Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Odorizzi injury not serious

After taking a line drive to his ankle, and needing to be helped off the field, it actually seems like Jake Odorizzi is going to be okay, no bones are broken, and will make his next start. Rays Radio has audio of the postgame interview from him and from manager Kevin Cash.

Asked whether he was surprised that the injury wasn’t worse, Odorizzi said:

I was, it was a weird sensation. As soon as it hit me it started burning, and then I had no feeling in it, so I was kind of expecting the worst, but we got the best news. So, I’ll be alright, and if all things go as they should, I should be good to go for my next start, so we just dodged a big bullet.

Interesting mixed metaphor, Jake.

Links:

• Yes, writing a review of a bad show is WAY easier than a review of one that you like, but I’ll give Marc Topkin props: pretty good recap from him yesterday.
• Will Vragovic (@willvrag), Tampa Bay Times sports photographer, is a good follow on twitter. Mostly fairly “normal” shots, but sometimes this. I’m no pitching coach, but it looks to me like the front side is leaking out too early.

• Aaron Gleeman wrote about “Quadruple-A All-Stars,” featuring Ray-for-a-second Oswaldo Arcia as someone who should get another chance.
• There was a rally cat in St. Louis.
• Adam Dorhauer went deep into how much to weigh past results. A good read.
• Good read from John Manual, a scout who saw amateur Albert Pujols for one swing.
• Joe Votto talked about the changing strike zone.
• David Laurila continues his travels in Japan (this time figuratively), with an interview with Darrin Jackson about a young Kaz Matsui. Great description of learning to hit switch in there.
• And Ashley, MacLennan, now resident at FanGraphs, wrote about how players market themselves.