DiaTribe - Shoppach Catch, Garonk Platoon

Paul looks at a starting lineup strategy that looks pretty good to me and touches on Agent M vs. Barf.

over 2 years ago Brick. 28 comments 0 recs |

Comments

This reminds me of why I don’t understand Wedge’s “Hafner isn’t playing until he can play every day” BS. If he’s serious about that, fire his ass.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 5, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

Even if he isn’t serious about it, fire his ass.

by NickFantana on Jun 5, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

how about just seriously firing his ass

by APV on Jun 5, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Fire his serious ass. Jovial asses only.

by fleerdon on Jun 5, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think there’s a legit point there, though — he doesn’t feel he can afford to use up a roster spot on a part-time DH, especially considering how often they’ve felt the need to have an 8-man bullpen. Remember too that they can’t just send Hafner down whenever they want — once he comes off the DL, they have to have a real reason to take him off the 25-man again. It is a real roster management problem.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 5, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, if he turns out to not be healthy, they could DL him again. His rehab period was ending/over anyways.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 5, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Hafner will be back on the disabled list in a month or so anyway.

by odradek on Jun 5, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Fine, but can we fire him anyway? Please?

by NickFantana on Jun 5, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t really get this. Hafner wasn’t playing every day when he was active, and they certainly don’t expect him to play every day when he returns. I think they’re just looking for him to do what he was doing in April. Play 5 days a week and be good. They want to try to avoid having him get sore to the point where he changes his swing. We saw that the last few games before he was disabled and throughout 2008. Interested in seeing that again?

Also, if he returns too quickly (which he may be doing anyway) and experiences soreness to the point where he has to take a few days off, then that leaves Wedge a man short.

If you don’t believe me, then read this.

DH Travis Hafner (right shoulder soreness): Hafner remains on a rehab assignment at Columbus. He was pulled from the lineup Saturday because of a recurrence of the shoulder soreness, but he returned to play Sunday and went 0-for-4. He was scheduled to play again Monday.

Hafner’s rehab assignment expires Wednesday. The Indians will have to decide at that point whether or not to activate Pronk. If they don’t, he cannot go back on a rehab assignment for another five days.

“We’re working off him,” Wedge said. “We’re only a day removed from when he couldn’t play.”

Wedge said the Indians’ best-case scenario, at this point, is Hafner being able to tolerate playing five or six days a week. More information on Hafner’s condition will be known mid-week.

by TribeJay on Jun 5, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Man I knew Chuck Hernandez sucked. Good article.

by supermarioelia on Jun 5, 2009 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

Where have you gone, Luis Isaac?

"I gotta be honest, I dunno much about the climate in Japan." - Matt Underwood

by USSChoo on Jun 5, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

So this Hernandez guy…his pens have been ranked (by ERA, I know) 26th, 27th, 23rd, FOURTH (!?!?), 28th, NINTH (!?!) over the past 6 seasons.

by supermarioelia on Jun 5, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Bullpens are volatile, doc.

by odradek on Jun 5, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

So your saying they might as well higher me for half the price of Hernandez and we’d get the same results?

by hans on Jun 6, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you mean:

“Sew your saying they mite as well higher me four Haf the price of Hernandez end weed get the same results?”

/ass

by Logodaedalus on Jun 6, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

If we had 4 Hafs, would any of them stay healthy for a full season?

by jakesinger777 on Jun 6, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

The other evidence that would support this strategy is that the best hitting year of Shoppach’s career came when he was the #1 guy.

SSS to be sure, but if you’re going to base theories off pitching results of 40 PA, then why not add another one?

by TribeJay on Jun 5, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

Attempting to revive a corpse, Dr. Frankenstein?

by odradek on Jun 6, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Heh-heh…I wasn’t necessarily saying I agreed with the theory, but just thought I’d state it.

I think I’ve figured out why you’re so anti-Shoppach. You probably watch a lot of games, as do I. Your opinion of him is probably greatly influenced by that. The reason for this is that Shoppy just doesn’t seem to have any plan whatsoever in the batters box. And because of that, he can look worse than about any other hitter in the league at times. And it’s terribly frustrating watching him hit with a 2-strike count, because you’re just waiting for him to chase and K. He’s just not fundamentally sound at the plate. And that probably drives you nuts (as it does with me). But when he connects, his tremendous power shows. It’s all or nothing.

I like Shoppach in the role he’s in, but I’ve also stated that there’s no reason why he should be on this roster in 2010, unless you think he’s responsible for Cliff Lee’s success. If they continue to play this way, they should look to move him by the trading deadline. Toregas or Gimenez can fill in for the rest of the year and start of next season, and then you can bring Santana up by mid-year. If not sooner.

by TribeJay on Jun 6, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I am convinced Shapiro tried to move him, but just felt that the potential return was far too small.

by Roger Dorn on Jun 6, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure I understand this. Last offseason, we were coming off a year when Victor was way down, and Shoppach was excellent. Santana had not played significant games in the upper minors yet. Why would Shoppach have been so available? I think we expected to contend, and he was highly valuable to us.

by dgcambridge on Jun 10, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You move him for a 3B-1B type who can really hit.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 10, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Shoppach was excellent

Sell high

by Roger Dorn on Jun 10, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’d say that’s about right with Shoppach’s at bats. He has that bolero swing and sometimes doesn’t even seem to look at the ball. I could live with him as a backup catcher. But I agree with Roger that he was shopped before this season, and didn’t attract much in return.

by odradek on Jun 10, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions