Let me first say, I like me some Kevin Cash. Seems like a real personable guy.

Will he be a good manager?  Depends if he has good players. Period.

Cash has made a point to reach out to a lot of current Rays players and get that process started. He did that the day after he got the job.

“They have been probably the highlight of the entire process, getting the opportunity to connect with them.” Cash told me. I saw him chat with Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. at his introductory press conference at the Trop. Cash thought it was cool that Odorizzi wanted to wait in line to talk with him.

Again, Cash will only be as successful as to what he’s given to work with. Case in point. Joe Torre.

Who was Torre before he became the NY Yankees skipper?   A dud. Look, Torre was the Mets manager from 1977-81, losing record every year, canned. Braves skipper starting in 1982, 89-73, swept in the 82 National League Championship Series. Ok, good. In 1983 the Braves went 88-74. In 1984 The Bravos slipped a little and Torre was fired. Torre managed the Cards from 1990-95, never made the playoffs and Torre was given the pink slip.  Torre with the Yankees? Post season appearances every year from 1996-2007 and won ten American League East titles, six American League pennants, four World Series titles. Catch my drift?

Cash thinks the Rays have good pitching and it all starts there. It’s up to Silverman and the scouting department to bring some juice into that Rays lineup.  

I asked Rays baseball boss Matt Silverman why he would go with a young guy with no managerial experience? “I  don’t think of it as outside the box,” said Silverman. “It’s ok if it’s characterized that way.” Silverman went on to say that Cash wanted this gig so badly and he saw that Cash has a lot of energy and just plain connects with people. “He’s someone who can get the most out of our players.”

I could see that. It’s a nice story so far.

Yes, he’s won the press conferences, but they don’t count.

Oh, he plans on throwing batting practice and hitting fungos to some position players. As far as putting on the gear at spring training? Gotta check out my interview here to find out that answer.