Shoppach's Playing Time!

[ELsolly]

What's the story with Shoppach's playing time in Cleveland? I drafted him as a 2nd catcher with the hope he will get 5 games or so a week. Looks like he is playing twice maybe three times a week!

[screwball1234]

I'm hoping his playing time increases as the season goes on if not he's not worth owning

[garf112]

since i have garko, and he is hitting the crap out of the ball, i hope that shoppach doesn't play...

[auclairkeithbc]

since i have garko, and he is hitting the crap out of the ball, i hope that shoppach doesn't play...

Garko isn't really hitting well right now, well not so well for 1B/OF type. About the same as Shoppach, except having Shoppach play is much more beneficial to the team, even if Shoppach ends up hitting worse than Garko at some point, which I don't really think will happen.

[Dan Lambskin]

i dropped him for Yadier Molina

[Ender]

This is not surprising at all to me and I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to play very little. Hafner or VMart have to get hurt or turn cripple for him to get playtime and the situation only gets worse if the Indians bring up LaPorta eventually who is stretched defensively as a DH~.

[garf112]

since i have garko, and he is hitting the crap out of the ball, i hope that shoppach doesn't play...

Garko isn't really hitting well right now, well not so well for 1B/OF type. About the same as Shoppach, except having Shoppach play is much more beneficial to the team, even if Shoppach ends up hitting worse than Garko at some point, which I don't really think will happen.

Garko 8 BBs/ 4 Ks
Shoppach 1 BB/ 10 Ks

Garko has a .408 OBP and .833 OPS. In a deeper league like the one I am in he qualifies as hitting very well right now. Why is having Shoppach play more beneficial? It isn't like he is a great defensive catcher...

[Spectrum]

No, he is a better defensive catcher than VMart. Considerably better at throwing out runners. Victor works a lot better with Carmona, however. He's better at controlling the game from behind the plate, but Shoppach only has about 175 career starts, off the top of my head.

Shoppach is only going to get 75 starts this year, I'm willing to bet, unless Victor or Garko get hurt.

Bottom line, the Indians need to trade the guy. I don't really see how that's going to happen during the season, but it should have been done over the winter.

[West]

I have Shoppach in a deep daily league as my backup catcher. This is the only format in which he's been useful, as I can start him when J. Baker hits the bench vs. lefties.
Shoppach only starts when Carl Pavano and Cliff Lee pitch, but I'm holding onto him as I'm sick of finishing 30 games under the catcher games played limit every year.