Matheny officially done for season

by irwin on Aug 2, 2006 5:02 PM PDT

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/08/02/sports/s164952D03.DTL

While I have no love for him as a starting catcher, I sure hope he gets healthy and doesn't risk his future trying to get back.

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Re: Matheny officially done for season

Its a bummer, I like him. Hopefully he'll be back and it won't negatively effect his career past this season. The good thing of course is that his DL stint opened the door for Alfonzo who has been great.

by Keenlow on Aug 2, 2006 5:15 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I'll be honest, I kind of miss him behind the plate. I wish him all the best. I'd love for him to work with Alfonzo on his D.

Brian Sabean for President! Whatever gets him off of the team.

by Punch Rockgroin on Aug 2, 2006 5:39 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

Wasn't Luis Pujols a pretty good catcher in his day? I read somewhere that he's been working with Notgardo on his defense. He looks like he's been improving to me, especially his footwork on throws.

As an act passive resistance, I'm not changing this signature until the Giants win a game.

by Goofus on Aug 2, 2006 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I've been expecting this for at least a month, but that doesn't make it any less sad. I wish him all the best.

I'm afraid we may have seen the last of him behind the plate. That would be unfortunate for several reasons, one of which being that the Giants still have him under contract for $3+ million next year.

"The first point is whether my brain is still operating...I'll figure that out after the season." - Felipe Alou

by EliminateMe on Aug 2, 2006 5:39 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

If he can't come back next year, will the Giants be on the hook for the whole amount? I thought they can collect on insurance or something in these cases.

As an act passive resistance, I'm not changing this signature until the Giants win a game.

by Goofus on Aug 2, 2006 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I believe that the Giants are one of the teams that does not have insurance on its contracts - see Nen, Robb. I might be way off though - can't remember where I read that.

by Aadik on Aug 2, 2006 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

Yeah, insured contracts are becoming a thing of the past league-wide... the insurance rates are pretty prohibitive.

If Matheny striaght-up retires before next season we wouldn't have to pay him. I suppose they could also agree on some sort of injury settlement as well. (Here's half your money... don't bother showing up to Spring Training.) But if he shows up to work next year and makes an effort to come back, we will have to pay him regardless of if he ever appears in a game.

Hopefully he'll be cleared and ready to go by next spring, although it sounds like a pretty scary situation. It makes me wonder why we don't hear about this happening to catchers all the time.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Aug 2, 2006 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

No, they definitely have insurance. I thought Nen's thing was that it wasn't covered since it was a preexisting condition.

I've grown up a lot since before dinner, when we last talked.

by groug on Aug 2, 2006 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

Or, rechecking my facts, that was totally wrong.

I've grown up a lot since before dinner, when we last talked.

by groug on Aug 2, 2006 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

Most (probably all) teams do not use insurance because the premiums would be almost the cost of the contract. Making this example up, but it would be something like for a $4M contract, the premium would be $2M or more, making self insurance the best bet once you start talking about the whole team.

Oy, back to the sig that was working better: Go Giants: Winn it all with Feliz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 2, 2006 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I remember a few years ago reading a story about Chris Chandler and his concussion problems. Every day after practice he would sit in his car and study a map to try to remember how to get home.

I hope for Matheny's sake that he hangs it up. Once you've taken several months and it hasn't improved... count your blessings and don't risk death or incapacity.

All those Giants fans down in Giants land love that Krazy Krab!

by BlackDougal on Aug 2, 2006 9:07 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

Matheny's a good man. In the Chronicle story, he says something about how he knows his injury puts the organization in a tough position -- as if the concussion is his fault.

Baseball aside, I hope he makes a full recovery.

by Dan from NM on Aug 2, 2006 9:12 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

What I'm wondering is why can't he just show up for games and, say, help Alfonzo out with tips and things. He can just sit there, would that be too physically tiring? Or is the hassle of going from town to town and traveling be the part that would wear him out?

In any case, I liked him as catcher and wish him a full and speedy recovery, not just for us and the contract, but just for his personal health and all, this is only a game after all.

Oy, back to the sig that was working better: Go Giants: Winn it all with Feliz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 2, 2006 10:17 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

He has been in the dugout, hasn't he? I am pretty sure that he was talking to Linden the other day.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Aug 2, 2006 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

The article mentioned him just staying home, maybe you are right, he was attending games, but then with the latest diagnosis, they just sent him home to enjoy his time off and rest totally. Thanks for pointing that out, that seems more in line with his personality, that's why I was a little disappointed.

Oy, back to the sig that was working better: Go Giants: Winn it all with Feliz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 3, 2006 2:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

He said that even watching games on TV, with his typical intensity, wore him out.

My solution, if it's necessary he retire: offer to convert his '07 contract into a multi-year coaching contract. Saves $ for '07, creates goodwill among the baseball community, exposes his knowledge and intensity and work ethic to younger players. Matheny's family is in the Midwest, so he may not want to be full-time, but he could join the team for spring training and from time to time during the season.

Never mind whatever I do, fan is my treasure

by leftymalo on Aug 3, 2006 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

He was in Pittsburgh to see doctors at the Univeristy of Pittsburgh. He hung out with the team then, but otherwise has been on his own, and plans to go back to his home for the rest of the season. My guess, is that with his five kids and all, he will retire. Maybe, the Giants make a deal to have him coach on a part-time basis.

BTW, the Giants owe him $1.5 million next season, as part of his signing bonus, regardless of whether he retires or not. If Matheney is healthy enough to attempt to play, they will owe him another $2.5 millon in salary and if can play in 2008 it will cost the Giants $2 million to stop him (buy out) or $4 million to let him (salary).

by GiantJim on Aug 3, 2006 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

He was in the dugout in SF the other night...I remember them showing him on TV. Looked like he was asking Linden what Fick was saying to him when he came up to bat the inning after Lowry plugged him.

By the way, didn't see it posted anywhere, but it turned out Fick was hurt (ribcage) and that's why he bunted in that situation. Kinda nice to hear he's not a complete dikc.

As an act passive resistance, I'm not changing this signature until the Giants win a game.

by Goofus on Aug 3, 2006 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I think Matheny has made several attempts to be with the team, but everything I've read has indicated that Matheny is struggling when engaging in even routine activity. He has been with the team off and on, but finally, given how bad his symptoms have been, it was decided that he should just go home and try to recuperate.

I'm glad he's home. Matheny's condition is very serious, and I'd rather see him rest and hopefully recuperate so that he can live a healthy life and enjoy his family. That's a great deal more important than him showing Eliezer how to block balls in the dirt.

Forget Bonds--indict Felipe.

by tobias on Aug 3, 2006 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

I'm hoping he just retires. After this scare he shouldn't jeopardize his future health anymore by donning the tools of ignorance, in my opinion. Concussions don't really "heal" like a strained muscle, it's just too big of a risk. Leave the door open for him to return coaching when he wants and is able to.

I use my hand, to wipe my tears. And I blame Saybean.

by McPeePee on Aug 2, 2006 11:17 PM PDT reply actions

Matheny can help -- if he chooses

If all the doctors tell Matheny to hang it up, then that is all, folks.

But on another level, let's see if Matheny shows the integrity he has been noted for: He will keep his -- ahem -- nice salary, that is a given. But perhaps, if he is well enough, he can volunteer to coach the kids in the Giants' system, including the current kid behind the plate on the major league roster.

Many catchers go into coaching when their careers are over. Matheny -- often considered a thinking man's catcher -- seems like he may have the tools to extend his career in baseball management. Could he find a better coaching "intern" position than one that pays $3 million his first year?

by Moggeee on Aug 2, 2006 11:58 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Matheny can help -- if he chooses

It's not

a) his choice, it's his doctors' decision that not only should he not be playing, he should actually be at home resting, doing nothing

b) a matter of integrity ... it's a matter of self-preservation at the basic level, ... well anyway, see rant below.

by tk on Aug 3, 2006 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Matheny officially done for season

According to the Mercury News this morning:

Matheny will be sent home to Missouri ... The experts think he needs to stay away from the ballpark.

... The stress of flying, of concentrating on games, of clubhouse hustle and bustle isn't what Matheny needs. He needs inactivity. Matheny said that every time he exerts himself, he's quickly reminded that something is wrong ... dizziness and headaches ... short-term memory loss.

So, there we go. He was contributing and now he can't. I wouldn't chalk that up to doing the right or the wrong thing. It sounds way more serious than anyone could imagine for a concussion and if he needs to lie in a dark room, instead of helping Notgardo with defense, well really ... there's just one choice to be made. For us and him.

That said, I'm annoyed as hell with Ann Killion, who wrote the column I quoted some of. She says Matheny's demise is the final nail in the coffee for the Giants. Does she think Mikey wants to read that and feel even worse about not contributing? Is she aware that the word "Eliezer" exists? Because it never appeared in the column (neither did the word Greene). I can see that she wanted to be supportive of Matheny, say he's one of the cornerstones of the team, which is absolutely true, and not just go, "Well, he's replaceable by this other guy." But she doesn't even have any hope that the Giants CAN survive without him and what Giant -- active or injured -- wants to read that?

by tk on Aug 3, 2006 8:20 AM PDT reply actions