What I Think You Should Do: Is stop doubting Dioner Navarro

Every now and again, I will sound off on a few topics that are “burning” news about the Tampa Bay Rays. While this series will be an ongoing recurrence throughout the year, there is not rhyme or reason to when it will be posted, so if you like it, be sure check back often, or subscribe to our RSS feed.

Addressing Navarro vs Shoppach

This is an issue that has bugged me since mid last year when everyone in the world was coming down on Dioner Navarro, and essentially writing him off as a has been.

Last year, I think that it is safe to assume EVERYONE feels Navarro had a horrible year. The 25 year old catcher dropped to a .218 average at the plate in 2009, hitting 8 home runs and driving in 32 runners in 115 games.

This is a far cry from Navarro’s break out season in 2008, where he hit a career high .295, while hitting 7 out of the park and driving in 54 runs.

Okay–I will be the first to acknowledge that those statistics from 2009 are pretty horrible, but let’s focus on the positive for a minute. Navarro is a career .253 batter who averages 8 home runs a year–not bad for a guy that handles pitchers pretty well.  In 2008, the chubby, former fan favorite was elected to his first MLB All-Star game.

The guy has one bad year, and now all of the sudden the Tampa Bay Rays fanbase is ready to ship him out of town in favor of Kelly Shoppach. Well, that did not happen. Both guys are here in camp this year, competing for the starting spot, a spot that I feel Navarro will ultimatley win hands down.

Here is why.

• Shoppach, who has played in 180 fewer games than Navarro, has a lifetime batting average of just .241–12 points lower than Navarro’s average.
• Shoppach does have better pure power numbers than Navarro, but Navarro has 82 career extra base hits, while Shoppach only has 60.
• Navarro has a distinct advantage in the fact that he has been catching this same core starting rotation for the last 3 years–and has done a good job of it. The Rays starting rotation is one of the youngest, and most feared in baseball.
• When Navarro gets hot at the plate he is a nice addition at the bottom of the lineup.
• Shoppach, because of solid power numbers in 2008 (21 homers) and decent numbers in 2009 (12 homers) will be expected to produce those results in Tampa Bay–I think the 21 homers in 2008 was a fluke.
• Navarro is a switch hitter, so he will provide flexibility in the lineup. Shoppach is a righty.

Other important things to remember about this Spring Training battle:

You can not change the fact that Dioner Navarro is a crowd favorite. Fans either love him, or love to hate him, but I feel it is important (and responsible) of fans to remember that every player can have an off year. It happens. In sports it is extremely rare for a player to produce consistantly solid numbers year in and year out.

Is Kelly Shoppach better than Shawn Riggins? Yes. Without a doubt. It he better than Greg Zaun? Maybe not better, no, but younger, yes.  I still feel that Navarro will win the battle in the spring, and will catch about 115 games, leaving Shoppach to the other 47.

Either way–whomever does the majority of the catching this year, is just keeping the spot warm for John Jaso if he ever blossoms, and for few years while Luke Bailey climbs his way into the majors.

Who do you think should get the majority of the appearances this year? Was Navarro’s all star season in 2008 a fluke? Is Shoppach the answer? Tell me what you think by leaving a comment below.

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