MLB 23

[These Are The Days]

Is Kevin Cash better than Joe Maddon? I think so

In eight seasons on the job, Cash, 45, has led the Rays to a 640-554 record, a .536 winning percentage that is the best of the five Tampa Bay managers and — after starting with three losing seasons — four consecutive playoff berths, including a run to the 2020 World Series.

He is the second-longest tenured manager with his current team in the majors, behind good friend Terry Francona, who between age (64 in April) and health issues seems likely to soon retire in Cleveland.

More topically, when Cash completes this season, he will have been on the job as long as Maddon, whose tenure at one time seemed unlikely to be matched. Cash has the better record; both made four trips to the postseason and won two Manager of the Year awards.

“That’s pretty cool company," Cash said.

Despite being only 36 and never managing a game at any level when he got hired, Cash said he was confident in his own ability.

He recognized the promise of the situation he was walking into, taking over a team that had made the playoffs four times in six years before a 2014 dropoff. He had a commitment from ownership and management to get back to competing with the chance to grow along with the team. And he got a five-year contract to do so.

It's very close for me but I have a minor edge to Maddon for a pitiful purpose that I need to let go of. I think Joe would have had to sense to leave Blake Snell alone and we probably give ourselves a chance to win Game 6 of the World Series. Win or lose (even a Game 7 loss) if Cash leaves it alone I would say he's far better. It's just that it was SUCH a mistake in hindsight. It's probably the biggest mistake in Tampa sports history. Otherwise the amount of turnover and moving pieces every year is so hard to incorporate and we are consistently contenders despite this. He's had to make chicken salad out of chicken shit some years and we were always in it.

But we live in the now and he might just win MOTY again. And if we do win it all he's gonna be Rays GOAT manager for a long time around here

[Bootz]

Siri has some real power.

[Buc2]

The 08 Rays earned their success off of being opportunistic. Timely hitting, great pitching, elite defense. A lot of come from behind victories and capitalizing on mistakes. But they could be overmatched at any time and struggled offensively.

These Rays are simply dominant. They can put up runs in a hurry. The pitching is great. Defense still elite. Biggest difference between this team and the 08 team is they get run production all over the lineup. HRs don’t tell the entire story, but the 08 team had 7 guys finish with double digit HRs. This team already has 6 guys with double digit HRs and Wander Franco or Brandon Lowe aren’t in that group. We aren’t even at the All Star break yet. This team is probably more like 10 times better than the 08 squad.

Seemed like they had like 2 dozen walk offs that year. I gotta hand it to them, for a team that could strike out a lot, their situational hitting was fantastic. It's a shame it didn't carry over to 2009 (too bad they missed the playoffs entirely) and 2010 because they'd have probably at least gotten to the ALCS both years. It's crazy to think the 2023 Rays are probably even more consistent. I swear if we had Howell, Balfour and Bradford on this team we'd win 110.

It's entirely possible they'll win #50 tomorrow night

They're actually winning at a pace to hit 115 wins (before yesterday's loss that is). Only 2 teams have done that (116 for the 1906 Cubs & 2001 Mariners and neither won the WS), so I wouldn't bet on it. The most wins by a team that went on to win the WS was 114 by the 1998 Yankees.

[Kress]

Those damn A's are on a hot streak. A week ago they were 12-50 (obligatory lol pause), but now they win 6 in a row. Bastards.

[These Are The Days]

Seemed like they had like 2 dozen walk offs that year. I gotta hand it to them, for a team that could strike out a lot, their situational hitting was fantastic. It's a shame it didn't carry over to 2009 (too bad they missed the playoffs entirely) and 2010 because they'd have probably at least gotten to the ALCS both years. It's crazy to think the 2023 Rays are probably even more consistent. I swear if we had Howell, Balfour and Bradford on this team we'd win 110.

It's entirely possible they'll win #50 tomorrow night

They're actually winning at a pace to hit 115 wins (before yesterday's loss that is). Only 2 teams have done that (116 for the 1906 Cubs & 2001 Mariners and neither won the WS), so I wouldn't bet on it. The most wins by a team that went on to win the WS was 114 by the 1998 Yankees.

Meh. I'll take whatever it takes for the bye. I could give a damn less about setting a regular season wins record. See: Bruins, 2019-2020 Lightning, whatever that year was when GSW won 73 games.

[Buc2]

They're actually winning at a pace to hit 115 wins (before yesterday's loss that is). Only 2 teams have done that (116 for the 1906 Cubs & 2001 Mariners and neither won the WS), so I wouldn't bet on it. The most wins by a team that went on to win the WS was 114 by the 1998 Yankees.

Meh. I'll take whatever it takes for the bye. I could give a damn less about setting a regular season wins record. See: Bruins, 2019-2020 Lightning, whatever that year was when GSW won 73 games.

I'm sure that's how we all feel.

[Kress]

*whycan'twehavebothmeme*

[These Are The Days]

Death. Taxes. Can't beat Oakland. Lol we even got the night they pulled 27,000 in protest.


Sometimes it's just fate

[Buc2]

Death. Taxes. Can't beat Oakland. Lol we even got the night they pulled 27,000 in protest.


Sometimes it's just fate

Lost to a pitcher with an 8 ERA 2 days ago, only to lose to a worse pitcher with an 11 ERA yesterday.

[Bootz]

Hey look at the bright side. We won't have to worry about them in the playoffs.

[These Are The Days]

Hey look at the bright side. We won't have to worry about them in the playoffs.

You sick SOB. I love it

[These Are The Days]

Lol dude we're just gonna get every runner we have thrown out today aren't we

[Bootz]

Nice rebound by Glasnow and the Rays.

[These Are The Days]

Nice rebound by Glasnow and the Rays.

Did you see the splits on the A's? Like over half their wins are against .500 or better teams and the rest comes from their division. I know I'm citing it wrong but you get the idea. These dudes won't get out of bed for the Minnesota Twins but if you're 10 games over .500 it means war

I guess we shouldn't be surprised they beat us those 2 games

[Buc2]

Nice rebound by Glasnow and the Rays.

Did you see the splits on the A's? Like over half their wins are against .500 or better teams and the rest comes from their division. I know I'm citing it wrong but you get the idea. These dudes won't get out of bed for the Minnesota Twins but if you're 10 games over .500 it means war

I guess we shouldn't be surprised they beat us those 3 2 games {unless you've seen the future & the Rays lost today }

Interestingly, in the 1st 3-game series against them, the Rays won all 3 with a combined score of 31-5 which included 2 shutouts.

[Phantom]

Today’s is good day for the 50th win!!

[These Are The Days]

*Oakland ties it at 3*


NO DAMN IT! I MEANT BEAT US 2 GAMES NOT 3! I HAD A TYPO! A TYPO!!!



Oh God. Oh man. Oh God. Oh man.









It's all good. I wanna see the Rays fight back here

[Phantom]

Jesus Christ

[Phantom]

Today’s is good day for the 50th win!!

“Nice job Phantom!”

[Bootz]

Today’s is good day for the 50th win!!

“Nice job Phantom!”

You called it

[Phantom]

Damn, the Rays killin the Padres

51!!!

[Bootz]

What I love is that we can lose 1-2 in a row and then quickly rattle off a 3+ game win streak.

[Phantom]

Orioles lost

[Buc2]

This division is maddening. Rays are 29 games over .500. 29 games! Yet they only have a 6 game lead over the 2nd place Orioles after the Orioles lost yesterday. Meanwhile, Cleveland is 5 games under .500 but only 2.5 games out of 1st in their division. The last-place team in the AL East is currently sitting right at .500. Maddening I tell you.

[Phantom]

Jesus.. every time, Buc2 post. Rays lose

[Kress]

He's such a dick.

[Bootz]

Jesus.. every time, Buc2 post. Rays lose

So he’s only posted 23 times? I’d say that’s a great rate of posting.

[Phantom]

It was a joke.. dumbass. Read more…Post less sir

[Phantom]

Anyway, I’m looking forward to Orioles series. Top 2 teams in baseball

[Kress]

[Phantom]

Is anyone to Rays-Orioles game tonight?

[Bootz]

Rays are currently on their longest losing streak this season: 3 games.

[Buc2]

Rays are currently on their longest losing streak this season: 3 games.

Yes. And it feels like death. lol

[Kress]

Glasnow got lit up, but listening to him - and some professional analysis - still has me confident. It's not a physical thing, it's that his mechanics are still a bit wonky. He openly admitted that his front side wasn't there, meaning he's opening up with his glove side too early. That leads to the decreased velocity we're seeking (down about 2 mph), and it also makes him get under the ball with his throwing arm such that his breaking stuff tends to hang in the zone.

In other words, it's entirely fixable.

[Bootz]

Glasnow got lit up, but listening to him - and some professional analysis - still has me confident. It's not a physical thing, it's that his mechanics are still a bit wonky. He openly admitted that his front side wasn't there, meaning he's opening up with his glove side too early. That leads to the decreased velocity we're seeking (down about 2 mph), and it also makes him get under the ball with his throwing arm such that his breaking stuff tends to hang in the zone.

In other words, it's entirely fixable.

I'm not worried. His stuff has been really good early in his return. It's a process. His start last week vs the Rangers was phenomenal. Last night vs a dangerous Orioles team he didn't get away with some of.those pitches.