The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career. In addition to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Red Sox have both Ryan Lavarnway and Luis Exposito on the 40-man roster. Shoppach made his debut with Boston in 2005, but was traded to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal.
Shoppach, who will be 32 in late April, hit an embarrassing .176/.268/.339/.607 in 253 PA for Tampa Bay last year (and had an equally bad OPS of .650 in 2010), but he can hit lefties - Joe Maddon actually gave him more PA against righties last year against whom he OPSed .431. If used properly, Shoppach and his .909 career OPS against LHP could make a decent platoon with Salty.
OPS
2011 2010 2009
Shoppach vs LHP: .788 .830 1.045
Salty vs RHP: .786 11 AB .657Shoppach also led the American League last year in throwing out base runners: 41%. That talent would be most welcome in Boston - hell, catchers even bothering to throw to second would be exciting - but, oddly, that high percentage came after a season of gunning down only 17%:Most stats taken from the SoSH thread.Shoppach CS% 2006 37% 2007 36% 2008 21% 2009 23% 2010 17% 2011 41%
Also: The Red Sox signed Matt Albers to a one-year deal. Bobby Jenks underwent minor back surgery yesterday.
So what day is Jason Varitek Fan Appreciation Day? Is he going to throw out the first pitch or try to gun down Carl Crawford stealing second?
ReplyDeleteAt least Shoppach will have a chance to erase his 0-for-lifetime batting average with the Sox.
The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career.
ReplyDeletePraise the gods.
Funny Jeter story for anyone who missed it.
ReplyDeleteLowrie traded! For Astros closer Melancon.
ReplyDeletelaura k said...
ReplyDeleteThe addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career.
Praise the gods.
Really?
Really?
ReplyDeleteAbout three years late, but better late than never.
Do you imagine Tek immortal?
laura k said...
ReplyDeleteReally?
About three years late, but better late than never.
Do you imagine Tek immortal?
No, but I wouldn't kick out him for player less than him.
No, but I wouldn't kick out him for player less than him.
ReplyDeleteLess than him in what year? Tek is finished - he's a liability. We may not have a great catcher to replace him yet, but he can't just continue playing until we do.
Of the 19 AL catchers to have 250 PA last year, Varitek's OPS was 10th - 10 points short of 7th. Salty finished #6.
ReplyDeleteHe was a below-average hitter, but the AL catching pool is fairly shallow. I would not have missed him had he retired 3 years ago, but he was not worthless.
Forget CS%, I'd like to see what % of the time he never bothered to throw to 2nd or 3rd. Gotta be 33% at least.
Edes:
ReplyDelete... Ben Cherington made clear Thursday that he wants [Tek] to remain with the organization in some role. ... Sources told the Chicago Tribune that the [Cubs have] expressed preliminary interest in both Varitek and Tim Wakefield. ...
Shoppach led the American League by throwing out 41 percent of attempted base-stealers. Varitek threw out just 14 percent. Saltalamacchia threw out about 31 percent. ... Among active catchers, Shoppach's career .909 OPS against lefties is fourth-highest in the majors.
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