For the Tampa Bay Rays, the off-season accolades continue as manager Kevin Cash has voted American League Manager of the year.
Cash received 22 of the 30 first-place votes and beat out Rick Renteria of the White Sox, Charlie Montoya of Toronto, and Bob Melvin of Oakland.
Cash led the Rays to one of the best seasons in franchise history, guiding the Rays to a 40-20 record and .667 win percentage.
The Rays won the American League East title for the first time since 2010. Cash led the Rays to their second World Series appearance in franchise history losing to the LA Dodgers in six games.
Cash is the second manager in Rays history to win the Manager of the Year award. Joe Madden won the award twice, in 2008 and 2011.
Cash, who has a career .522 win percentage, the best in franchise history, finished third in the voting the last two seasons.
Kevin Keirmaier tweeted out what made Cash such a great manager for the Rays. “Letting guys be themselves. Just asks and expect that you turn it on come every night at 7 o’clock. Not many rules, either, which guys love. We just ask that guys don’t cross that line and abuse what we have going on. Fun environment to be a part of.”
Cash said his biggest challenge this season was overcoming the onslaught of injuries that hit the Rays throughout the Rays 60 game season.
Cash attributed his success this season to his trust in the guys and just letting them play baseball. “Staying out of the way and letting those guys do what they’re good at,” Cash said.
Cash also credited the coaching staff, one that he calls the best in baseball.
Cash was asked again about the decision to pull Blake Snell in the sixth inning of game six of the World Series after he had given up two hits.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever not think about that decision. And I probably owe it to myself and the organization to continue to think about it and make sure all the information we get helps us make the best decisions going forward.”
The Rays will have a lot of decisions to make this off-season as the winter meetings approach.
-Find a starter to replace Charlie Morton.
-Acquire two catchers as Ronaldo Hernandez is the only Cather on the roster.
Those are the two biggest concerns on this Rays club right now as free agency heats up.
