Cash, Rays trying to figure this out

TAMPA, Fla. – Right now, the Tampa Bay Rays are not a very good team and threaten a deep descent into baseball purgatory. With only weeks into the present campaign, the season seems to be spinning out of control and there is no life preserver in sight.

The core issue is a lack of offense, and the personnel that field manager Kevin Cash is putting out every night appears weak and ineffectual. At this point, the Rays have no true power hitter,r and Jonathan Aranda, who is batting in the power four-hole, would likely hit seventh or eighth on another team.

Plus, Cash has had to juggle personnel in the outfield and production, as a result, is minimal. That’s because Jonny DeLuca, out with a right shoulder strain since April 8, outfielder Josh Lowe, sidelined with right oblique strain since March 29, and Richie Palacios, out with right knee strain since April 18, have all compromised Cash’s ability to field a competitive and productive batting order.

In games between April 19 and May 11, the Rays have scored five or more runs in any contest only three times and one was a 7-6 loss to the Phillies on May 3. In games through May 11, the Rays have hit 32 homers and only Kansas City, Toronto and Texas in the American League have hit fewer. Plus, the Rays have driven in 132 runs and that remains only above the Orioles, White Sox and Rangers production.

“What is taking place, and they know just as much (as the media), that the offense is not firing right now,” Cash said after the Rays dropped a 4-2 decision to the Brewers on May 11. “It’s not rolling right now. It’s a struggle to score runs and everybody is putting added weight going up to the plate. They’re probably trying to do a little more than they need to do and are capable, at times. We have had some good at-bats but not enough in between those at-bats to get more pressure. If we are able to get separation in some games, that would be really nice.”

Translated, Cash refers to execution and the ability to produce key hits and execute pitches.

Neither were present in that series finale against Milwaukee and that could serve as a microcosm of the Rays’ current failure.

In taking the defeat on May 11, starter Drew Rasmussen told reporters his lack of execution was a deciding factor in dropping that series finale. In yielding back-to-back homers to Christian Yelich and Wiliam Contreras with one out in the fourth, those bombs pushed the Brewers into a lead they did not relinquish.

“Yeah, there were two balls right up in the middle, they put on good swings and they ran them out of the yard,” Rasmussen said quietly afterward. “The game is very easy in theory and more difficult in execution. These were two pitches that stayed in the middle instead of going to the location. They did damage to mistakes.”

If the execution on the mound needs to be nearly perfect in challenging times, execution, as well, from the offensive side must be equally precise. At this point, the Rays lack of hitting in the clutch and not driving the ball into the power alleys and into the corners are obvious

The extent of the offense in that May 11 defeat to Milwaukee could portend the future. Lead-off hitter Chandler Simpson slapped a pair of singles into center field and with his speed, stretched both into doubles during his 2-for-4 afternoon. The first two-bagger in the opening inning helped the Rays manufacture their first run and the game, and prompted Simpson to identify the need to pass the baton among hitters.

“Everyone wants to get the runners over and get them in,” Simpson said. “That’s the name of the game and how you play baseball. So, guys do want to do that, but it’s hard not be calm in those situations, able to think ‘small’ and execute.”

Getaway day … After Sunday’s game, the Brewers and Rays hit the road. Milwaukee travels to Cleveland and a three-game set with the Guardians. Tampa Bay heads north of the border and three in Toronto. … Here are the match-ups for that series. In the opener on Tuesday night, look for righty Shane Baz (3-2, 4.93) to oppose righthander Jays’ Jose Berrios (1-1, 3.86). On Wednesday night, it’s righty Ryan Pepiot (2-4, 3.86) taking on right-hander Chris Bassett (3-2, 3.35). In the Thursday afternoon finale, righty Zack Littell (2-5, 4.40) takes on right-hander Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.97). Then, the Rays head to Miami for the weekend and three with the Marlins.

The post Cash, Rays trying to figure this out first appeared on Through The Fence Baseball.

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