Kelly Shoppach

[Zenny]

Shopp went 2-3 with a 2B, HBP, RBI and 2 R.

 

Season Line: .228/.319/.448/.767; .35 (46/130) BB/K ratio; 23 2B, 20 HR, 61 RBI

[Zenny]

Shopp went 2-4 with a 2-R HR and K tonight.

 

Season Line: .231/.320/.457/.777; .35 (46/131) BB/K ratio; 23 2B, 21 HR, 64 RBI

 

He hit .267.375/.600/.975 with a .44 (12/27) BB/K, 7 2B and 6 HR. He also had a 7.3 PA/BB and 2.78 AB/K.

[yeszir]

And now the streakiness takes a turn upward I guess. It's fun to watch. Like a rollercoaster.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by yeszir@Aug 31 2004, 11:41 PM

And now the streakiness takes a turn upward I guess. It's fun to watch. Like a rollercoaster.

They've only got 5 games left, so he should finish the season on a positive note.

[Zenny]

2-4 with a 2B and 2 K's tonight.

 

Season Line: .234/.322/.460/.782; .35 (46/133) BB/K ratio; 24 2B, 21 HR, 64 RBI

[Zenny]

0-2 with a K last night and 0-4 with a K tonight.

 

Season Line: .230/.319/.453/.772; .34 (46/135) BB/K ratio; 24 2B, 21 HR, 64 RBI

[Zenny]

2-4 with a 2B, solo HR and 2 K's tonight. At least he had more total bases than whiffs.

 

Season Line: .233/.321/.463/.784; .34 (46/137) BB/K ratio; 25 2B, 22 HR, 64 RBI

[CrespoBlows]

How many ABs is that for Shoppach this year?

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 6 2004, 11:39 AM

How many ABs is that for Shoppach this year?

395. He'll finish just south of 400 this year, because today is the last game and he shouldn't get more than 4 AB's, maximum.

 

By the way, Shoppach finished with the single season HR record by a PawSox catcher with 22 (21 as a C, 1 as a DH). Nice job, Shopp!

[yeszir]

Originally posted by Zenny+Sep 6 2004, 01:15 PM-->

QUOTE (Zenny @ Sep 6 2004, 01:15 PM)

[CrespoBlows]

Vartiek is one i :shrug: who else though. 1 HR every 17 at bats. Pretty good ratio. His K rate was too high, must improve. Vartiek going to get an extenstion though because of the way he's played of late.

[schillingouttheks]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 6 2004, 03:48 PM

Vartiek is one i :shrug: who else though. 1 HR every 17 at bats. Pretty good ratio. His K rate was too high, must improve. Vartiek going to get an extenstion though because of the way he's played of late.

i do too, another interesting free agent next year though is mike matheny... who knows? :shrug:

[Zenny]

Well, Shoppach went 1-4 with a K today. He hit .278/.316/.556/.872 in 5 September games.

 

FINAL SEASON LINE:.233/.321/.463/.784; .34 (46/137) BB/K ratio; 25 2B, 22 HR in 113 G and 399 AB's and 454 PA

 

Rate Stats: AB/HR- 18.1; AB/K- 2.9; PA/BB- 9.9; AB/2B- 16; AB/XBH- 8.5

 

Here's my final analysis:

 

Shoppach has officially claimed the title of the best power hitting catcher in PawSox history, all while doing it in his first season there, making it that much more impressive. As a 24 year-old, Shoppach outproduced 25 year-old Jason Varitek, while Varitek played in the hitter friendly PCL and Shoppach played in the neutral IL.

 

Shoppach has fantastic power, utilizing all fields, and destroys left-handed pitching. He also takes a good share of walks (nearly 50 for a 24 year-old in his first year at AAA is very good) and had an OBP nearly 100 points above his BA most of the season. His defense is also second to none. He has amazing footwork behind the plate and an outstanding release. He threw out over 35% of prospective base-stealers against him, all while catching many games from Frank "The Snail" Castillo.

 

Shoppach still has a great deal of improvements to make, though. He strikes out far too much against right-handed pitching. Many of those are on curveballs that he cannot wait back on and he swings in front of them, while only a few are on fastballs by him or being caught looking.

 

Being off on timing one's swing on curveballs is a fixable problem. Our current catcher had the very same issue in his younger days, as did our right-fielder and many Hall of Famers, Mike Schmidt being the most renowned. At his age, he can certainly make the adjustment; he just needs a little more time. If thrown into the MLB fire, he would probably be a league average catcher and hit something like .220/.300/.425/.725 without really taking the Fenway effect into consideration, which could boost some of those numbers. A half-season, or potentially even full season, at Pawtucket would likely be better in preparing him for the big leagues.

 

Without straying too off-topic, I am still not in favor of giving Jason Varitek a long-term deal based solely on him as a player and catcher without taking in outside factors.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 6 2004, 04:48 PM

Vartiek is one i :shrug: who else though. 1 HR every 17 at bats. Pretty good ratio. His K rate was too high, must improve. Vartiek going to get an extenstion though because of the way he's played of late.

Varitek really only played like 30 games in Pawtucket after the trade from Seattle and only hit one homerun in that time. Carlton Fisk is the biggest name catcher I can think of to come through Pawtucket. Eric Wedge, the Guardians current manager, and someone else (I forget his name) shared the 21 mark before Shopp broke it. Most players, if they are good, don't get the benefit of a full-season at one level, so in some occasions, the players to break AAA records usually aren't MLB caliber players (granted, that's only some instances, like Izzy Alcantara or Earl Snyder).

[CrespoBlows]

Two words: Papa Jack. He really worked on Ortiz to help him out, do you think he could adjust Shoppach's swing?

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 7 2004, 11:04 AM

Two words: Papa Jack. He really worked on Ortiz to help him out, do you think he could adjust Shoppach's swing?

Absolutely. I've been kind of banking on that as well. Shoppach seems to "step too far into the bucket" and he can't wait back on those curveballs, but destroys fastballs. I think he needs to cut down his stride, maybe make it a modified "glide", if you will, or something like that. Think Nomar, he barely moved his front foot and in his prime, could hammer anything you threw at him. Shopp might need the same adjustments.

[CrespoBlows]

I changed my mine on Shoppach, he isn't ready next year, he needs to hit the ball, or quit striking out. I'd much rather see Vartiek be the catcher for 2 more years.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 9 2004, 09:41 PM

I changed my mine on Shoppach, he isn't ready next year, he needs to hit the ball, or quit striking out. I'd much rather see Vartiek be the catcher for 2 more years.

I agree on Shoppach not being ready, but Varitek for anything more than another season doesn't sound safe.

[CrespoBlows]

Who's this guy Conception? Is he any good?

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 9 2004, 10:46 PM

Who's this guy Conception? Is he any good?

Alberto Concepcion? Not really. He might make the bigs as a backup, but I wouldn't expect too much more out of him. He's no Shoppach.

[CrespoBlows]

Did you see the foxsports ranking of Boston's prospects? They didn't put Moss in the top 10!

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 9 2004, 10:54 PM

Did you see the foxsports ranking of Boston's prospects? They didn't put Moss in the top 10!

No, I missed it and I rarely trust large media outlets of any kind in ranking prospects. Most don't follow them closely enough to give an accurate rating. Moss is my #2 behind Hanley.

[CrespoBlows]

They judged on I guess what a scout would say, (in that case Oakland would be toward the bottom.) They brought up some prospects I haven't caught, like this guy Kyle Jackson? What's the skinny on him?

[Zenny]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 9 2004, 11:04 PM

They judged on I guess what a scout would say, (in that case Oakland would be toward the bottom.) They brought up some prospects I haven't caught, like this guy Kyle Jackson? What's the skinny on him?

They mentioned Kyle Jackson in the Top 10? Now they're just doing local bias. Kid's from New Hampshire; OK control, but bad stuff. He really doesn't have anything. There are 30-40 guys I would put ahead of Jackson easily and he made FSN's top 10? Crazy.

[empirestrikesback26]

the admiral...you know who i mean

[CrespoBlows]

Dave Robinson, plays for the Yankees?

[CrespoBlows]

Originally posted by Zenny@Sep 9 2004, 11:30 PM

They mentioned Kyle Jackson in the Top 10? Now they're just doing local bias. Kid's from New Hampshire; OK control, but bad stuff. He really doesn't have anything. There are 30-40 guys I would put ahead of Jackson easily and he made FSN's top 10? Crazy.

Here's there top ten

 

1. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Age: 20

2. Abe Alvarez, LHP, Age: 21

3. Kelly Shoppach, C, Age: 24

4. Jon Papelbon, RHP, Age: 23

5. Manny Delcarmen, RHP, Age: 22

6. Jose Vaquedano, RHP, Age: 23

7. Kyle Jackson, RHP, Age: 21

8. Dustin Pedroia, SS, Age: 21

9. Jon Lester, LHP, Age: 20

10. David Murphy, OF, Age: 22

[empirestrikesback26]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Sep 10 2004, 11:12 PM

Dave Robinson, plays for the Yankees?

brad halsey.

[Zenny]

Actually, now that I see the complete list, it's not that bad. Although, I would have replace Jackson with Moss, moved him to #2 and shifted everyone down one. This gives me an idea... (see new thread).

[CrespoBlows]

Hmm, these fox guys are really good! Kyle Jackson was 3-13 last year! :shrug: Zenny, you should go apply for that postition!