"It took me a while to accept that role, because I didn't really want to be labeled as that," Shouse said. "Because I always feel like I can go out there and pitch an inning, get righties out as well."

Preferences aside, being a left-handed specialist affords multiple opportunities for an adrenaline rush.

"Seems like you're always coming in with the game on the line to face the hardest lefty they have, but I enjoy it," Shouse said. "I've accepted it. It's been good and I've enjoyed it and hopefully I can continue it."

Shouse, 40, signed with the Rays as a free agent on Feb. 5. He is one of 13 active Major Leaguers that are at least 40 years of age. Only two prior Rays have played after turning 40. Hall of Famer Wade Boggs was 41 in 1999 when he reached 3,000 hits, and Fred McGriff was 40 during his brief return to the team in 2004. Closer Troy Percival will turn 40 in August.

Working as the Brewers' lefty specialist in 2008, Shouse worked in 69 games, which left him just four games shy of his career high of 73 (2007). Only nine pitchers in history have made more appearances in a season at his age or older. He finished the season at 5-1 with a 2.81 ERA and two saves. He was particularly effective against lefties, whom he held to a .180 average.

Shouse made his Major League debut in 1993 with the Pirates and has pitched in parts of nine seasons at the Major League level for the Red Sox, Royals and Rangers, compiling a 12-9 mark with a 3.65 ERA in 422 career appearances. Shouse also spent an ample amount of time at the Minor League level, where he made 478 appearances in 14 seasons.

"He brings a lot to our bullpen," said Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president of baseball operations. "He's had a tremendous amount of success the last few seasons -- especially against left-handers. He generates a lot of ground balls. He doesn't walk guys. He keeps the ball in the park. And we feel like he is going to help diversify our bullpen even more and strengthen it."

Trever Miller filled the left-handed specialist role for the Rays in 2008, but signed with the Cardinals during the offseason.

Shouse turned down arbitration with the Brewers after making $2 million in 2008, which made him a Type B free agent. Accordingly, the Brewers will get an additional "sandwich" pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, but the Rays will not have to surrender a Draft pick; in past years this would not have been the case.

Shouse likes the way the Rays' bullpen is shaping up and believes in the idea of diversity making it stronger.

"It looks great, it's like I'll fit pretty much right in for what they want me to do," Shouse said. "They didn't really need to do a lot. I'm just replacing Trever, basically. And I'm excited. I've been well received here, and I just want to go out there and do what I've been doing. Hopefully, it helps these guys.

"Having different looks is great, because you never know throughout the season what's going to happen. Some guys are going to get hot, some guys struggle at certain times. If you have good, experienced guys down there all the time, it makes it much stronger for you."

Throughout Spring Training, Shouse has given a preview of what Rays fans can expect this season by making a lot of left-handed hitters look bad at the plate.

"I'm a little bit deceptive, I think," said Shouse when asked about what he's doing to making hitters look so bad against him. "And then my sinker, everything is kind of based off my sinker and my fastball -- just try to get it over the plate and have them hit it to somebody. That's my goal, because I've kind of realized I'm not going to strike people out, really. I'm not going to do this or that. I just want you to put the ball in play and get my guys off the field as quickly as possible."

Rays manager Joe Maddon described Shouse's sidearm delivery as "kind of like advanced bocce ball."

"He kind of whiffs it down from that general vicinity," Maddon said. "It's kind of funky the way he does it. It's not all the way under. ... What happens is the breaking ball's been really sharp on the lefties. I've seen a lot of bad swings on the breaking ball to the lefties."

Shouse is a lefty specialist, but Maddon insists he's not afraid to use him against right-handers.

"Righties, he puts the ball on the ground," Maddon said. "Kind of like Chad [Bradford]. As long as you can keep the ball on the ground, you can face the other side and feel good about it. I just like the tightness of the breaking ball. The strike throwing is attractive too."

Energetic and good natured, Shouse offered perspective about his situation.

"Ten years ago, I did not think I'd still be playing at this age," Shouse said. "So I'm very grateful for that. I just kind of view it as just take it one pitch at a time. Just try and make the game as simple as possible and not think a lot."