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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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More Lobaton, less Shoppach

Posted Sep 5, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 5, 2011 at 12:32 PM

ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG Expect to see more of Jose Lobaton during the remainder of the season at the expense of Kelly Shoppach.

Mnager Joe Maddon said before today’s game that the team wants to see what Lobaton can do behind the plate, because he could figure prominently in the Rays plans next season.

“Going into next year he would definitely be a candidate, and that’s why it’s vital that we see him right now,” Maddon said of Lobaton.

Shoppach, who will be used mostly in late-inning situations, declined to comment.

Part of this move is because of the sprained left knee that kept Lobaton out of the lineup for 43 days, preventing the Rays from seeing what Lobaton can do over an extended period of games at the major league level.

Might this be the signal of the end for Shoppach, who makes $3 million this year, and is in line to make $3.2 million next year if the team picks up the option?

While Shoppach is the best defensive catcher when it comes to he and Jaso, he gives the Rays little with the bat. Shoppach is batting a team-low .175 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs. He is hitless in 11 of this last 14 starts.

That .175 average is the fourth-lowest in the majors with players of at least 200 plate-appearances.

“All you should really draw from it is the fact that we want to see more of Lobaton right now more than anything,” Maddon said. “We need to evaluate him. We know what we have with Shopp pretty much. This thing, who knows, it could still switch. I’m talking about for right now the plans is to use those guys more, but as the month’s in progress, that door’s open to change, but for right now it’s more about us seeing Lobaton and knowing what Shopp can do.”