not Iannetta here.

 

I hope this is showcasing Iannetta for a trade later on this month, or in the off-season.

It wouldn't suprise me either, AO, if they had Hank also DH on some of the days he's not catching. His bat has value.

[stevestevens]

I have been hopeful that Conger might grab the job and run with it....but, despite the Scioscia bashing, I just don't think Conger is an every day big league catcher...he's not done enought to win the job or earn significant playing time in my mind....a good AB here, a decent defensive play there, but then he slips back and looks awful....we need to upgrade in the offseason, badly....and I don't have much faith that DiPoto will get that done....It would be nice to have Chatwood right now....

He certainly has played well enough to not lose ground to iannetta which is what is happening

[Amazing Larry]

Did any of you stop to think that perhaps (and this may not be the case I'm just sayin'!) they are trying to "showcase" Iannetta for a possible trade?

 

I'm pretty sure the Angels think Conger is their main catcher moving forward but if another team or teams have shown interest in catching, Iannetta is a tradeable asset.

Building up his catcher by throwing his pitching staff under the bus in order to increase his trade value? I'm sorry but there is no f'n way that is possible. Not even Scioscia is that dumb.

[Jay]

fun fact: Iannetta has gone 6 for his last 15

[Homebrewer]

It wouldn't suprise me either, AO, if they had Hank also DH on some of the days he's not catching. His bat has value.

Not if it means Rob Q'Cowgill is going to sit out a game, "they" won't,

[AngelArcher]

I see right through Scioscia. This is just classic Scioscia being passive aggressive. Iannetta is Dipoto's boy and in a lost season, Iannetta is being hung out to dry. Nobody else has noticed that every scrub pitcher Dipoto has picked up that Scioscia couldn't wait to use them in the first high leverage situation to arise?

[Jay]

Scioscia is devious

[rageous]

Hard Proof that Conger's defense is far superior to Ianetta

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/presenting-2013s-surprising-top-two-pitch-framers/