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Tampa Bay Rays: Takeaways from World Series Defeat in Game 6

By Jonathan Northall |
Oct 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) walks off the field after he pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) walks off the field after he pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) walks off the field after he pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) walks off the field after he pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Rays failed to win Game 6 and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series for the first time since 1988.

A 3-1 defeat in Game 6 saw the Tampa Bay Rays’ chance of extending the series disappear. The game itself will be remembered, firstly, for manager Kevin Cash pulling Blake Snell despite the starting pitcher dominating the Dodgers’ offense.

Also, news of Dodgers’ third baseman Justin Turner being removed from the game in the eighth inning due to a positive COVID-19 test gave the series a 2020-style denouement.

Cash will be explaining his reasoning for sticking to his well-tested plan of protecting pitchers from a third cycle of batters for a while. Some on social media, and other more experienced voices, are expressing that his move has cost the Rays the World Series.

Mookie Betts was quick to point out, in his postgame interview, that this moment was the time that Dodgers felt they could exploit. Comments such as that won’t help the Rays manager’s justification of the tried, tested and regularly success plan when Snell was pitching so well.

Here are some takeaways from the World Series:

Created plenty of opportunities in Game 6 and failed to capitalise

The Rays had a great start to Game 6 and had chances to add to Randy Arozarena‘s home run in the first inning, extending his rookie record. Tony Gonsolin was soon seen off, but the hits dried up. Having resorted to their bullpen early, the Dodgers relief pitchers were on their game.

In both the first and second inning, the Rays left batters on first and second base. Both needed to be converted to heap pressure on the Dodgers. However, runs weren’t forthcoming and the Dodgers were only 1-0 behind despite being outplayed early.

It has been the story of the last two games; Rays start fast then run out of steam. They had plenty of hits against Clayton Kershaw and Gonsolin but couldn’t turn them into runs. Also, there were too many Rays hitters who looked like they couldn’t get the ball to the infield. You can’t do that and expect to win. There is plenty of work to be done in the off-season for batters like Willy Adames. It was almost no accident that Adames was the last out; his woes were symptomatic of the Rays’ problems.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash takes starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) out of the game during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash takes starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) out of the game during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Pulling Blake Snell was a mistake

Kevin Cash will rue this decision for a very long time. Plans are there for a reason; deviating from the plan is always an option.

Critics of the Rays say that their play is too formulaic. Well, it’s got them to the World Series. However, Snell was pitching so dominantly and keeping the Dodgers at bay. They did not look like scoring off the left-handed pitcher. Even if Cash had given Snell the chance in the sixth, struggled, then brought in Nick Anderson, it would have been difficult to criticize. However, Anderson was literally thrown to the lions and they were hungry.

Snell was desperate to stay out there and it’s hard to understand why Cash thought that the Dodgers would be more successful third time around. Undeniably, it was a pivotal moment in the game. Betts said that in his post-match interview.

Dodgers have been the best team in 2020

Statistically, and now empirically, the Dodgers are the best baseball team in 2020. They have deserved the win because of their superior all-around play. In the World Series, they played like world champions. In MVP Corey Seager and Mookie Betts, they have two players who can turn a game around in a heartbeat. Add Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler to that list alone, and it’s a formidable team.

The Rays could not, ultimately, match the Dodgers with the bat. Hits were available throughout their line up: Betts, Seager, Justin Turner, Corey Bellinger, Max Muncy. The list goes on. Compare that to the Rays and you struggle to go past Randy Arozarena and Kevin Kiermaier as consistently getting hits.

Tampa Bay Rays celebrate the victory against the Houston Astros following game seven of the 2020 ALCS at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays celebrate the victory against the Houston Astros following game seven of the 2020 ALCS at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

This has been the most successful season in Rays’ history

Once the disappointment fades of losing Game 6, Rays fans will be able to enjoy the best ever season from the franchise. It’s bittersweet because of not winning the World Series but they came closer than the 2008 Rays did.

The Rays are the American League champions for just the second time. In 2020, they had the second-best record in the league. And that was achieved from having the 28th highest payroll in MLB; a stat that is overused, but no less true. It’s a remarkable achievement from a unique franchise.

Defeating the New York Yankees in the ALDS then the Houston Astros in the ALCS were fantastic feats in themselves. Both required wins in the last game of the series to progress. And there is Game 4 of the World Series. That will always be remembered.

You can’t do that without being a good team. No, a great team. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers proved to be a step too far. Their fans are quite rightly enjoying the moment, but they know how this feels. It drove them on. Tampa Bay Rays need to feel the pain and motivate them for next season.

They can win the World Series in 2021.

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