For the second year in a row, Kevin Cash is the American League Manager Of The Year, and in the process of winning the award, has made baseball history.
With Cash winning the award, he becomes only the second manager in MLB history to be named Manager Of The Year in two consecutive seasons. He is also the first manager to win the award for two straight seasons in the American League.
Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves was the first manager to win the award in consecutive seasons. That was in 2004 and 2005.
Cash is very honored to have his name mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary Bobby Cox. “I shouldn’t be in the same sentence, shouldn’t be in the same conversation, none of it. Very humbling. When you think of major league managers, or really the greats in this game, Bobby Cox is going to find himself at the top of many lists. To be able to share something really, really small with him is pretty special. Very, very honored to be in the same breath.”
Cash went on to say that the one thing among others that separates him from Bobby Cox is a World Series ring.
Cash led the Rays to the playoffs for a third consecutive season, winning a franchise record 100 games, and was a finalist for the Manager Of The Year Award for the fourth straight season.
Cash has the best winning percentage of any manager in Ray’s history with a .537 win percentage. (554-478).
He is well-liked and respected inside the Rays clubhouse for his cool and calm approach to the game, and according to Rays Rookie Of The Year Randy Arozarena, “He always has his players backs.”
Cash was quick to credit the players for the teams’ success this season. “I’m most proud of the players and the team and the accomplishment of the regular season. One hundred wins in the American League East, with the talent level that was top to bottom in our division, pretty remarkable.”
The Rays went 51-26 against Boston, New York, Toronto, and Baltimore, one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
Cash beat out Seattle skipper Scott Servais and Houston manager Dusty Baker to win the award.
Even though this season ended up short of a World Series appearance, this was undoubtedly the best job that Kevin Cash has done managing this ball club.
Losing Tyler Glasnow in June for the rest of the season. Not having closer Nick Anderson till late September. Having only one All-Star offensive player in catcher Mike Zunino, yet managing to finish with the third highest run differential (206).
This all speaks to the ability of Kevin Cash to get the most out of the players on the roster. No other team could have overcome the number of injuries and setbacks this Rays team had during the 2021 season and enjoyed the success the team had.
Kevin Cash was able to get this Ray’s team to perform despite losing some key players. And that is why he is the best manager in baseball for the second consecutive season.
