Call to the pen
Fansided

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash is not the only one to blame

By Ryota Nishino

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays to win the 2020 MLB World Series on October 27, 2020. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays to win the 2020 MLB World Series on October 27, 2020. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Willy Adames of the Rays strikes out and is the final out of the 2020 World Series.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Willy Adames, another young infielder, failed to produce like he did in the regular season

The energetic 25-year-old shortstop, Willy Adames, had another solid regular season for the Tampa Bay Rays. The young Rays infielder just finished his third season in the majors and he has surprisingly been producing on the offensive side of the game with a career .262 batting average and .755 OPS.

But Adames failed to make an impact in the lineup during the entire postseason including the World Series. Adames did his job on defense as the starting shortstop at such a young age but when you have multiple players in the lineup strugling, it adds up.

In the World Series, Adames got on base just three times all from hits. Like Lowe, Adames struck out often in the World Series and was not able to draw any walks. Especially as a bottom of the lineup hitter, you would hope Adames could find his way on base however he could.

Adames was able to get on base in the regular season at a decent rate when he posted a .332 OBP but it did not translate in the postseason. It is also interesting because Adames did draw 13 walks prior to the World Series, but just could not control the strike zone against the Dodgers.

Adames finished the 2020 postseason hitting .136 with a .301 OBP. Adames’ offensive woes were front and center during the entire postseason like Lowe but the Rays do not have much wiggle room to keep Adames out of the lineup.

Joey Wendle can play shortstop but Adames is a better defensive option and Wendle would often be in the starting lineup playing third base. There were rumors that Rays top prospect Wander Franco could be called up especially since Adames had been struggling.

Calling up Franco to the World Series roster was really the only alternative to Adames if the Rays wanted to make a change. But as we know, Franco was still left off the roster and they stuck with Adames. This might have been another big mistake the Rays made.

But what we know is that Adames struggled and could not play like he did in the regular season just like his double play partner, Brandon Lowe. Had Lowe and Adames played like their regular season selves, it could have made a huge difference.

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