By all accounts, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash is a measured man. Careful with his words and not flashy and elaborate with his moves on the baseball diamond, Cash is seen as reasonable and calculated.
The last week of April is guaranteed to test his patience. Before setting out on a 6-game western swing to Phoenix and San Diego, the Rays were mired with a 9-13 record and dropped the opening game of the trip. That created a rather dire level of concern.
More importantly, the Rays were sinking in the AL East and had not fared well in George Steinbrenner Field. Following a four-game set with the New York Yankees in Tampa on April 20, the Rays home record was 9-9.
Then, the next two series were scheduled in high-powered NL West-friendly confines. All of which was guaranteed to test Cash’s baseball acumen and patience.
At times, there is a predictability to his moves. Cash is a firm “match-up” general and his steps in a baseball game tend to be anticipated. Given his baseball acumen, there is no guard against his team’s performance between the white lines. All Cash can do his push the right buttons and hope for a high level of execution.
In the first month of the baseball season, his club showed a propensity for balancing the see-saw. There have been moments of joy and adulation and equal bouts with futility and ineptitude. To date, the Rays have not put together any dramatic run and laced consecutive games with an aerial bombardment.
“This game is tough and it’s tough for guys with been here for a long time,” Cash told Sportco during the recent Ariona series. “To date, it kind of feels like this team was transitioned.”
Over the initial month of the season, the Rays had not bunched wins together. A few factors here could be an anemic offense and starting pitching performing on an even basis.
The longest winning streak occurred over the opening week. That’s when the Rays pieced three in a row with two victories over the Rockies and one against the Pirates.
Until late April.
In taking 2-of-3 from the Diamondbacks in the desert and sweeping the Padres at Petco, the Rays won consecutive series for the first time since late last September. That’s when the Rays took 2-of-3 from Boston and swept the Bue Jays in three at Tropicana Field. They won five straight only twice last season.
“The wins are important,” Cash told FanDuel Sports after Sunday’s 4-2 win in San Diego. “We were all frustrated a little bit and with the way we performed, or lack. We had a 13-game home stand, and going back for only three against a very good Kansas City Royals team. We want to continue to play good baseball, and I’m really impressed with the way the guys rebounded. They got on a plane, flushed what took place (at Steinbrenner) and won two series against two really good teams.”
After the coming short home stand against the Royals, the Rays then engage three straight playoff teams with three in New York against the Yankees and three each at home against the Phillies and Brewers.
Given the character of this team and their collective ability to rebound on the road may push the envelope. By mid-May, the inconsistencies in production and reliable pitching may surface once again.
Or, the Rays could exorcise those demons
Next … The Kansas City Royals provide the next competition on a short three-game set. In the opener on Tuesday night, it’s right Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08 ERA) taking on righthander Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90). Lorenzen tossed a no-hitter in 2023 for the Phillies and became the eighth pitcher in major league history to accomplish that feat after switching teams in mid-season. On Wednesday night, it’s righty Drew Rasmussen for the Rays (1-1, 210) and the Royals are undecided. In the finale Thursday afternoon, look for righty Shane Baz (3-0, 2.45) taking on right-hander Seth Lugo (2-3, 3.08).
