TEMPE, AZ-— On April 19, 2010, it was all starting to come together for Angels' catcher Jeff Mathis.
Always known as a defensive stalwart, the six-year major league veteran was finally beginning to make some noise at the plate.
Going into that day's game against Detroit, Mathis was hitting .323 in 31 at bats with an on base percentage of .353. He had just one home run and three runs batted in, but with the average and OBP he was presenting, it looked like Mathis could soon lay claim to the starting catcher's job he'd been battling for with Mike Napoli.
Then came a bad break against the Tigers — literally.
Mathis fractured his right wrist in the game when a Kevin Jepsen pitch bounced short and hit him just above the thumb. He missed the next two months, and finished with a .195 average and .219 OBP.
2011 was even more dismal, as he hit .174, obliterating the Mendoza Line. Despite Mathis' outstanding defensive abilities, and the fact that Napoli had been traded and helped lead Texas to its second straight World Series, the Angels had seen enough. Mathis was shipped to Toronto for promising left-hander Brad Mills. But it left GM Jerry Dipoto with a dilemma — go with the equally anemic tandem of Bobby Wilson and Hank Conger — who weren't as good defensively as Mathis — or make a deal that would likely cost a good, young player.
The first-year GM went with the latter option, dealing right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood to Colorado for Chris Iannetta.
Iannetta is known as a good defensive catcher, but not a close-to-the-glove man like Mathis. But he provides Mike Scioscia with something rare from a catcher — an excellent on-base percentage — .357 for his career. Although he hit just .238 last season, he managed to get on base 37 percent of the time — good numbers for some leadoff men; tremendous numbers for a catcher. He walked 70 times in 426 plate appearances, and the Angels are hoping for more of the same in 2012.
"He's really unique with such a good (on base) percentage from a position where you don't always expect it," Scioscia said after a workout at Tempe Diablo Stadium. "He's got a great eye and is very patient and we feel he'll be an improvement at that position for us."
His 162-game projection is 22 home runs and 83 RBI, production the Angels would love to see from that spot in the lineup. He has hit double-figure homers three times, including 14 for the Rockies last season. He also drove in 55 runs. Offensively, he's a very positive upgrade from Mathis. But can he be a good enough defensive receiver to play the position on a full-time basis? If he isn't, it certainly won't be from a lack of effort and preparation.
In the early days of camp, Iannetta was seen carrying a yellow legal pad and writing constantly whenever he was talking to a pitcher. He feels it's a way to expedite the learning curve so he's completely ready when opening day rolls around.
"Yeah, it's just my way of making sure I learn (tendencies) and what pitches the guy like to throw as quickly as possible," said Iannetta, who committed just two errors in 817 total chances behind the plate. "I'm learning a new staff and a new league, and there's going to come a time when I'm going to remember what one of the guys told me and I had written down. I'll be able to use it in a game to hopefully help us win.
"Here (in spring training) when I have a conversation with somebody, I like to write it down and always be able to refer to it. I think it helps in building new relationships with teammates."
Iannetta isn't the only Angel player forging new relationships.
Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, LaTroy Hawkins and Jason Isringhausen are all new to the organization, and with Iannetta and possibly Mills also on the final roster, the Halos will start the season with newcomers in six of the 25 spots. That's a lot for any team, let alone one that considers itself a strong contender to play well into October. But Iannetta says that from day one, every player has been working out and playing with one thing in mind: Get the job done.
"Everybody here gets along great," said Iannetta. "You can see that everyone is comfortable with each other, and that we just want to all be ready for Opening Day. It's pretty amazing to look over and see Albert at his locker or at the plate, and see how hard he works every minute he's at the (complex) or C.J. or Jered (Weaver) throwing and realize that this can be a special season.
"I'm just really happy to be a part of it. It's going to be a fun year this year."
