MLB world reacts to Rays bending the rules once again

By Vincent Frank

·Updated: July 24, 2019

Everything was seemingly going fine between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon.

That’s until Rays manager Kevin Cash attempted, once again, to bend the rules. Cash kept two pitchers on the field, utilizing Adam Kolarek at first base before moving him back to the mound to get Rafael Devers out to end the eighth inning.

This isn't good for pace of play. Kevin Cash has used two pitchers this inning, keeping both in the game as he moved Kolarek to 1B for one batter (with Roe pitching) before bringing Kolarek back in to pitch. Cora protests. Now Cash is defending his moves w the umps. #RedSox
— Tom Caron (baseball szn!!!) (@TomCaron) July 24, 2019

Whether this move was legal remains to be seen. But the Red Sox played the remainder of the game under protest.

Needless to say, the baseball world had its reactions.

tfw you need explain the Rays play in St. Petersburg, not Tampa pic.twitter.com/3cqs2G3mqR
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) July 24, 2019

Rays have now pinch hit for Kolarek.

Is this where the Sox have a beef? Doesn't the pitcher's spot have to be in the lineup somewhere? Rays gave up the DH.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 24, 2019

playing under protest is truly one of my favorite baseball constructions, "I'll KEEP DOING this but please know that I DO NOT LIKE IT and will need to HEAR FROM YOU later" is real relatable
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) July 24, 2019

So four times the #Rays have used a pitcher in the field, put them back on the mound and no trouble existed …. until today.
You know who the plate umpire is.
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) July 24, 2019

PLAY BALL!!! pic.twitter.com/NIvUb3lKei
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2019

The 15,000 summer camp kids in attendance to watch the Red Sox and Rays at Tropicana Field are getting a great lesson on pace of play and analytics. They will be smarter for this. #ChildrenAreTheFuture
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) July 24, 2019

Shocking that Angel Hernandez has let this turn into such a gong show.
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) July 24, 2019

I have no idea what's happening with the Rays' lineup, but whatever it is I hope it ends with the Red Sox winning their protest, because chaos.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) July 24, 2019

Keep it weird. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/tlslkFeaid
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 24, 2019

What if I told you the AL wild card race came down to a protest?

(It won’t.)
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 24, 2019

Usually the lengthy in-game delays at Tropicana Field are related to the lights going out
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) July 24, 2019

Baseball is a billion dollar business and six men just stared at pieces of cardboard for about 15 minutes trying to decide who gets to play.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 24, 2019

How fun.