Brock’s Random Thoughts: Kevin Cash Should Go

I needed a couple of days to let my anger subside so I could form coherent sentences after the debacle that happened on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

The Los Angeles Dodgers won their first World Series title since 1988 when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6, winning the series 4 games to 2.

Congratulations to the Dodgers, they deserved to win the series.  And I'm happy for Clayton Kershaw that he finally gets his World Series ring.  The only problem is:  There should have been a Game 7.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (pictured above) lost the series when he removed his best pitcher, Blake Snell, from the game in the 6th inning with the Rays leading 1-0 and a runner on first with one out.  Reliever Nick Anderson then proceeded to give up the lead and the game in that same inning.

It was obvious to everyone except Kevin Cash that he made the wrong decision.  But the reason he gave for taking Snell out was ridiculous---"I didn't want him (Snell) to face the Dodgers order a third time."

Huh????!!!!!  What???!!!!!   Snell was throwing a two-hit shutout in 5 1/3 innings at only 73 pitches!!!!  He had barely been touched!

But because Cash (and a lot of other MLB managers) are beholden to baseball analytics, you get dumbass moves like you saw Tuesday night.

There was a national sports talk host named Bob Kemp (who used to be on The Game 730 AM back in the 90's) who voiced the best job description for a coach/manager:  "The job of the head coach is to put the players in the best possible position to win that game.  And when you don't, you're cheating your players, your organization, and your fans."

Cash did not fulfill his obligation to his teams and his fans by taking Snell out.  And the worst part is, Cash didn't apologize for the move and didn't think he did anything wrong!

Kevin Cash is signed through 2024 with the Rays.  But I don't care, pulling Snell in that situation is a fireable offense.  Managers aren't paid to make moves that lose games like he did Tuesday night.  They're paid to win games.  He tried to lose the game on Tuesday and he succeeded by pulling his best pitcher.  Kevin Cash should be fired, plain and simple.