Kelly Shoppach

[CrespoBlows]

Bump, it's the start of the season

[Zenny]

So far, Shopp is 2 for 9 on the young season with a homerun and a 0/3 BB/K. I doubt I'm going to do daily updates like I did last season, especially with Tek locked in for 4 more years. Still, I do believe Shoppach will become an above-average everyday defense and power catcher for someone, but probably not us. He'll probably have a big year in Pawtucket through July and then we trade him for something we need at the All-Star Break. Actually, we may not even need to make a trade at the break, depending on Wade Miller.

[Zenny]

.270/.413/.649, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 BB/11 K in 37 AB's for Shopp.

[yankeessuck013]

Shoppach homered twice in one inning today!!!!

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050423&content_id=1704&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[Zenny]

This kid's the man. He really is. I have nothing more to add.

[yeszir]

Shoppach looks to be doing well. Varitek is signed through 2008. It's apparent that there will be a fairly large amount of overlap between the two. What will happen? Is there going to be a form of mentor-apprentace training going on, or is one of the two gone?

[RedSoxRooter]

I don't know. I was thinking all along that he'd replace Mirabelli but then Doug signed an extension... I think for two more years.

 

Unless there is an injury, I just don't see Shoppach in the bigs for Boston. It would be a complete waste to leave him in the minors for 2-3 more years. He's got to be considered trade bait now.

He's doing pretty good right now. .275/.413/6hr in 16 games.

[Zenny]

For the month of April, Shopp hit .290/.413/.694 with an 11 to 16 BB/K with 4 2B's and 7 HR's in 62 AB's.

[Zenny]

Through May 21st, Shopp is hitting .273/.392/.555 with a 20 to 38 BB/K with 6 2B's and 10 HR's in 128 AB's. He has cooled off a little bit, but there was no way he was keeping up that April pace. Plus, he's had a sprained foot for a couple of weeks and has been limited to DH duty only.

[yeszir]

This can be my contribution to the thread, a badass picture of Shoppach so we can see what he looks like:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2004/03/16/RppCZpjd.jpg

[Zenny]

Shoppach hit another homerun last night, making it .270/.387/.562; 21/42; 7, 11 in 137 AB's.

[CrespoBlows]

If Shoppach keeps up that pace he could hit 40+ HR's.

[CrespoBlows]

Why don't the Red Sox move Kelly Shoppach to first base? He's seems like a good athlete who could make the transition over time. He'd be able to take over for Millar next year that way, and it give the Red Sox a player with 25+ HR power on the corner.

[Zenny]

Me and the boys at NetSports have been kicking that around. Some have questions, others like the idea. It's worth a shot. He'd be better than Millar.

 

PS- Last night was Shopp's first game back at C in a while; he'd been DH'ing due to a sprained foot.

[CrespoBlows]

Yea, he can't be worse than Millar at defense can he? Shopp's offense would be well worth seeing the transition though.

[Zenny]

Yea, he can't be worse than Millar at defense can he? Shopp's offense would be well worth seeing the transition though.

Shopp's offense would be better than the 2 homers we have from Millar at this point. Don't forget the Fenway effect; everyone hits well at Fenway. You take Millar out of Fenway last season and into a neutral park and he's a .250/.325/.400 hitter at best. Shoppach could do that in a neutral park easily and would do better at Fenway.

[elsrbueno]

Zenny,

Don't want to steal your thunder, but I just figured I'd announce:

 

The Red Sox called up Kelly Shoppach today. Thoughts?

[Zenny]

He'll probably catch Wake's starts. He's probably going to K a bunch as he adapts as well. This is really just a cup of coffee until Mirabelli returns, but I'm excited nevertheless. I hope he hits the crap out of the ball so we are either forced to play him or get something great in a trade.

[CrespoBlows]

He's going to catch Wells on Sunday, or catching Clement today.

[RedSoxRooter]

I read Sunday. Imagine your first Major League game on Saturday afternoon, Red Sox/Yankees at the Stadium catching a knuckleballer??? He still gets to be on ESPN though.I'm looking forward to seeing him play.

[soxie thefangirl]

yeah he's starting tomorrow with Wells.

[Sizzlin22]

Thats scary man maybe he'll pull a Youkilis and hit a Home Run in his first game (wishful thinking).

[schillingouttheks]

I wouldn't complain

[Sizzlin22]

Hey he's in todays game come on now get a hit his entire family is probably watching.

[Zenny]

He got plunked. Make that a career OBP of 1.000.

[soxie thefangirl]

ah well. we'll see how he is tomorrow.

[schillingouttheks]

Haha, if I am him I think they fear me. I am calling tomorrow Shopp has a great game. 2-3 with a double and a single, 1 RBI. More wishful thinking, and probably unrealistic as he likes to take a lot of pitches. But when he connects, we've seen he can CONNECT BABY!!

[Zenny]

I don't think Shopp knows how to hit singles. He's all or nothing, baby.

[Zenny]

Shopp went 0-4 in his first big league start. He whiffed on a Mussina slider in his first AB and ground out three times after that.

 

.000/.200/.000; 0/1 BB/K (with an HBP)

[yeszir]

So much for the OBP of 1.000