Outside the Box     

   Leaders in countless professions could learn from 
Kevin Cash, 41, manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. 
Cash was one of three men up for American League "manager of the year" by the Baseball Writers' Association. The other two were Yankees' Aaron Boone and Cash's disciple, Rocco Baldelli of the Twins. 

   Rays players, management and opposing managers all voiced praise for Cash, who made the cut for the second straight year. Like the Heisman trophy in football, the criteria for best manager is not specifically defined.

   Every batter gets three strikes, but before the season's first pitch, some teams have more than $200 million to spend on salaries, while the Rays have about 30 percent of that. Guess which team the Rays have to play 19 times.

   Like the Yankees, the Rays had a slew of injuries in 2019. For several weeks, only one of their starting pitchers was active. An infielder candidate for rookie of the year was unavailable about half the season.

   Baseball people credit Cash with creating a "comfortable culture" and for "inspiring leadership." While winning is priority No. 1, he wants his players to have fun.

   He "sets the tone consistently of energy and competitiveness," is a "wonderful communicator and is able to establish buy-in on what he wants." Cash is "authentic and sincere." 

   Over the summer, he used his bench and bullpen - 603 relief appearances - and "went well outside the box." He made "bold decisions," was "unpredictable" (an advantage), and has "the humility to learn from moves" that fail. 

   In the clubhouse, Cash is "approachable and communicative. He connects with everyone. He's open to new ideas (and the handling of disagreements with his bosses) and can sense which players can take a joke and which need to be encouraged. All egos, including his own, are pushed aside."
  
   So it is no surprise that Cash immediately called his student, Baldelli, to congratulate him, even though the writers' choice was a surprise. Two other managers also are Cash disciples.  

      Jimmy