As the 2010 NFL Draft gives way to a young baseball season, it's already clear the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won't have to address at least one position at the MLB's own upcoming draft: catcher.
Rising star prospects Bobby Wilson and Hank Conger currently support the dual threat of Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis at the major league level.
The problem is, although the Angels have an embarrassment of riches in terms of options behind the plate, each is a poor substitute for a legitimate everyday starter.
Wilson and Conger may represent the future of Angels catching, but neither is quite ready to take up the mantle just yet.
Meanwhile, Napoli's lackluster defense forced the Angels to make Mathis the primary backstop to start the season.
Typically known for his glove rather than his bat, Mathis homered on his first swing of the year and went on to have a nice 10-game hitting streak before he was sidelined with a fractured wrist.
With Mathis out, Napoli, the Angels' No. 1 catcher over the last two seasons, will look to reclaim a full-time job with improved defense and a more consistent bat.
At least, that's how it looks on the surface.
Sure, Napoli could look impressive over a 15-day period while Mathis is on the mend. But it would take a Johnny Bench-like performance to sway manager Mike Scioscia, whose love affair with Mathis' defensive abilities knows no bounds.
A superb defender of the dish himself, Scioscia values quickness behind the plate and a strong, accurate throwing arm over offensive production out of his catchers.
Mathis is his man. And as long as his bat stays a few degrees above lukewarm, he'll continue to be so.
Napoli, then, will continue to audition for a full-time gig, but it may not be in Anaheim.
Napoli already took his complaints about a sudden lack of starts to the press, a move that Scioscia and indeed the Angels organization often frowns upon (think: Jose Guillen).
Without actually saying it, this club adopts the Ozzie Guillen philosophy when it comes to guys on the bench: if you're unhappy about your amount of playing time, play better.
As long as Mathis keeps slapping doubles into the alley and maintaining his high level of defensive play, Napoli will be given plenty of time to smolder in the dugout.
On the other hand, if Nap can prove his worth to the Angels in his time as a starter and Mathis returns to swinging closer to his career .206 average, Scioscia and GM Tony Reagins will have to rethink the team's position.
Because of his defensive abilities, Mathis still has plenty of trade value despite being limited in his career offensively.
A team like the Boston Red Sox, for example, have all the offensive they could ever want in Victor Martinez, but are desperately seeking a backstop who can block the plate and throw runners out.
Add in the fact that Mathis has experience working with Red Sox stud and former Angel John Lackey, and Boston could be an ideal trade destination.
In return, the Angels could certainly use a little help at the hot corner. Mike Lowell, injury prone as he may be, is still a talented defensive third baseman with enough left in the tank to replace Brandon Wood's severe lack of productivity at the plate.
As for Napoli, consecutive seasons of 20 home runs and .270-plus batting averages will help make him valuable to teams in need.
Milwaukee, for instance, is said to be in dire straits behind the plate and could use some stability at the position. Arizona may also be a suitor, in need of some support for Miguel Montero should they choose to part with Chris Snyder.
New opportunities and new needs will reveal themselves as the young season matures a bit.
Whatever the case though, it's apparent that, with no less than two strong prospects waiting in the wings and no definite starter in the majors, the Angels will have to make a decision regarding their overabundance of catchers.
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