Kevin Cash didn’t sugarcoat what his time in Cleveland meant to him.
As the Tampa Bay Rays prepare for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, Cash opened up about the stretch he spent with Cleveland before taking over as Tampa Bay’s manager in 2015. He worked there as a bullpen coach, and he made it clear the experience still matters to how he does his job now.
“Incredibly grateful for the opportunity that (the Guardians) gave me when I came over,” Cash said. “Learned a lot, got a lot thrown at me.
So many good people that put their arm around me and supported rather than… It's very easy to be critical of somebody not knowing what they're doing, or their first year at it. They were always that progressive mindset, growth mindset, doing everything to help support me.”
Cash said that role gave him a useful foundation for managing in Tampa Bay. He pointed to the demands of handling a bullpen as its own daily assignment, one that forced him to think about people management in real time.
“I do think the bullpen coach is different than other coaches in the fact that you are managing your own little group down there for three hours of a game,” Cash continued. “That helps with the managing people.”
The ALCS has been tight through two games, with the series tied 1-1. Now the focus shifts to Cleveland, where the next three games will be played. With Tampa Bay facing that road stretch, Cash’s decisions loom large.
Game 3 is set for 1 PM ET at Progressive Field.
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For Cleveland, the timing adds another layer to a series that already feels tense and finely balanced. The Guardians carried momentum from their Game 3 win, sparked by Petey Halpins key home run, and they are planning to go with Shawn Armstrong as an opener in the next game. Now the challenge is not just about matchups on the field, but about handling a schedule that suddenly asks everyone involved to pivot on short notice. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians ALCS Momentum Is Suddenly In MLBs Hands
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If the game does not go forward as planned, it would likely be pushed to Sunday, with Saturdays matchup still on the schedule. For the Guardians, who are trying to ride postseason momentum at home, the delay adds another layer of uncertainty to a series that has already become a test of patience as much as execution. [Read more 🡒]