MIDLAND -- Through his first 13 games with the Loons, Blake Smith was batting a robust .320.  So, to what can we attribute this great start?  A guilty musical pleasure, perhaps?

"Rihanna 'Rude Boy.' I've been listening to that every day for about a week," admitted Smith.  "So, I would say that, or maybe some Tik-Tok."

The talented 22 year-old is serious about his music, and his tastes are pretty diverse.  So, what should we expect to find on his I-Pod?

"A little bit of everything," said Smith.  "I got a lot of rap. You know, I'm from Northern California so I got some Bay Area rap. Got stuff that mostly nobody has heard about. A little country, a little bit of some Latin stuff that Pedey Guerrero's put on my I-Pod for me. So, little bit of everything."

Even though it's still early in the season, we're guessing that Blake's teammates have already learned that they'd better get to the clubhouse buffet before he does.

"Favorite food? Honestly, everything. I eat everything, a lot of it."

Smith is a key component of a Loons squad which was third in the league in both batting average and slugging percentage through Wednesday night, and he expects the team to remain a threat at the plate all season long.

"We're hitting the ball well. And you know, we're gonna hit the ball well this year," said Smith.  "We got a solid lineup, one through nine. You know, I think that's our strength."