Alex Cora could always afford to be patient in his first season with the Red Sox. For more than six months, the Red Sox competed with legends, as much as their opposition, compiling more wins than all but six teams in the history of the sport.
The bats always came around. The arms always straightened out. The 108-win team never lost more than three games in a row.
But with three ALDS losses, one of the strongest teams in regular season history would be remembered as one of its most fragile playoff teams of all time. So, after just two postseason games, the rookie manager shook up his lineup.
Cora made four lineup changes Monday night at Yankee Stadium, starting third baseman Rafael Devers, first baseman Steve Pearce, second baseman Brock Holt, and catcher Christian Vazquez, while sitting third baseman Eduardo Nunez, first baseman Mitch Moreland, second baseman Ian Kinsler and catcher Sandy Leon.
“In the playoffs, it’s day by day,” Cora said before Game 3. “Has to do a lot with the guy on the mound who starts off the game.”
Nunez had started the first two games of the series, but went hitless in seven at-bats, while committing an error in Game 2. Leon had gone hitless in five at-bats, after batting .063 (5-for-79) to end the regular season. Kinsler had gone 2-for-8 in the two games at Fenway Park, including an RBI double late in Game 2, but had struck out a team-high five times.
During the team’s off-day Sunday, Cora let his players know the switches were coming, and was enthused with how they handled the news.
“I talked to Eduardo and Ian, and their mentality is, ‘Hey, man, whatever it takes,’” Cora said. “As a manager, you feel like, guys, you have to call him and let him know, and I did [Sunday] night, and they were like, ‘Thank you for the phone call, but it wasn’t needed. We understand what we’re trying to accomplish, and if you need Brock to play and me to sit, I’ll be ready to come in and play defense or run or whatever I have to do. And Eduardo, same thing.’”
Cora’s easiest decision was likely the one he didn’t want to make. With right-hander Luis Severino on the mound, the left-handed hitting Moreland was unable to start — but available to pinch hit — after suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2.
Perhaps Moreland could return in Game 4. At this point, any healthy option is an option.
