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Rays' Cash: Having in-game video taken away is 'absolutely ridiculous'

Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash believes Major League Baseball taking in-game video away from teams is one of the worst decisions the league has ever made.

MLB announced before the beginning of the shortened 2020 season it would be shutting down team video rooms because they don't comply with COVID-19 safety protocols. The shutdown also came after the league's investigation into illegal sign-stealing processes used by the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.

"Without being too controversial, I think it's absolutely ridiculous," Cash said on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

"It's probably one of the worst things that I've seen Major League Baseball do in taking video away from players. Video is what makes us good. It helps us learn. It helps us coach. It helps us attack. And it's been taken away from us because of a couple of teams' stupid choices."

Instead of being granted access to a video room this season, players and personnel have been assigned a personal tablet to use during games. These tablets are preloaded with information, but there is no ability to review in-game footage because they are "locked down with no connectivity," according to Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated.

This restriction has not only infuriated Cash, but it's also caused players like Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez to change their approach. Martinez turned around his career after becoming a diligent user of in-game video. He's hitting .244 so far this season without it.

"We don't have access to any of that stuff anymore. It's kind of everyone on their own. Survivor," Martinez said, according to The Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

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