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Evan Longoria, yet again, shows why he's the Rays' quiet leader

 
Evan Longoria is doused Tuesday by Steven Souza Jr. after he became only the second player to hit for the cycle in Rays history.
Evan Longoria is doused Tuesday by Steven Souza Jr. after he became only the second player to hit for the cycle in Rays history.
Published Aug. 3, 2017

HOUSTON — The way Evan Longoria completed just the second cycle in the Rays' 20 seasons on Tuesday made it an even more noteworthy accomplishment, busting out of the box, putting his head down and all-out hustling his way to the ninth-inning double that — after a replay reversal — made history.

Teammates cheered loudly from the bench. Manager Kevin Cash joked that his third baseman looked like speedster Mallex Smith turning first.

Longoria's wife, Jaime, chimed in on Twitter, noting "I've never seen such speed and determination from him on a double."

Longoria is doing a lot for the Rays these days.

And it couldn't come at a better time.

As their longest-tenured, highest-paid and best-resumed player, Longoria is leading the way on and off the field for the Rays as they battle for their first playoff berth since 2013.

What he has done at the plate is obvious, heating up as Rays All-Star Corey Dickerson and deserving Logan Morrison have cooled. Even after Longoria's 0-for-5 in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Astros, he's hitting .337 with five homers, 17 RBIs and a .979 OPS in his past 25 games.

Plus his average has gotten better in each month — .208 in April, .272 in May, .283 in June, .320 in July, putting him at .273-17-65-.787 overall.

"I always feel like I play better in the second half, that it takes me a little while to heat up," Longoria said. "Sometimes that's tough to deal with because I feel like maybe we could've won a couple more games if I was more productive early on. But I've gotten into that 'midseason form' and continue to feel a little better, and hopefully I can continue that."

But what he does in the clubhouse, usually out of public view, is equally if not more significant.

"Evan does a good job of leading this club and making sure that everybody is not only doing what they're supposed to do to win ball games but having the right perspective," said starter Alex Cobb, the next most-tenured Ray. "So we kind of lean on him. He's been here when this team went to the World Series, and keeping that loose environment in here is the most important thing.

"Evan is a pro at everything he does. He has that calming effect when he does hold those team meetings. He knows the right things to say. And he asks the right questions when there are front office or coaching staff in those meetings.

"He puts things in perspective in a really good way."

Longoria, 31, said he primarily addresses issues he sees on the field, such as lapses in fundamentals, like missing a cutoff man; or decision-making, such as blundering on the bases, reminding of the importance of doing things right.

His theory is that it's better for the offending player to hear it from a teammate than a coach. Reciprocally, he said he makes clear he welcomes feedback when he makes mistakes.

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But Longoria, in his 10th season, seeks to provide motivation and reassurance, drawing on his been-there, done-that background, which will be especially valuable over these next two months as the Rays experience the highs, lows and scrutiny of being in a playoff race.

"Usually it's more so to remind guys we are a good team," he said Wednesday. "We've had some moments where we've been really good for a period of time and then we go into a funk and start to press. Those are the times."

That Longoria does so quietly and without attracting — or seeking — attention for some reason draws occasional criticism from fans and outsiders, perhaps expecting him to be more like Warren Sapp. (No offense, Gerald McCoy).

That spiked emotion can work in football but typically not in baseball, where players and coaches strive to maintain equilibrium based on the volume of games. The low-key approach is the more appropriate way to lead and definitely more in line with Longoria's personality.

"I want to be looked at as one of the leaders in here, but being loud has never been my style," he said.

"As I've gotten older, I'm definitely quicker to point out when I think something isn't being done the right way. Or when there are situations that arise during the game, I'm quicker to either address it right there during the game or wait until the right moment after the game to point things out."

The Rays would be wise to follow his lead.

Marc Topkin can be reached at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @ TBTimes_Rays.