MLB Roundup 10/10: Kevin Cash gets extension

Kevin Cash gets an extension through 2024

Tuesday was a big day for the top three American League East teams, apparently. For the Red Sox, they were celebrating their advancement to the ALCS. For the Yankees, they were mourning the end of their season. The Rays have been at home since the end of the regular season, but that didn’t stop them from extending manager Kevin Cash through the 2024 season. Look, I’m as ready to take shots at the Rays as anyone, and I think some of their celebration of this season has been a little silly. That being said, it was undeniably a great year for Tampa Bay, and Cash was a big part of that. Whatever you think of the “opener” strategy, not only did it work but players completely bought into it. I don’t think Cash ever got enough credit simply for getting his pitching staff to go along with it. Cash, a former Red Sox catcher of course, is one of the best young manager’s in the game. It’s definitely not a good thing that he’ll be in the American League East for the foreseeable future.

The Arizona Fall League kicks off

For all but four fanbases around the league, there is nothing to be excited about as a baseball fan this time of year. It’s too early for offseason wheeling and dealing, but there is also no actual baseball to watch. Well, for prospect fans anyway one of the best times of year kicked off on Tuesday. Every year in Arizona teams send a handful of prospects out to the desert to form a little six-team league. There are a lot of top prospects there every year, and it’s a place where breakouts can solidify their status and disappointments can right the ship. The Red Sox players this year are playing on the Mesa Solar Sox, and a few made appearances in the season opener. Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey both started in the middle of Mesa’s lineup, with the former going 0-2 with two walks and two strikeouts, while the latter went 1-3 with a strikeout and 3 RBI. The most impressive prospect was Darwinzon Hernandez, however, as he tossed two scoreless innings on just one hit with five strikeouts. Mike Shawaryn also came in for a scoreless inning with a strikeout to pick up a save.

Obviously, we are focused on the playoff run above everything else here, but we will stay locked in to the AFL a bit. Right now I’m thinking of a weekly wrap-up but I’m not married to the idea.