Wednesday should have been a highlight for Kelly Shoppach.
The catcher had a walk, a single, threw out a would-be base stealer and a key two-run homer which ultimately represented the winning margin in the Red Sox' 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
It was Shoppach's first start since the first series of the trip and Bobby Valentine made mention of the fact that Shoppach had come into his office on Tuesday to inquire why he wasn't playing more.
(The answer should have been obvious -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia had been hot and displaying power on his own, while also coaxing two fine starts from Josh Beckett, who had previously been paired with Shoppach).
Valentine managed to reveal that Shoppach "left (the office) angry.''
It's a poorly kept secret that Valentine was not a backer of Shoppach in spring training and had argued, in vain, to go with a combination of Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway. If Shoppach is going to be unhappy in his current role, perhaps it's time for the Red Sox to see what sort of market exists for him.
The Washington Nationals are known to be looking for help behind the plate, as are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As a free agent, Shoppach would have to approve of any deal made before June 15, but if he's unhappy to complain about playing time, surely he would waive his right to go somewhere else.