Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Out of left field

The highlight of yesterday’s 8-3 win against the Reds was a rundown of Billy Hamilton between third base and home, where the final tag was eventually applied by left-fielder Mallex Smith.

The only sad part is that the way it played out, Smith only applied the tag, and never really had the chance to race Hamilton. But jump over to the Rays Radio recap and listen to him talk about the play, because news-flash: in addition to being very fast, Mallex Smith is a good interview.

You know, I enjoy getting in rundowns. I feel like, if I get the ball, there’s a slight, little-to-none chance that that guy’s going to be safe . . . I actually told everybody, “Get out of the way.”

Also, interviews from Erasmo Ramirez (usually my favorite to listen to) and Steven Souza Jr.

Links

• Connor Mount at MLB.com talked to and wrote about Trevor Plouffe, on fitting in with a new team.
• Have I mentioned that I like Jim Turvey’s style? He used StatCast as a peg to write at Beyond the Box Score about plays for which there is no StatCast, but for which it would be fun if there were. Shoutout to the Rays in the form of the Mark Buehrle-Dewayne Wise perfect game.
• Do lots of high leverage innings wear down a reliever? How would one measure that? Rob Mains tries with LIP.
• Usually we read about how Clayton Kershaw is the best. But here’s Jeff Sullivan noticing that all of a sudden he’s giving up homers. What gives?
• Do changeups help pitchers avoid home runs?
• Travis Sawchik says that the fellow AL-East-overachiever Orioles should rebuild.
• A parrot that chants “Let’s Go Blue Jays.”