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Rays journal: Kevin Cash appreciates versatility in lineup

 
Published Aug. 12, 2018|Updated Aug. 12, 2018

BY KEEGAN MATHESON
Times Correspondent

TORONTO — On a Rays roster stacked with rookie talent and a steady stream of new faces, players like Joey Wendle and Daniel Robertson have made manager Kevin Cash's life a bit easier.

Their ability to play multiple positions has allowed Cash to move his younger players around them more freely, which opens up plenty of lineup possibilities. Having them together was the perfect scenario for Cash, but that's become more difficult with Robertson on the disabled list.

"Before he got hurt, the combination of those two guys really provided a lot of offense and provided a ton of defense for us," Cash said. "Their versatility would help any manager."

Wendle fills a unique role for the Rays as a 28-year-old rookie. He's recently been through the same minor-league grind that the younger rookies have, but he still has the age and experience to act as a team leader.

"He's not your typical 22, 23 year old. He's had some more experiences at Triple A and some experiences at the big-league level, probably not to this extent where he's playing so consistently. He's got a little more maturity for a rookie," Cash said.

Cash has primarily used Wendle at second base in 2018, but he's also seen time in leftfield, at third base, and at shortstop. Robertson, when healthy, plays across the infield and can fill in as a corner outfielder in a pinch.

Rest for Bauers

Cash left Jake Bauers out of the starting lineup on Saturday after taking an 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Friday's opener, but it was strictly a workload decision for the 22-year-old.

"I know they're young and they want to play, but I felt this was a good time," Cash said. "We've got an off day on Monday, maybe freshen him up a little bit. He's done such a good job for us defensively and, obviously, at the plate. We've asked a lot of him."

Bauers entered the game as a defensive replacement at first base in the eighth and grounded out in his lone at-bat, which advanced Willy Adames to second base and set him up to score the insurance run.

Adames developing

SS Willy Adames has been putting in some extra time with Charlie Montoya lately to work on his defense, and that work is starting to show on the field. Cash likes the confidence he's seen in Adames' game lately, which is translating to his readiness at the plate.

"When you're ready to hit fastballs, in theory, you're ready to hit everything," Cash said. "That's what we're seeing."

The offensive and defensive sides of Adames' game are still tied to one another, which Cash wants his young players to separate so that one doesn't drag the other down.

"For a young player it goes hand in hand. You want to get to a point where you're able to separate those two things," Cash said, "but for any young player, it's got to weigh on their mind. When one is not performing at the level you want, it can take a toll on the other."

This and that

Friday's series opener was the first time in Rays history that the club started rookies at catcher and all four infield positions. … Thanks to the "opener" strategy, the Rays are on pace to blow by the all-time MLB record for relief innings. The 2012 Rockies hold the record at 657, but Tampa Bay is on pace to clear that by well over 100.