The former Indians catcher says the Rays don't have the overall firepower of the 2007 Indians, but he says the pitching staff is one of the best he's been around.
Former Indian Kelly Shoppach, now with the playoff-contending Rays, says the 2007 Tribe, which came within one game of the World Series, had more firepower but this season's Rays have more pitching. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There's no magic formula to the Rays' success over the past three years. It's just good baseball.
"Pitching, defense, speed and timely hitting," said former Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach. "It all starts out on the mound."
The Indians traded Shoppach to Tampa Bay on Dec. 1 for right-hander Mitch Talbot, who goes into the All-Star break with an 8-8 record.
Shoppach is playing mostly against left-handers. He was on the disabled list from April 13 through June 3 following surgery on his right knee. He's hitting .400 (8-for-20) against lefties and .097 (3-for-28) against righties.
"The knee is as good as it's going to get," said Shoppach.
Shoppach went to Game 7 of the ALCS with the Indians in 2007. Here's how he compares the 2007 Indians to this year's Rays: "Firepower, this team isn't even close to the '07 team. We had guys up and down the lineup hitting 20 homers each.
"Total [pitching] staffwise, this is as good as I've been around. Even though in '07 we were really good."
Shoppach, on his way to the dugout before Friday's game, came across Tribe catcher Carlos Santana, who was waiting at the indoor batting cage. Santana is wearing Victor Martinez's No. 41.
"You've got a good number there," said Shoppach, who gave Santana a hug. "Big shoes to fill. Play the game right."
Shoppach is a big Martinez fan. He called Indians' clubhouse manager Tony Amato to complain when Amato gave Santana Martinez's number when he was promoted from Class AAA Columbus in July. Shoppach felt, out of respect for Martinez, that the number shouldn't have been worn for at least a year.
"Tony said he couldn't help it," said Shoppach. "The kid loves Victor and wants to be just like him."
View full sizeAsdrubal Cabrera.They're back, sort of: With three games left before the All-Star break, the Indians received some good news before Friday's game.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, out since May 17 with a broken left forearm, took batting practice for the first time since the injury. He should begin his rehab assignment Monday at Class A Mahoning Valley.
"I'll play there Monday and Wednesday at Mahoning Valley, and then go to [Class AA] Akron," said Cabrera.
The other good news was Matt LaPorta returning to the lineup Friday for the first time since suffering a head injury Monday.
Manager Manny Acta has said Cabrera will need at least 30 at-bats before rejoining the big-league club. A rehab assignment for a position player can last 20 days.
Break time: After Sunday's game, Acta and his wife, Cindy, will drive to their home in St. Cloud, Fla., for the break.
"I'm just going to chill," said Acta.
New addition: The Indians hired former catcher Armando Camacaro to replace Ruben Niebla as an assistant to the coaching staff. Camacaro, who played 10 years in the Indians' minor-league system, will warm up pitchers in the bullpen and throw batting practice.
Niebla, a valuable asset to pitching coach Tim Belcher and bullpen coach Scott Radinsky, injured his knee last month in Pittsburgh and needed surgery.
Safety first: In the seventh inning Thursday, with runners on first and third and no one out, Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist executed a sacrifice bunt. At least that's what it was scored.
In reality, it was a safety squeeze. If Zobrist had bunted the ball a little harder and to the left of reliever Rafael Perez, John Jaso probably would have scored from third.
The Rays beat the Indians with the same play May 17 when Jason Bartlett squeezed home Jaso for a 4-3 victory in 11 innings.
Finally: The Rays, who like to overshift their infield defense, started doing it against Santana on Thursday. He thwarted it with a bunt single, but the Rays won't complain. That's one of the goals of the shift, to make a power hitter change his swing. . . . The Indians will work out Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Progressive Field following the All-Star break.