Rays' Cash makes no apologies for criticizing umps after Tuesday's loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash stands by his critical comments about a first-inning call in Tuesday night's 7-6, 10-inning loss to Seattle.
Cash said after the game that a safe call at the plate for Seattle -- allowed to stand after a video review -- was "terrible and "embarrassing."
"But I don't want to take away anything, we got beat by the Mariners," Cash said before Wednesday's game with Seattle. "I definitely don't want that to get confused. They got the big hits, made the big pitches. We did also, they just made more of them."
It appeared that Rays catcher Rene Rivera blocked the plate and tagged out Seth Smith after a grounder to pitcher Alex Colome.
The safe called stood, but was not confirmed, after officials in New York looked at the play for almost three minutes.
Cash was also unhappy when Joey Butler, who was on first base in the seventh inning, was stopped at third and not awarded home when a call on Evan Longoria's drive into the left-field corner was changed from a foul ball to a double.
"It could have gone either way," Cash said Wednesday after reviewing the play. "I do understand that one. Just factor in the left fielder being on the ground, the ball jets away 10, 12 feet, whatever it was. The biggest factor was the guy is on the ground."
When asked if he thinks he will get fined for his comments, Cash said "I hope I don't."
"Do I care? Yeah, I care," he said.
