By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
When it comes to Jeff Mathis, there are two schools of thought: There are the Major League scouts, coaches, and players who believe that he is one of the better defensive catchers in the game, and there are the fans who believe that his offensive struggles do not justify whatever defense he may bring to the team. No other player on the Angels generates as much online discussion and debate as Jeff Mathis does on a daily basis.
Having talked with Major Leagues scouts, I’ve had them point out the little things that Jeff Mathis does that other catchers do not. There’s no arguing that there are many subtle things that he does that do not show up on the scoreboard or in the current defensive metrics. Then again, I’ve also seen the same Major League scouts take detailed notes on his struggles at the plate.
In all the debate about Jeff Mathis, there is one person from whom fans have never heard from directly: Jeff Mathis. AngelsWin.com recently spoke with Jeff to find out more about what he’s doing to work with the pitching staff, what types of things the younger catchers can learn from him, and what it’s like to be in a playoff race against one of his best friends, Mike Napoli.
Click below to listen to the AngelsWin.com interview with Jeff Mathis.
