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Tampa Bay Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton enjoys trip to Taiwan, skips the snake blood (St. Petersburg Times)

**By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer**

Saturday, November 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays hitting coach **Derek Shelton **thoroughly enjoyed
soaking in the Taiwanese culture this month during the 2011 Taiwan All-Star
Series, when he joined a group of major-league stars for a five-game swing.

Shelton took a tour to a few memorials, watched the changing of the guards and
was surprised by all the chanting/drumming by fans during at-bats. But Shelton
did not experience with the players one authentic local tradition.

"I did not drink the snake blood," he said.

While some players, including reliever **LaTroy Hawkins**, sampled the shots
(which are believed by some to have special healing powers), Shelton passed.
But he had a blast, saying his favorite part was getting to spend the entire
trip with his dad, **Ron**.

"We were able to do all the culture stuff together and hang out together,"
Shelton said.

Shelton was invited to join a coaching staff that included Giants manager
**Bruce Bochy**, though he acknowledged there wasn't a lot of instruction
going on, just getting hitters such as Yankees stars **Robinson Cano** and
**Curtis Granderson** ready for the exhibitions. (The MLB team won all five
games against the ...

St. Petersburg Times

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