Saturday, 4 a.m.
One was a minor league catcher no one had ever heard of. One was a weak-hitting catcher few people remembered.
They ran into each other here at the corner of overachievement and underfunded.
Joe Maddon. Kevin Cash.
Two men, one job.
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Here in Tampa Bay, we fight over our leaders. You can still get into a tiff over whether Tony Dungy or Jon Gruden was more successful with the Bucs. Their voices are fading, but there are some people who would suggest that as good as Jon Cooper has been, John Tortorella was better. Around here, we salute one general at a time.
So who is better? Maddon? Or Cash.
Let's see. In nine seasons with the Rays, Madden went to four playoffs and one World Series, which he lost. Going into his ninth season, Cash has gone to four playoffs and one World Series, which he lost. Maddon was the AL manager of the year twice (he won it once in the NL) and was in the top five three other years. Cash has been the AL manager of the year twice, and he's been in top six three other times.
Maddon won 754 games here. Cash has won 640 in one fewer season, but his winning percent (.536) is ahead of Maddon's (.517).
So who do you want to manage your team.
Oh, speaking as a reporter, Maddon was a godsend to cover. You could ask him about anything -- what he was reading, what he was listening to, which of his players had the best swing planes). Fans rapped him for being a wine-drinker, but he would point out that, hey, he likes beer, too.
If you are going to vote for Maddon, it's probably because of this. When he came to the Rays, they had never heard of winning. Maddon changed everything. He shook up the culture in the clubhouse, and he changed the expectations.
Then there is Cash, an honest, forthright man who, like Madden, doesn't think a team's success rate should be dictated by its payroll. Injured or not, flawed or not, he expects to win.
What do they have in common. They have succeeded against the big-money boys from New York and Boston. They have survived mostly empty stadiums. They have gotten by emphasizing pitching and defense.
For purposes of this conversation, I haven't mentioned Maddon's time in Chicago or Anaheim. Let's just talk about when they were here.
Right now, I still have Maddon a half-step ahead of Cash. But this year could be the difference. If he can survive with this batting lineup, if he can get close to 90 wins, he'll take over as the best the Rays have ever had.
The truth of it is that the franchise was darned lucky to have them both.
But that's just reason, and who wants to hear any of that?