Aug
29
2012

Mets Notes: Kelly Shoppach Packs Some Power

An article by Joe D

Shoppach had a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-5 Tuesday night for their third straight victory.

Shoppach also hit a game tying double in the eighth and a single in his first at-bat to finish a triple shy of the cycle.

“I knew it when I hit it,” Shoppach said of his second homer in 22 at-bats with New York. “Coming to a league where I don’t have the luxury of having faced many of the pitchers, I can just look for something to hit.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Shoppach has hit 66 home runs in his major league career, 63 of them as a catcher, two as a pinch-hitter, and one as a designated hitter.

Shoppach’s career average of one home run every 22.0 at-bats as a catcher is the fourth-highest among active players with at least 1000 at-bats as a backstop. The top three are Mike Napoli (15.8), David Ross (20.5) and Brian McCann (22.0).

As we look toward finishing 2012 on a high note and also with an eye toward 2013, it seems we may have found our Opening Day catcher in Shoppach assuming the Mets see fit to sign him once this season ends.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

10 Comments + Add Comment

Mitch Petanick August 29, 2012 at 2:35 pm

I’m optimistic about Shoppach
- Metsie August 29, 2012 at 5:14 pm
  
  I like what I have seen so far…
  He’s not the Power RH bat we need but I do see him as a good guy at the back end of the heart of the order for protection and a possible clean up of whatever the cleanup hitters left.
  
  He’s hitting above .300 since he got here but that will go down once Pitchers get used to him and figure him out better.
  
  He is one of those that might be worth looking at extending on a two year deal if we get him at around the same price.
  
  But not a one year deal like we usually do…If he’s cheap double or triple up on him so if he does prove to be a keeper he will be a longer term option than a one and done like Hairston is right now!
Even Flow August 29, 2012 at 3:54 pm

So I’m guessing some people have finally taken the stick out of their asses, stop labeling him a “cancer” (which was completely idiotic to begin with) and are finally seeing something with Shoppach?

Can’t be….
- Joe D August 29, 2012 at 5:09 pm
  
  Honestly, the only person I saw calling him a cancer was Bad Bad Leroy Brown, and almost everyone else on this site jumped on him for it.
  - Mitch Petanick August 29, 2012 at 5:13 pm
    
    maybe they thought he was born in July?
    - Mr North Jersey August 29, 2012 at 5:33 pm
      
      Well he wasn’t born in July but people if they wish I guess can say he is full of bull since his birthday falls on April 29.
  - Even Flow August 29, 2012 at 5:42 pm
    
    Nope. It wasn’t just Leroy, Joe.
    
    http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/08/was-it-shoppach-that-spearheaded-the-mutiny-in-boston.html
    
    Scroll down and find how many times you find the word “cancer” when it comes to Shoppach. Somebody even compared Shoppach denying rumors to OJ Simpson’s trial.
  - BadBadLeroyBrown August 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm
    
    Guilty as charged!!!!!!!!!
    
    Although I said he was the cancer in Boston behind textgate….I have nothing against him just thought that we gave up too much for 2months of a Backup catcher whom is going on the open market next year…Although Beato pitched terribly this year he’s still young and has a good arsenal…and also re-signing Shoppach is not a given…
    
    He like Wright might also want to play for a team/organization that has a chance to win and compete for a championship next year. And we all know the Mets are FAR from that
jessep August 29, 2012 at 4:10 pm

It would have been great if the met broadcasters stole a line from John Sterling and called his homerun a “text message!”
Mr North Jersey August 29, 2012 at 4:51 pm

Shoppach didn’t hit that homerun. His beard did.

“Fear The Beard!”

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