Tampa Bay Rays news and links: “It’s definitely not back to normal”

In his interview with Rays Radio, Kevin Cash talked about launch angle, “the flyball revolution,” and the way the Rays are approaching the screens across the infield. This is a really good sound bite with some insight into how the Rays are approaching teaching hitting. Basically, they’re hands off. They’ve put the screens out there but they’re not telling hitters what to do with them. Some snippets:

There’s a lot of information out there right now that is talking about creating that vertical angle that gives all hitters the best chance to have success. It’s not to be confused with creating home run hitters . . .

We’re not asking anybody to change anything. It’s more just, ‘let them visualize it.’ If some guys go out there and don’t want to think about it, so be it.

We’ve talked for years now about how to make batting practice more challenging . . . It’s not comfortable when you’re in New York facing Dellin Betances.

Players are smart, man.

Also in the Rays Radio article, Nathan Eovaldi talked about his recovery.

In a separate profile with Rays Radio, Jose De Leon talked about his offseason in Puerto Rico, doing what he can to help “his people: on the weekends while getting ready for the season Monday through Friday.

For us it’s really special that people in the states knows what we’re going through and they feel sympathy with us.

There’s still a lot of people in the mountains that are struggling still, who have no water and no power.

This is a good interview as well.

Rays Links

• The Brewers signed former-Ray Nick Franklin to a minor league deal.
• Jason Collette was in the Midwest.
• Rob Manfred talked about the stadium, the way Rob Manfred sometimes does.
• “We have never disagregated this market.”

• All Jake Odorizzi does is win [arbitration].

“Best Shape of His Life”

• Bill Chastain on Jose De Leon working with a new trainer.
• From Chastain’s notes, Wilson Ramos has lost at least 15 pounds, and Jake Odorizzi is doing pilates.

Other Links

• Jeff Sullivan wrote about “when super-teams fail,” and one of his examples is the 2008 Yankees. We all know what happened to the 2008 Yankees.
• An in-depth analysis of Michael Wacha, using BP’s pitch tunneling.
• The story Chris von der Ahe, St. Louis alcohol magnate and baseball owner of the late 1800s. I like the part about an Illinois watchman deciding he has no jurisdiction over a kidnapping that occured in Missouri.
• Jack Moore writes intelligently about the collusion in baseball of the late 1980s, and how it relates to our current moment.