High & Inside: 5/14/11

Baseball links from around the sabersphere...

• On the Beat: The Rays Shine Again | Baseball Prospectus
  

  The Rays have won 21 of 28 games since their 1-8 start and are now 22-15 and in first place in the American League East, one game ahead of the Yankees. It's quite a turnaround for a team that seemed on a path back to oblivion, having only risen in 2008 to win an improbable AL pennant in their 11th year of existence after never having won more than 70 games in a season.

• Nomar, Vlad: model for quick signings | The BOOK Blog
  

  Anyway, if Hossmer is as good as advertised, then 30MM$ to buy out his arb years would seem to be the industry standard (if he signs today).

• The Worst 3-Home Run Games Since 1950 | JunkStats
  A look at the three players, since 1950, who had three homers in a game with a negative WPA.
• Between the Numbers: Good Days for Debuts | Baseball Prospectus
  

  The best players debut early in the season, replacement-level types come up during the summer, and finally there are some decent September call-ups.

• Thoughts On Bartolo Colon And His Success | Red Sox Beacon
  

  There is nothing in his career that says he can sustain that Lee-esque performance, but other than the fact that it isn’t consistent with past performance, there is nothing in his peripherals to indicate a fall is coming.

More links after the jump...

• Chacin In The Clutch | Baseball Analytics Blog
  

  Opposing batters hit .212 against Jhoulys Chacin (COL) this season, but only .071 (2 for 28) with runners in scoring position.

• Searching the low SIERAs | ESPN SweetSpot Blog
  

  If, by looking at last year’s SIERAs relative to actual ERA, you had come up with a list of the 10 biggest differences between a SIERA lower than an ERA, Shields would have ranked third among all pitchers with 90 or more innings pitched -- an interpretive suggestion that he was due for better things in 2011.

• Carlos Beltran’s Trade Value | Fangraphs
  

  Beltran does have value to a possible trade partner above simply his WAR-per-dollar value. However, most of the return on a Beltran trade will likely depends on how much cash the Mets are willing and able to send along.

• Making sense of Bud Norris | The Hardball Times
  A look at Bud Norris.
• Prospectus Q&A: Kevin Youkilis | Baseball Prospectus
  An interview with Kevin Youkilis.