Jeff Mathis, C

[emkayseven]

Aaron Boone would probably vote for him. Second to Jason Grilli.

[Nick]

We still need to find a catcher for the future. I don't think Brantly's the answer at this point, but I do think Mathis is the ideal backup catcher, and I hope we can keep him in that role for a long time.

[Namaste]

Let's not get too vocal about how we'd like to keep Mathis as a back up.

Loria might be reading the boards. He might trade him to the Royals for cash.

[Miamarlin21]

There is a team option for the same amount of salary ($1.5) for 2015

[nny]

We still need to find a catcher for the future. I don't think Brantly's the answer at this point, but I do think Mathis is the ideal backup catcher, and I hope we can keep him in that role for a long time.

I've actually never understood why the ideal back up catcher is one who's great defensively.

Mainly because catchers never get fielding replacements like with every other position. Having a great defensive IF is good to have on your bench so you can plug him in late in the game. But you don't do this with catchers.

[Nick]

yeah but they're also never used in pinch hitting situations. So if I had a choice, give me a guy I know is going to be solid defensively cuz I know he's always going to have that. I don't care how good a hitter he is, it's going to be tough to produce with the bat only playing every 5 days or so.

[Bobbob1313]

That's assuming you have a catcher who's good enough to start 80% of your games already. Not a safe assumption given our current situation.

[HUGG]

Mathis is a 0.9 WAR B-R and Fangraphs has him at 0.6. In 29 games.

Honestly, if he can OPS over .600 (he's at .616 right now), he's fine.

[Nick]

That's assuming you have a catcher who's good enough to start 80% of your games already. Not a safe assumption given our current situation.

Well of course, I was more talking about backup catchers in general.

[nny]

yeah but they're also never used in pinch hitting situations. So if I had a choice, give me a guy I know is going to be solid defensively cuz I know he's always going to have that. I don't care how good a hitter he is, it's going to be tough to produce with the bat only playing every 5 days or so.

That's a very fair point, so I can see why now.

Though, and this bounces off bb's comment as well, I do prefer a platoon out of C. It's easily the most ideal position to platoon as it doesn't affect the bench aswell as keep the catcher's knees fresh. It's just rare to find a lefty C that can do that. I think Brantly can, so a more offensive orriented lefty masher would be more up my alley.

[Namaste]

I like when you can clearly hear him yell "get over there" at Fernadez (or Dunn as was the case just now vs the Cubs) when the pitcher is slow to cover 1B.

[Mainge]

Every catcher is taught to do that on every groundball to the right side.

[Namaste]

Every catcher is taught to do that on every groundball to the right side.

I just happen to know that. #LittleLeagueDad.

But Mathis is the only catcher that I can hear yell it when I'm watching it on TV.

[Mainge]

Cause Loria

[Namaste]

Right. Or something.