Shumpert studies to become manager

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Terry Shumpert said he ended up in Tampa Bay this season for a reason.

"My goal is to play for a championship team someday," Shumpert said.

No one has to tell Shumpert Tampa Bay is about as far from that as one can get. But as a player with aspirations of managing in the big leagues someday, Shumpert said the experience of being on a team led by the Devil Rays' Lou Piniella has been invaluable.

"He might be the best, and I've learned so much from him this season," Shumpert said. "Just watching him, watching how he manages a game, how he handles the team, it has been a great learning experience."

So was the education of playing for managers such as Jim Leyland and Buddy Bell, Shumpert said Saturday in the clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he began his career in 1990. He spent parts of five seasons with the Royals before moving on to Boston, Chicago with the Cubs, San Diego, Colorado and, now, Tampa Bay. He has spent most of his career as a utility player and much of his time studying to be a manager.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," said Shumpert, who added he still wants to play a few more seasons.

Shumpert, 36, is having a mediocre season, playing sparingly with a .200 average in 51 games. He was placed on the disabled list Friday with a sore hamstring.

Even while hurt, Shumpert is a valuable member of the Rays.

"He has done a heck of a job for us with our young kids, talking to them and working with them," Piniella said. "I have high praise for him."

Piniella and general manager Chuck LaMar said Shumpert could end up coaching in the Rays organization.

"Whenever he's ready," Piniella said, "I think he'll get the opportunity."

T-LEE: No Rays hitter is hotter than first baseman Travis Lee, who has raised his average over .280.

He had a .344 (31-for-90) average in July. In the first nine games of this road trip, Lee hit .441 with three homers and 11 RBIs.

"He looks more confident," Piniella said. "I think he's taking pitches better and taking more aggressive swings. He's probably seeing the ball better, too."

HOT BATS: Lee isn't the only one swinging a heavy bat. Entering Saturday, the Rays had the third-best batting average since the All-Star break. The Rays hit .296, behind Atlanta (.341) and the White Sox (.332).

LONG HOT SUMMER: Look for the Rays to rest some of their young players, such as Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford, over the last two months, and particularly this month.

That's because they are unaccustomed to playing into September.

"I remember my first September in the big leagues, and it was a long month," Piniella said. "I was used to being home. So we better rest these kids in this hot weather in August as much as we can to keep them as strong as possible. And the last month of the season, the schedule isn't too easy. We got a lot of New Yorks and Bostons. And Seattles and Oaklands. So it's not an easy month schedule-wise for us."

MISCELLANY: Crawford had two steals Saturday to give him 31. That ties him with Jason Tyner, who had 31 in 2001, for the most stolen bases in a season by a Ray. ... Pitcher Joe Kennedy, who left in the second inning Friday with back soreness, appears fine. He's scheduled to start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. ... Aubrey Huff tied his career high for RBIs in a season when he drove in his 59th run in the fourth inning. ... Piniella moved into 24th place on the games-managed list Saturday with 2,562. He moved ahead of Bill Rigney. Next are Miller Huggins (2,569) and Chuck Tanner (2,738).