CINCINNATI — As the Tampa Bay Rays came out for batting practice before their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, manager Kevin Cash looked up at the Great American Ball Park scoreboard and saw a video clip from his playing days of him striking out.
Tito arranged for the scoreboard at GABP to show a loop of Kevin Cash striking out 😂 pic.twitter.com/NJGTbRLCzA
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 25, 2025
It was the latest in an ongoing prank war between the close friends. Cash, 47, played for Francona when the Reds manager helmed the Boston Red Sox and then served as Francona’s bullpen coach in Cleveland before becoming the Rays’ manager.
In 2015, Cash’s first year as a manager, Francona had someone write “Zep says hi” on Cash’s car in the Tropicana Field parking lot, referring to former Cleveland reliever Marc Rzepzynskik. Two years later, when the Rays came to Progressive Field in Cleveland, Francona had a graphic put up on the scoreboard with the title “How bad is Kevin Cash at the plate?” It then listed Cash’s career slash line of .183/.248/.278 along with the note: “In the history of Major League Baseball, among all non-pitchers with at least 650 plate appearances, Kevin Cash is (sic) the 5th worst OPS+ of all time.”
Cash may not have landed as many hits with his pranks as Francona, but his best hit harder. In Cleveland, Francona’s preferred mode of transit was a motor scooter. Before a game at Progressive Field in 2018, Cash had Francona’s scooter put in the infield before Rays batting practice, where Tampa Bay’s C.J. Cron hit it.
Rays manager Kevin Cash has gotten Tito back for his scoreboard prank on Friday by stealing his scooter and putting it in the infield grass for BP. I asked him how he got his hands on it in the first place and he said “I have a lot of friends here.” pic.twitter.com/s7ivOu0UTW
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) September 2, 2018
In what is the first meeting between the two since Francona took over the Reds, Francona was asked about his relationship with Cash.
“For public consumption, I don’t think I’d ever say anything nice about him,” Francona said. “But for this room, I love the guy. I think he’s one of the best. But if you’re going to air this — I don’t think much of him.”
The two became close when Cash, a catcher, played for the Red Sox in 2007 and 2008. Even then, Francona said he could tell Cash would be a good manager.
“I think he’s built for this,” Francona said. “I thought when he was a player, he should’ve been a manager. He hit like a manager.”
Cash hit .183 in parts of eight years in the big leagues with a total of 12 home runs.
In 2014, Cash also interviewed for not just the Rays’ job, but also interviewed with the Texas Rangers. Francona said he thought Tampa was the perfect spot for Cash. And now, in his 11th season with the Rays, Cash is considered one of the game’s best managers.
“He went to the right place,” Francona said. “I remember when they first hired him, they gave him a five-year deal. You don’t see that very often. And I think he’s been smart enough to know where he’s happy and stay where he’s happy.”
Entering Friday’s game against the Reds, Cash owned a career record of 872-749, all with the Rays.
“I give (the Rays) a lot of credit, but I give him a lot of credit,” Francona said. “Sometimes guys chase the last dollar. I’m not sure that makes you the happiest.”
(Photo: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)