Kelly Shoppach - Page 2 - Talksox

Tek04 · 06-26-2004, 01:55 PM

I dont see him in the redsox organzation very long...we are trading him sometime this season...we dont need another catcher as long as we resign varitek

Zenny · 06-26-2004, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tek04@Jun 26 2004, 12:55 PM
I dont see him in the redsox organzation very long...we are trading him sometime this season...we dont need another catcher as long as we resign varitek

Well, the sticking point is Varitek. He's a Boras client and his contractual demands are rediculous, something like $10 million per season. I guarantee that Sox won't go over $6 million per for a catcher. If Varitek had every intention of returning, he would've re-signed already; he can override his agent. But, you know what? He hasn't done that, which says to me that he has every intention of getting top dollar on the market with no hometown discount for the Red Sox. I think he's as good as gone and you can take that to the bank, just like Varitek will.

I wouldn't be so sure about Shoppach being traded. The Sox don't want Garcia and I don't see them making any huge deals that would require a top prospect. Any trade this season is probably going to involve guys in A-ball, AA at the most. Guys like Chris Smith, Jose Vaquedano, Chad Spann; the younger guys.

Zenny · 06-26-2004, 11:48 PM

Well, Shopp went 1-4 with 2 K's tonight against the pretty good Richmond Braves pitching staff.

Season Line: .237/.339/.431/.771; .39 (30/76) BB/K ratio; 11 2B, 10 HR, 36 RBI, 35 R

Zenny · 06-27-2004, 04:41 PM

Shopp went 1-4 today, no whiffs, no walks.

Season Line: .237/.337/.428/.765; .39 (30/76) BB/K ratio; 11 2B, 10 HR, 36 RBI, 35 R

Zenny · 06-29-2004, 12:15 AM

Shoppach went 2-5 with a double, 2 RBI and a K. One of those hits, a single, came off Mets' top prospect Royce Ring, a major-league ready, hard throwing lefty. That is always a promising sign.

I still believe going from AA to AAA is harder than going from AAA to the bigs, in terms of the quality of the overall pitching. If a player is good at AA, he's going to get the bump to AAA, thus leveling the field of play. But, if a player is good at AAA, there isn't always a spot for him on the big league club, a huge example of that being Brian Daubach. The player still continues to pitch or hit well. There are a lot of big-league quality players at the AAA level, which leads me back to my original conclusion and provides some insight in to why Shoppach is struggling a bit. Feel free to question me on that. I love a good debate.

I still fully expect Shoppach's OPS to be around or above .900 by the time the season is done. He will always have that funny habit of accidentally letting go of the bat and it goes flying into the stands.

Season line: .241/.339/.432/.771; .39 (30/77) BB/K ratio; 12 2B, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 35 R

elsrbueno · 06-30-2004, 10:02 AM

Good to hear Kelly Shoppach's doing OK.

How does he handle pitchers?

Zenny · 06-30-2004, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elsrbueno@Jun 30 2004, 09:02 AM
How does he handle pitchers?

Fantastic. They all love the game he calls. That also may have contributed to his offensive struggles early on. He may have been spending too much time working with the pitching staff and not focusing on his offense. He's definitely coming around, though.

elsrbueno · 06-30-2004, 02:09 PM

Zenny,
You seem to be VERY high on Shoppach. Will there be ANY dropoff from V-Tek this year, and Shoppach next year?

Do you see any reason to hold onto V-Tek? (possibly as a mentor to Shopp?)

Zenny · 06-30-2004, 03:23 PM

I'm high on Shoppach and with good reason.

Next season, Shoppach will already play better defense than Varitek is now. Scouts say that he has the best arm and release point they have seen in a long time from a catcher. He also works hard with the pitching staff and has good defensive capabilites.

Granted, a rookie can't be expected to come in and immediately have rediculous offensive seasons. Next season, I see a .260/.350/.450/.800 with 15 or so homeruns. That is fantastic for a rookie catcher and is what Varitek is pretty much on pace for with the way he's playing. Eventually, Shoppach should hit .280/.375/.525/.900 with 25 homeruns when he enters his prime.

Bringing back Varitek for the sake of bringing back Varitek just seems crazy at this point. He wants too much money and that whole "mentor" thing is overrated. Shoppach will likely receive a September call-up to work with Varitek anyway and he already spent a good deal of time with him in Spring Training this season. Next season, Mirabelli can fill in the few blanks on the defensive end and Papa Jack will be there to help with his hitting.

Zenny · 06-30-2004, 11:04 PM

A fantastic article about Kelly Shoppach from Baseball America's Daily Dish:

Quote:

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--Kelly Shoppach is a throwback. He runs everything out, doesn't believe in showing up an opponent, and given a choice would play his entire career with one team. Those are qualities akin to an earlier era, but Shoppach wears them as proudly as he does his 2004 Pawtucket Red Sox uniform.

"It's how I was raised," he said. "It's the only way I know how to play."

A second-round pick out of Baylor in 2001 after an All-America season, Shoppach has been his club's player of the year in each of his two professional seasons, at Sarasota and Portland. He is considered the heir apparent to the Red Sox catching job--if he isn't traded first.

"It's special if you can play your whole career with one team," Shoppach opined, though that belief has come under duress as of late. Mentioned in trade rumors, most recently involving Carlos Beltran, he understands that is a part of the game he has little control over.

"I'd love a chance to be loyal to the organization," he said, "but they need to be loyal to me, too. I've known since the day I signed that trades are a part of the business, but hopefully I can spend my entire career in a Red Sox uniform."

With Jason Varitek eligible for free agency after the 2004 season, Shoppach is a valuable commodity beyond his trade value. While other organizations covet him, the Red Sox realize he would be a capable replacement should Varitek sign elsewhere.

"He projects as a plus-power hitter," manager Buddy Bailey said. "Defensively he's already major league ready. He has the ability to block balls and control a running game. His arm strength and release are both above-average."

Farm director Ben Cherington echoes Bailey.

"He brings a good package to the table," Cherington said. "He has a chance to be a quality performer at a premium position at the major league level."

Cherington also likes the attitude Shoppach carries onto the field. "He cares more about winning than personal accomplishments," he added. "He can have a good day, but if the team loses he isn't happy."

Shoppach commands the respect of his pitching staff, an attribute he understands the importance of. "Defense is the most important job for a catcher," he said. "And that includes their relationship with pitchers."

Teammate Frank Castillo, a 12-year major league veteran, is a believer. "He's calling some good games," Castillo said. "The guys on the staff trust him."

Offense is where Shoppach's game is a work in progress. He was hitting just .241-10-38 in 220 at-bats, with 77 strikeouts. "He's still experiencing some growing pains," Bailey said. "He has tremendous power to all fields, but his professional ABs aren't very high for someone playing at this level."

His power was on display earlier this season, when Shoppach hit one of the longest home runs ever at Louisville Slugger Field. His blast traveled an estimated 460 feet, and showed the kind of home run stroke that may someday bring the Fenway faithful to their feet.

While his power and defense are notable, Shoppach's old-school approach sets him apart.

"Hustle and hard work never go into a slump," he said. "I believe in going all out, all the time." This includes running to first base on a walk, a trait that brings good-natured ribbing from his teammates. "Sure we get on him about that," lefthander Phil Seibel said, "but we know that's how Shop plays, and we all appreciate that his effort is never less than a hundred percent."

These are labels that fit this hardnosed product of Texas. Bailey refers to him as "a gentleman," and there is no better way to describe his approach than "throwback." Assessing his future, there's one more label that's fitting: Kelly Shoppach is a "keeper." He hopes the Boston organization feels the same way.

It is official. I will become a fan of whatever team Kelly Shoppach plays for next season, even if it isn't the Red Sox. I hope to God Theo gives this kid every chance to be this team's starting catcher.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today.../2004dish.html

Zenny · 07-02-2004, 12:50 AM

Shopp went 0-3 with an RBI today. I mostly attribute the rustiness to Buddy Bailey sitting Shoppach for two straight games because of Ellis Burks and Bill Mueller rehabbing and George Lombard being called up. He's still making good contact, though and is drastically reducing the number of strikeouts over the past month or so.

Zenny · 07-03-2004, 09:51 PM

Yesterday, Shopp went 1-4 with a solo HR and 2 K's. Today, he went 2-4 with a walk-off homerun in Pawtucket's 3-2 win. That's right, dingers in consecutive games.

Season Line: .242/.335/.450/.785; .38 (30/79) BB/K ratio; 12 2B, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 37 R

Zenny · 07-04-2004, 11:58 PM

Shopp had an o'fer today; 0-4, BB, K.

Season Line: .238/.332/.443/.775; .39 (31/80) BB/K ratio; 12 2B, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 37 R

Zenny · 07-05-2004, 03:51 PM

Just found this on the MLB.com website:

Quote:

Kelly Shoppach, C
Shoppach, the Sox's first pick in the 2001 draft, will spend the year with Pawtucket as he prepares to possibly replace Jason Varitek in Boston. The Baylor product came back strong from a shoulder injury, with no signs of trouble once he returned behind the plate late last April. He's got a very good idea of what to do behind the plate, with a quick release and a firm grasp of game-calling. He's no slouch at bat, either, with raw power and the willingness to hit deep in the count. His leadership skills and take-charge nature leave little doubt about his ability to handle the responsibility of catching in a market like Boston. That means the organization will likely have little difficulty in letting Varitek go following the 2004 season.

Zenny · 07-07-2004, 12:27 AM

Shoppach had a big game in the night-cap of the PawSox's doubleheader going 3-3 with two doubles and a single. You know how everyone is waiting for him to "really start hitting"? Homeruns in back to back games and then this 3-3 performance. I think he's coming around and that OPS is only 3 points under .800 and it is definitely on its way up.

Season Line: .248/.339/.458/.797; .39 (31/80) BB/K ratio; 14 2B, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 38 R