"C Dioner Navarro was eager Thursday to make his first start since June 9. "It's been a while," he said before going 1-for-2 with a single, strikeout and walk vs. the Braves. Navarro, whose playing time has dwindled with the emergence of rookie John Jaso, has also battled a stiff neck this past week. But he felt good after a pinch-hit double Wednesday, saying, "It's been a while since I hit a ball like that." Though Jaso and Kelly Shoppach will get most of the starts at catcher, manager Joe Maddon said he wants to get Navarro more involved. "I'm always going to stay ready," Navarro said. "I've been doing my thing, trying to do whatever I can do to get back in there and help the team. It's kind of an awkward situation, the one we're in right now. But they know what they're doing, they know what's best." Navarro said he has changed his routine because he's not playing as often, spending more time lifting weights and hitting more. "The hardest part is going from playing every day and all of a sudden platooning," he said. "But that's the business, that's what it takes."" http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article1103198.ece
