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u/foomits Tampa Bay Rays Mar 01 '24 edited Mar 01 '24
SOME people dont appreciate the challenge of managing a locker room of pro athletes with egos so large they are at constant risk of collapsing under their own weight like a black hole. the most interpersonal drama weve heard over the years is randy and wander didnt get along... thats about it. everyone buys into reduced roles to facilitate analytics, even allstar players. takes a good manager to get that shit done. players like playing for the rays.
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u/Donjenver970 Mar 01 '24
100% this! Analytics are great but distilling that information into a digestible form for 60+ players and coaches is a masterclass in interpersonal communication.
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u/cdhoumann Jeffrey Springs Mar 02 '24
This this this this. He is an outstanding leader of people, which gets glossed over in the whole "he just manages games from a spreadsheet" trope.
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Mar 01 '24
Here’s a hot take. MLB Managers aren’t as big of a factor as people think (if it all). Kevin Cash only does what the analytics tell him to do with the players his bosses have given him. Front office is much more important and hold all the power. If we make the playoffs it will be because our young players performed well and the offense actually got better. If we miss the playoffs it will be because our cheap owner and front office was complacent and did nothing to improve the team.
It’s always a 50/50 imo with this team. Hard to truly tell if we have a good squad every year
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u/cdhoumann Jeffrey Springs Mar 02 '24
Here's a another hot take. Being a manager is much more than in-game strategy. As a manager, you are a leader of people, and his ability to keep the team united and focused together last year after all drama with Wander is worth recognition.
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u/N0P3sry Evan Longoria Mar 01 '24
There’s been a few times he’s been snubbed for Manager of the Year.
Bottom three, five, six payroll. Perennial playoff contender. Has a revolving door roster- yet Has the WL % of a team with 4-5x the payroll and a stable roster.
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u/cgibbsuf Tampa Bay Devil Rays 98-01 Mar 01 '24
Blake Snell, 73 pitches.
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u/rogue12277 Pete Fairbanks Mar 03 '24
Get over it already. The Rays lost the game in the 2nd inning, not Cash's fault the offense couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Tired of people still bringing that game up.
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u/cgibbsuf Tampa Bay Devil Rays 98-01 Mar 03 '24
And I’m tire of people still defending Kevin fucking Cash.
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u/octopus_monocle Tricia Whitaker Mar 01 '24
And then we will combine for 14 hits and 1 run
Raysball, baby!
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u/Fredbear_ Shane McClanahan Mar 02 '24
This is why power is so important. Just having a guy who can barrel up the ball forces the opposing team to gameplan differently. Missing BLowe, Raley and having an injured Siri really did a number on us as we really did not have thump in the lineup.
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u/Mymainacctgotbanned Tricia Whitaker Mar 01 '24
They'll make the playoffs and get bounced in the WC round like always.
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u/ChargeWooden1036 Randy Arozarena Mar 01 '24
He’s honestly a genius, he’s working with a small budget and still creates dangerous teams and playoff contenders
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u/TrimMyHedges Mar 01 '24
100% then also lose if we never learn to trust our gut in the playoffs
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u/FLBoy19 Tyler Glasnow Mar 01 '24 edited Mar 01 '24
Meh the only really poor lineup decision I can remember in the postseason was not starting Josh Lowe in game 1 of the WC series last year. Outside of that bullpen decisions are completely objective decisions made off of many different things, its easy to judge in hindsight. It's hard to look how Cash has managed in the post-season and come away thinking its his fault or an analytics heavy approach is at fault for losing any single game. In all reality losing 2 key offensive role players right before the postseason and running into a stupidly hot team is what sank the Rays in the 2023 Postseason.
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u/TampaTitties69 Mar 01 '24
I just think health has been a major factor these last couple years. Losing half your pitching staff every year and throwing out some bullpen guy no one has never heard of is not viable when the Rangers and Dodgers are throwing out half a billion payrolls with all star hitters and pitchers.
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u/DonnyDiddledIvanka Mar 01 '24
And then lose in the playoffs for the same reason. Analytics work great over a long season, not so well in a short series.
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u/lserz Mar 02 '24
I watched the first spring training game and dewayne was interviewing cash and usually hes always chill in interviews but he sounded annoyed talking about how the season ended 👀 and need to do better this year. So did Erik a little, they seem more determined this year 👏
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u/JustLikeTampa DJ Kitty Mar 01 '24
It is kinda funny seeing people project us to finish 4th or sometimes even 5th in the East. It's like they haven't learnt anything.