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How to remember the Rays, and the Blake Snell decision that ended their World Series hopes

If you’re a Tampa Bay Rays fan — even if you’re not, probably — what you’ll remember from the end of the 2020 World Series is the decision to pull Blake Snell.

(Plus, you know, the coronavirus and the surreal circumstances that couldn’t be ignored long enough for the winning team to even celebrate, because pandemics are inconvenient like that.)

Like an avatar or a devil’s advocate for the way modern baseball seems designed to alienate at least a certain segment of fans, Rays manager Kevin Cash emerged from the dugout after 5 u2153 innings to pull his pitcher, who had a 1-0 lead on 73 pitches.