But that doesnrsquot tell the whole story

While 12 homers and 40 RBI aren’t bad for 89 games, his abysmal batting average (.214) and slugging percentage (.399) were appalling, even for a catcher.But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Shoppach is just one season removed from hitting 21 homers and earning an .865 OPS. The .517 slugging percentage he posted in 2008 was higher than Victor Martinez has ever achieved in a full season.It’s no surprise that the Indians traded Shoppach. Lou Marson and Carlos Santana Cleveland’s catchers of the future are poised to make splashes in 2010, it made sense to try to move Shoppach and his salary (he’s set to make about $2 million next year, plus an arbitration raise).What’s disheartening is that Mark Shapiro gave him up at such a low price. Shoppach couldn’t have fetched an elite prospect, but surely we could have gotten more than a PTBNLThis is my only real problem with Shapiro.

Surely we could have at least acquired Andy Sonnanstine.The Rays aren’t the only team looking for a catcher; the Mariners, Mets, and Blue Jays are all in the hunt for a backstop, just to name a few. Maybe one of those teams would have been willing to make a concrete offer. Did Shapiro not think to consult other bidders before closing the auctionSure, it’s fitting to give another team a discount this time of year. But selling players at drastically reduced prices won’t make Happy Holidays in Cleveland.. IBO Cruiserweight Champion Danny Green pummeled Roy Jones, Jr.

He’s a bloody legend.” Provided he beat Green, Jones had tentatively agreed to box Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) in a rematch sometime in early 2010. Needless to say, “The Green Machine” scrapped any notions of a Hopkins versus Jones contest with his dominating performance earlier this morning. Roy Jones, Jr. was once one of the most exciting and talented boxers in the history of the sport. Jones beautifully intertwined his vast agility, speed and strength in the ring and he is absolutely a pugilist for the ages. Nevertheless, Jones is now a spent fighter who needs to retire immediately while his sensibilities are still relatively intact. As mentioned previously, Green anticipated that he would promptly thrash Jones in “the land down under.” “I won’t name which punch, but there’s one punch, if I hit him clean with it, he is going to be knocked out for a week,” Green forecasted. My fists are like bricks.” Hopkins, 44, has aged gracefully and he is still a fierce and extremely legitimate prizefighter. On the contrary, Jones has grayed like a canine and he may as well be 210 years old. Hopkins would have avenged his loss to Jones and beaten Junior had their rematch actually transpired. Hopkins is not the type of fighter who often will “hospitalize someone.” “The Executioner” is a defensive marvel who would have exposed Jones and likely earned a unanimous decision victory over Junior had they fought at this stage in their respective careers. However, plenty of boxers have fists that “are like bricks” and Jones is no longer elusive enough to avoid being hit by such bruisers. Hopefully, Jones’ fight in “the land down under” is the final contest of his illustrious career. If it’s not, Jones will ultimately get cracked by another pugilist whose “fists are like bricks” and he will instead finalize his career in the ring six-feet under. Attention Mayweathers: Manny Pacquiao has tested negative for steroids ten times http:// Boxing's three biggest turkeys of the last 25 years http:// Floyd Mayweather is a coward if he doesn't fight Manny Pacquiao http:// DUBLIN, Ireland(Business Wire)Research and Markets( http://) hasannounced the addition of the "Life Insurance in Sweden" report to theiroffering.

The Life Insurance in Sweden industry profile is an essential resource fortop-level data and analysis covering the life insurance industry. It includesdetailed data on market size and segmentation, plus textual and graphicalanalysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, leading companies anddemographic information. Scope Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and/or segmentation Provides textual analysis of the industry's recent performance and futureprospects Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis andscorecards Includes a five-year forecast of the industry The leading companies are profiled with supporting key financial metrics Supported by the key macroeconomic and demographic data affecting the marketHighlights Detailed information is included on market size, measured by value and/orvolume Five forces scorecards provide an accessible yet in depth view of the market'scompetitive landscape Market shares are covered by manufacturer or brandKey Topics Covered: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 CHAPTER 1 Market Overview 7 CHAPTER 2 Market Value 9 CHAPTER 3 Market Segmentation I 10 CHAPTER 4 Market Segmentation II 11 CHAPTER 5 Market Share 12 CHAPTER 6 Five Forces Analysis 13 CHAPTER 7 Leading Companies 20 CHAPTER 8 Market Forecasts 27 CHAPTER 9 Macroeconomic Indicators 28 CHAPTER 10 Appendix 30 LIST OF TABLESCompanies Mentioned: Folksam SEB TL Skandia Insurance Company Ltd Svenska Handelsbanken ABFor more information visit http:// Source: Datamonitor Research and Markets LtdLaura WoodSenior Fax from USA: 646-607-1907Fax from rest of the world: 353-1-481-1716 Copyright Business Wire 2009. The Cleveland Browns have not only been experiencing what some have said is their worst season ever as a franchise, but now it looks like the injury bug is quickly catching up to them too.With players like linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton, running back James Davis, tight end Steve Heiden, and defensive lineman Shaun Rogers just some of the names already on injured reserve, now it appears the list will continue to grow.According to cleveland , running back Jamal Lewis was a no-show at Browns practice today, and despite the organization not giving a real reason, the website reports that Lewis had sustained a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, along with safety Brodney Pool.Pool has had four known concussions in his five years in the NFL, which means he really needs to consider his options for his own well-being after football. He may have to put his passion for football aside and retire early so that he does not do any further and serious injury to his head, which has bad long-term effects.Lewis, on the other hand, has been fighting his way through injuries all year long, and if he indeed has a concussion, not only his season, but his career in the NFL will be over too since he announced his retirement earlier in the season.Then there is also the question of the statuses of linebacker Kamerion Wimbley anddefensive lineman Kenyon Coleman, which have yet to be determined and clarified by the Browns.So what does this mean for the BrownsIt means that their starting offensive and defensive lineups may look like this: OffenseQuarterback: Brady QuinnRunning Back: Chris JenningsFullback: Lawrence VickersWide Receivers: Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh CribbsTight End: Michael GainesO-Line: Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Hank Fraley, John St Clair DefenseD-Line: Robaire Smith, Ahtyba Rubin, C.J.