Kelly Shoppach

Second word to the wise, Shoppach's BABIP is .459 this year.

like andrew's saying, you can't ignore history - like i didn't think trot should suddenly face every lefty after having 4 hits against baltimore that one day...

Looking at the minor league numbers -- the only reasonable sample we really have -- they actually are very similar.  Garko hits for 30 points higher batting average, which is significant, but Shoppach has the better walk rate and isolated power.

The two-position defensive upgrade is pretty significant, too, despite whatever strides Garko and Victor have made.

Last year, when Garko was swinging the bat well, I thought he should start at 1B this year. It might have been irrational exuberance.

I said this last night. A lot of people have said that we need a power hitting corner outfielder / first baseman. It's strange, really strange, that I think this might be true - EVEN though we're near the top (at the top? haven't looked in the last few days) of the league in Runs Scored.

Dellucci and Nixon have not looked good recently. History would say, IF they are used correctly, their hitting will pick up.

1. I thought that was going to be the plan anyway.  Give Victor more rest from behind the plate.

2. Probably an upgrade defensively, though Vic/pitchers seems to have improved in the "steals against" category.

3. I'd let Shoppach catch/call game for Lee.  Not that Victor's pitch selection is at fault, but just to give Lee a different perspective(however slight it might be).  Something/anything to get Lee's game in gear.