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Who Will be the Red Sox Appointees at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game?

MLB released the first American League All-Star fan voting update last week. It is very clear that Red Sox Nation is participating in the voting. Two Red Sox players are slated to be appointees in the midsummer classic if the voting were to end today. Here are my predictions:

Clear-Cut Appointees

Mookie Betts

There is no chance Mookie will be left off the All-Star team. As of June 16, Mookie is hitting .348 (leads majors), slugging .721 (leads majors), has an OPS of 1.148 (leads majors), and has scored 55 runs (second in majors). Do you see a pattern here? Mookie Betts will make his third straight All-Star game in 2018.

J.D. Martinez

J.D. is also having an otherworldly season. Martinez has already hit 22 home runs (second in majors) and driven in 55 runs (leads majors). He is on pace to hit 50 homers and drive in 125 runs, which is incredible. He also is third in the majors in slugging percentage (.648) and OPS (1.040). This would be J.D.’s second All-Star appearance, as he appeared in the 2015 All-Star game as a member of the Detroit Tigers.

Craig Kimbrel

While Kimbrel is not having the greatest season ever, he is still putting up great numbers. He is second in the majors in saves with 22 of them, and has a 2.40 ERA with 0.90 WHIP. He will probably make the All-Star team this year because he’s been a top three closer in the American League for the last three years, and he continues to put up great numbers.

Chris Sale

Again, Chris Sale is not having a historic season, but he is still putting up respectable numbers. So far, he has went 6-4 with a 2.75 ERA, but there is a good chance he is about to really heat up. In his last two starts, he has given up two earned runs and posted 19 strikeouts in 14 innings. As of right now, he is one strikeout behind Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole for the American League lead in strikeouts. While he may not start the All-Star game, he will probably make an appearance.

Feasible Appointees

Mitch Moreland

According to the first AL fan-voting update, Mitch was second place for AL first-basemen, only around 26,000 votes behind White Sox 1B Jose Abreu. Recently, Moreland has not been hitting well at all. He has three hits in his last 31 at-bats and has not recorded an RBI since June 3. Many things need to go right, for Moreland needs to get hot, Red Sox Nation needs to continue to have a huge presence in the AL fan-voting, and the other AL 1st basemen need to continue to struggle.

Andrew Benintendi

Benintendi ranked sixth among AL outfielders in the first fan-voting update, and with good reason. He is hitting .296/.383/.545/.928 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs, which are great numbers at this point in the season. The problem is that many AL outfielders are having great seasons. Other than Mookie, Mike Trout (LAA), Aaron Judge (NYY), Michael Brantley (CLE), George Springer (HOU), and Mitch Haniger (SEA) are all having great seasons.

Joe Kelly

This is an intriguing case to make. Joe Kelly has pitched exceptionally well this season, posting a 2.61 ERA with 32 K’s in 31.0 innings. While non-closer relievers do not usually make the All-Star team, I felt the need to make a case for him.

Honorable Mention

Xander Bogaerts

Usually, the kind of season Xander is having this year would warrant an All-Star season, but this is no ordinary year. There are many great AL shortstops this year, as Manny Machado (BAL), Francisco Lindor (CLE), Carlos Correa (HOU), Jean Segura (SEA), and Andrelton Simmons (LAA) are all having exceptional seasons. There are really only two slots for American League shortstops, and those probably go to Machado and Lindor at this point. Xander Bogaerts still deserves some credit.

Do the Red Sox Have a Balance Problem?

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There’s no denying that the Red Sox possess one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball. That’s what you get when you put together a lineup anchored by MVP favorite Mookie Betts and destroyer-of-right-field-bleacher-creatures J.D. Martinez. As of Saturday morning, the Sox rank:

2nd in the Majors in runs
2nd in HR
3rd in SB
2nd in ISO
2nd in batting average
4th in OBP
2nd in slugging (and 2nd in OPS)
3rd in wRC+

I could go on, but you get the picture. Boston’s ability to score repeatedly is one of the main reasons why they have the most wins in baseball and the second-best run differential. Yet, while the overall performance of the lineup on a night-to-night basis has been a strength, there are a few red flags regarding the sustainability of its production. Most immediately pressing? A void between the “good” and the “bad” so wide and deep that Michael Cera or Aziz Ansari might crawl out of it at any moment.

Highs and Lows

Here’s the Red Sox most-used lineup this season, substituting Mitch Moreland for the recently deposed Hanley Ramirez (wRC+ and plate appearances in parentheses):

Betts (204 in 232 PA)
Andrew Benintendi (149 in 300 PA)
Moreland (137 in 197 PA)
Martinez (177 in 286 PA)
Xander Bogaerts (130 in 237 PA)
Rafael Devers (83 in 281 PA)
Eduardo Nunez (66 in 254 PA)
Jackie Bradley Jr. (57 in 229 PA)
Christian Vazquez (47 in 177 PA)

As for other players with more than 50 PA this year, only Brock Holt (120 in 133 PA) has a wRC+ over 100. The next highest non-regular still with the team? Sandy Leon, whose 58 wRC+ is somehow still 45 points better than poor Blake Swihart‘s 13(!?!?!?!?!?!?) in 70 plate appearances. A full explanation on wRC+ can be found here for the uninitiated, but it is useful because it serves as an all-encompassing stat that takes into account criteria like era, park factors, and total offensive performance. League average for any given season is an even 100. The best season per this metric: 2001 Barry Bonds (an astonishing 244 wRC+, or 144% better than league average). The worst (min 300 PA)? 1909 Bill Bergen (an equally astonishing 5 wRC+, or 95% worse than league average).

Worth Worrying About?

All of this is to say that the Red Sox could do with taking a page out of Thanos’ book. While Betts’ transcendent season has lifted the lineup from the jump, the gap between the haves and have-nots is alarming enough to start an Occupy Jersey Street movement at any moment. It’s great that Benintendi has slashed .340/.421/.673 since May 5th, and that Martinez is so comfortable in this lineup he’s moved on to fixing other guys’ swings. However, when almost than half of the everyday starters are producing at well below league average, it tempers expectations a bit. Can the bottom part of the order really be relied on come October? Is Holt really going to be the biggest PH threat off the bench all season? Will Dustin Pedroia ever come back, and if (when) Martinez makes his annual trip to the DL, who will step up?

The Sox don’t have those answers yet. As they make their way towards the dog days of summer, it might not even matter. But last night’s game in Seattle highlighted just how frustrating a lopsided lineup can be. Boston touched up AL Cy Young Award contender James Paxton for 6 runs (5 earned) in the 3rd inning. It was the only frame in which they scored, and the Mariners were able to stage a late inning rally against Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes as a result. With 6 weeks left until the July 31st trade deadline, you have to think Dave Dombrowski will take a hard look at balancing out this roster. After all, this team isn’t supposed to be satisfied with beating good teams in June. It’s meant to beat great teams in the fall.

Will David Price Opt-Out?

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At the end of the 2018 MLB season, Red Sox left-hander David Price has a decision to make. The 32-year old (33 in August) has the ability to opt-out of his 7-year, $217 million contract at the end of the season. This means that David Price can end his Red Sox career and move on to another team just by deciding to opt-out of this lucrative contract. There are many factors that will play into this decision, and here are some.

Price’s Price

David Price’s potential salary next year will, of course, play a big part in this decision. If Price were to stay with the Sox, he would be earning $31 million in 2019, and $32 million in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This makes him the highest paid pitcher in the majors, which could change by the end of his deal. The point is it won’t be easy to get much more money than that, but it is not impossible. There are teams out there that are not afraid to pay big money, like the Yankees (Giancarlo Stanton for 10 years and $265 million) and the Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw for 7 years and $215 million).

Price’s Happiness

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Price’s time in Boston has been defined by conflicts with the Boston sports media and it’s fanbase. Many in Boston know about the conflict he had with Dennis Eckersley, Hall of Fame pitcher and NESN analyst. This incident has caused many in Boston to dislike Price. This universal dislike of Price has caused him to possibly dislike Boston as a city. Why would anyone, no matter the profession, want to work somewhere where they are hated? If David Price opts-out of his contract, I would most certainly bet on his happiness playing a huge factor.

Price’s Performance Down the Stretch

One of the biggest factors teams look at when they pay for free agents is their performance. David Price started the 2018 season slow, posting a 5.11 ERA in his first 7 starts of the year. Since then, Price has definitely been living up to his contract, posting a 2.69 ERA in 44 1/3 innings. If he continues to pitch like his last 7 starts, there is definitely a chance a team would give him more money than he’s making. If he looks more like his first 7 starts for the rest of the year, he will probably be on the Red Sox roster next year.

Price’s Health

David Price has had his bouts with staying healthy. We all know about the “mild carpal tunnel syndrome” and the elbow problems he had last year. If he feels that he wouldn’t be able to pass a physical, he will not opt-out. It’s as simple as that.

Prediction Time

If I were to give my prediction, I would say he doesn’t opt-out. There is no way to be sure that he will earn that kind of money from another team, but you can’t rule out the possibility that he might leave. It is something worth thinking about, as it could help the Red Sox clear up enough cap space to extend their young stars.

Brandon Workman’s Resurgence

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Brandon Workman has not had an easy major league career since making his MLB debut during the 2013 season. After a solid rookie campaign it seemed as if he had a secured spot in the Red Sox rotation. His second season did not go as well. In fifteen starts he had one win and ten losses. The Sox as a team struggled in 2014 and sent Workman down to get a look at their other prospects. He did not return to the majors until last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Last year, the right-hander proved to be an effective reliever, and since his recent recall that has not changed.

Workman’s Early Days

In 2013, Workman appeared in twenty games including three starts. The following season the Sox tried to make the righthander a starter, and he recorded a 5.17 ERA. He gave up fifty earned runs in eighty-seven innings of work. The 2014 campaign was a season that Workman was ready to turn the page on, and things only got worse in 2015. Workman began the season in Pawtucket, and after trying to put off surgery he had Tommy John, ruling him out for the rest of the season and all of 2016. He returned to the majors last year and reminded people of what they had missed.

Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Workman Makes His Return

When the Red Sox recalled Workman last year, many did not know what to expect. The right-hander was out to prove his doubters wrong, and did exactly that. In thirty appearances he recorded an ERA of 3.18. In thirty-nine innings, he struck out thirty-seven batters and held opponents to a 2.52 average. Before last year the lowest average he held batters to was .263. Workman did not make an appearance in the playoffs, but it was still his most effective season by far.

Photo Credit: AP Photo Michael Dwyer

What to Expect Going Forward

Workman did not begin the season on the Opening Day roster. The Red Sox recalled him on June 5th and he has been very effective. In five innings he has five strikeouts and has not allowed a run. How long Workman stays in Boston is unknown as he was recalled to fill in for an injured Drew Pomeranz. If he can keep pitching like he has, then it may be very hard to send him down once Pomeranz returns. For the Red Sox it is not the worst problem to have.

Possible Trade Deadline Moves for the Red Sox

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Anybody that has been watching the Red Sox know that their offense can be frustrating sometimes. Betts, Martinez, and Benintendi cannot continue to be solely depended on in order to keep winning games. The Sox lead the majors in runs scored, average, total bases, hits, and extra base hits. They also rank second in other pivotal categories such as OPS, home runs and RBIs. They have reached this level of performance while carrying a lot of dead weight at the bottom third of the lineup.

Collectively, the 7-9 hitters are hitting a measly .221 with 60 RBIs, 178 strikeouts with a .608 OPS. Don’t get me wrong, this offense is special and can do a lot of damage when this season is all said and done. The fact is, the top of the lineup won’t bring the city of Boston another championship single-handedly.

Inevitably, the Red Sox will be active around the trade deadline. They won’t make a big splash, but they will most likely add a piece (maybe two) in order to complement the offense in a big way. Here is who they might go and get:

Wilson Ramos

It should not be a surprise that Red Sox catchers have been woeful at the plate. This season, catchers are hitting .226/.270/.319/.589 with 18 RBIs and 47 strikeouts. Sox catchers also have a league worst -1.1 WAR, so upgrade to the catcher depth is a no-brainer. With all this being said, Wilson Ramos would be a match made in heaven for the Red Sox.

Ramos is slashing .284/.327/.446/.773 with eight home runs, .327 BABIP and a 115 wRC+. In short, if I told you he was the fourth best hitting catcher in baseball, I’d most likely have the numbers to back up my claim. The Rays, meanwhile, are 13.5 games out of first and will be trending in the wrong direction faster than they already have. They began their rebuild when they gave away Evan Longoria in December of 2017, and will most likely look to continue just that. Ramos is a free agent in 2019, so he would be a rental. But it’s so worth it.

Nicholas Castellanos

Nicholas Catellanos is really starting to turn into a top-tier hitter in his young age. Castellanos has played a majority of his professional career at third base, but is now an everyday outfielder. In his last three seasons, he’s hit .285/.331./.492/.823 with a 117 wRC+, which is pretty darn good. He’s 26 years old and will be under team control until 2020, so a trade would have to yield a lot more than the Wilson Ramos scenario.

However, the already struggling Tigers just lost their franchise first baseman in Miguel Cabrera for the rest of the season and will be forced to be sellers at the deadline. If this happens, the only logical way to make it work is to give up Jackie Bradley along with some others. The problem with this move is that Castellanos will be a hot commodity with other teams, and the Sox may not have enough to offer when it comes to competition. Regardless, the club should be active in inquiring for the 26 year old.

Mike Moustakas

No, this is not a recycled paragraph from the past off-season- bear with me here. Just because Moustakas signed a one year contract (with a second year mutual option) doesn’t mean the Royals can’t move him. The Royals are 23 games under .500 and this would probably be the best move for both organizations.

You may be wondering, “But what about that Devers kid?” Rafael Devers has not been playing the best baseball so far in 2018. Devers has the lowest wRC+ figure among qualifying third basemen in the league. He may still need some time platooning with a more experienced third baseman or possibly even going back to Pawtucket. Let’s get one thing straight: I am not saying give up on the kid. What has to be remembered is that he is still only 21 years old and may need some more time to sharpen his skills and adjust his swing.

Moustakas is having a pretty good year, batting .263/.317/.483/.800 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs. He definitely can pick up the pace even more, especially if he was inserted into the Red Sox lineup. On top of that, his .973 fielding percentage is way better than Devers’ (.931), and he has extensive postseason experience. It’s a win-win all around.

@ELJGON

David Price is Back

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The Red Sox have been on a tear to start the season, sitting behind the Yankees by mere percentage points while owning the most wins in baseball. Offense has been the talk of the town for this Sox team, as the team leads the majors in runs, hits, and batting average. They are second in home runs and RBIs, trailing only the Yankees. As fantastic as MLB’s top offense has been through 65 games, they have received a lot of help from their All-Star pitching core in Rick Porcello, Chris Sale, and David Price.

Price’s Hot Streak

No pitcher on the team has been hotter than Price as of late. Last night Price delivered the team a fifth win in his last six outings. He pitched for six innings and gave up only two runs on five hits. This is Price’s second longest winning streak of his career.

“I’m throwing the baseball better and I’m throwing better strikes,” said Price. “I’m throwing it better when I have two outs and that has kind of been my Achilles’ heel this year, giving up that big hit with two outs and runners in scoring position. That is something that has hurt me a lot.”

In Price’s last six starts, he owns a 2.89 ERA, 1.1 whip, and 9.64 K/9 innings. His velocity is up and his confidence is back.

Playoff Demons

After appearing in only 16 games in the 2017 season (five of which came out of the bullpen), people started to become concerned about his future. Boston gave Price the largest pitching contract in MLB history in 2016 (7-years, $217 million). He responded with a 17-9 record in his debut season, but failed to live up to expectations in the playoffs as his team was swept handily by the Indians.

In his lone playoff start, Price gave up five runs in only 3.5 innings before being pulled from the game. Playoff demons have haunted Price throughout his career, demons Boston hoped to eliminate when they signed him on.

Now it looks as if Price will be given a second chance to right the ship and prove he can step up in October. He is pitching with a purpose, like a man on a mission to prove the doubters wrong. When asked about Price’s recent stretch of success, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, “There’s purpose behind every pitch”. With his team holding the second best record in baseball, all indications point to a long playoff run for the Red Sox.

David Price is Back

In a season full of purpose for the Sox, Price is delivering all the right things at the right time. He holds a 4.0 ERA on the season and has a 7-4 record. He has recorded 72 strikeouts in just 74.1 innings played thus far. As long as he can continue delivering for the team Boston will continue to roll.

Now is the time for Price to earn his record-breaking contract and show the world why the Red Sox invested so much into him only a few short years ago.

You can find me on Twitter @Celtichottakes

Boston Red Sox Select Triston Casas in the First Round

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With the 26th pick in the MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected third baseman Triston Casas. Casas attended American Heritage High School in Florida, and will most likely sign with the Sox barring his commitment to the University of Miami. The 6′ 4″, 238 pound corner infielder has a comparison to Sean Casey and Freddie Freeman with his advanced barrel skills and ability to square up on pitches.

The Good:

Triston Casas was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The 18-year-old has a tall and athletic build, which is perfect for a first baseman that can contribute both offensively and defensively. However, he has proven to make strong throws while on the move, as a third baseman does regularly. Casas won the Richard W. “Dick” award in 2017 (given annually to USA Baseball’s top player), and seems to have a bright future ahead of him. Triston also has a major league approach during BP, which is a plus. Casas has a 95 mph exit velocity average and ranks in the 99.3 percentile among his draft class. Best of all, he has shown ability to hit the ball to all fields with ease. Overall, he is a kid with a lot of power, and will only continue to gain muscle mass and improve on his contact abilities.

The Not So Good:

Although Casas has shown he is a good hitter, he has also portrayed a bit of streakiness in his young career. He does have some areas in his swing to improve on, such as occasionally falling off to the side on his follow through. The most troubling thing that sticks out to me is that he had knee surgery performed in December of 2016 (x-ray shots below). This could be an injury prone thing, or it could be nothing to worry about. Power swinging players generate a lot of torque especially in their knees, so this should be something to keep an eye on in the future.

Wrapping up on Casas:

Overall, I think this kid could be something special. With the recent trouble that the Sox have had with corner infielders (Sandoval, Hanley, Chavis of the likes), this is a great move by the Sox organization.

@ELJGON

Photo Credits: http://tristonraycasas.com/bio/ & USA Today

Red Sox Make a Statement in Houston

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With a 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros, the Red Sox earned a split in their series against one of the best teams in baseball. This series was big for the Sox and they made a statement. Coming into the series the Red Sox had the best record in baseball. The Red Sox have received criticism for not having a difficult schedule compared to other teams. The Astros represented the perfect challenge; they have a potent lineup and the best rotation in baseball, including Justin Verlander, who is having a Cy Young year. The first two games went to Houston, but the Red Sox fought back.

Red Sox Drop First Two in Houston

The series did not start the way the Red Sox wanted. Drew Pomeranz started the opener and allowed four runs in five innings of work. The Sox were not able to muster much offense against the Astros’ pitching. Lance McCullers went six innings allowing only two runs, and the Astros’ bullpen pitched three scoreless innings to win 4-2. Game two also ended in a loss for the Red Sox, as the Astros won 7-3. Red Sox ace Chris sale gave up four runs in five innings of work. Joe Kelly who has been lights out gave up three runs, including two home runs, and Houston’s bullpen again shutdown the Red Sox hitters. It appeared as if the Red Sox may lose the series against a team that they have a very good chance of facing in the playoffs.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Red Sox Battle Back

The Sox had different plans for game three as David Price took the mound. The Sox needed Price to be at his best, and he delivered. Price gave up three runs, but he went six innings and struck out seven batters to earn the win. The Red Sox received clutch home runs from Vazquez and Benintendi. They finally got to the Astros bullpen after Verlander departed. Will Harris gave up three runs. On Sunday the Sox were in complete control, as Astros starter Charlie Morton gave up six runs including two home runs. The Sox were led by Holt and Moreland, who combined for five runs batted in as the Sox won 9-3.

Photo Credit: Bob Levey/ Getty Images

What Does This Series Show?

The Red Sox faced their greatest challenge of the young season without their hottest player and veteran leader. They faced the Astros’ best three pitchers, who have all been the toughest in baseball this season. David Price and Rick Porcello showed up for Boston in this series. They split the series on the road after losing the first two. There is still a lot of baseball to be played, but the Red Sox showed what type of team they are in Houston.

Astros Are a Big Test for the Red Sox

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Red Sox vs. Astros

Alex Cora returned to Houston last night for the first time since becoming the manager for the Boston Red Sox. Lately, the competition for the Red Sox has been pretty bad, and the Red Sox have been taking advantage of it. The Red Sox took care of business this week sweeping the no-name Toronto Blue Jays. The real test begins with this series against the defending World Series Champions. The Sox fell 6-4 last night in the first of the four games.

J.D. Martinez is on Fire

J.D. Martinez has been on fire lately. He has belted 18 home runs on the season for the Red Sox thus far. Drew Pomeranz, who has struggled lately pitched last night for Boston. Alex Cora seems to still have confidence in the left-handed pitcher.

Tonight, Chris Sale is pitching, and the Red Sox seem to not be able to hit still when he’s on the mound. On Saturday, David Price will pitch. He had some interesting comments the other day, saying. “I’m the softest guy in this clubhouse. If it bothered me, I’d be out of the game. I’m soft. … It wasn’t painful. I’m fine. If it was painful, I would have come out.” He was referring to when he was hit by a line drive in the first inning on Monday.

Rick Porcello will make an appearance during the final game of this series on Sunday. Porcello so far this season is 7-2 with a 3.65 ERA. Against Toronto he pitched six innings and allowed just five hits and two runs. The real test begins this weekend, when the Sox can show they are a contender in the American League.

Alex Cora Assessment (So Far)

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Firing John Farrell was obviously a change in direction for the Red Sox. Of course Farrell won a World Series and back to back division titles in his five-year tenure as the Sox manager, but he made questionable decisions and was a very dull personality in the clubhouse.

When the Red Sox hired Cora, I, like many others, was extremely excited to see what changes he’d bring. I was really looking forward to seeing how the 2018 season would start and the decisions Cora would make.

2018 has obviously gotten off to a great start, but let’s examine how Cora has done in managing all aspects of the game:

STARTING PITCHING

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There’s not much that Cora can do in terms of situational starting pitching. He basically constructs the rotation, and it’s up to the rotation to how they pitch. This is the harder phase of the game to determine how well a manager is doing.

One thing that Cora has done very well with his starting pitching is workload. We saw in the playoffs last year how gassed Chris Sale was by the time the season ended. Even Sale himself admitted that he burnt out by time the playoffs rolled around.

In 2018 Cora has done a great job of lowering the total amount of pitches that the starters throw during their outing. An extra 10-15 pitches doesn’t seem like much now, but it will pay dividends later in the season.

THE LINEUP

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The lineup is definitely an area that I think Cora could improve upon. I think the 1-2 punch of Betts and Benintendi is a perfect fit. I’m glad that he stuck with the idea of Betts in the lead-off role.

As far as other parts of the lineup, I think there are some improvements to be made. The DFA of Hanley Ramirez came as a surprise to many, including myself. That being said, I am not going to be talking about the first base situation, because Mitch Moreland is without a doubt our everyday first basemen going forward.

One thing that I want Cora to shy away from is using Eduardo Nunez often. I understand that we signed him to a contract this off-season, but I really don’t like watching him play. In his time with the Red Sox last year, he was absolutely fantastic. But he just doesn’t seem to have it this year. This will be easier because Pedroia is back in the lineup, which is another point. If Cora does have to rest Pedroia, I would prefer to see Brock Holt over Nunez, as Holt has had a terrific start to the season.

The catching situation is another interesting story for the Red Sox this summer. So far Cora has used a platoon of Christian Vasquez and Sandy Leon. It makes sense because certain pitchers in the rotation like throwing to certain catchers. I’d rather see a platoon of Leon and Swihart. Vazquez is sometimes good, but I have not been impressed by him on either side of the ball. If I was Cora, I would use Leon as the everyday catcher, with some Blake Swihart starts two or three times a week.

Overall, Cora has done a decent job with the lineup, all things considered.

BULLPEN

One of the most challenging parts of being a manager is dealing with the bullpen. This is an area that Cora has been very good with, but also questionable at times.

Something to consider when assessing how Alex Cora has managed this injured bullpen. Tyler Thornburg, Austin Maddox, and Brandon Workman have yet to throw a pitch in 2018 for the Red Sox.

One thing that Cora has done poorly with is giving certain guys the ball when he shouldn’t. He has repeatedly given the ball to someone like Heath Hembree or Brian Johnson when a starter comes out and men on base. Then things get ugly quickly.

Another mismanagement by Cora is not utilizing the long relievers like Hector Velazquez. There were two straight games in Toronto when there was a perfect opportunity for Velazquez to come in, but Cora gave the ball to Brian Johnson instead.

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One thing Cora has done very well with the bullpen is not being afraid to use Craig Kimbrel when he needs to. He has put Kimbrel in the eighth inning a few times to face the heart of the order, which is a great move.

Another favorable move by Cora is to put faith in Joe Kelly in high leverage situations. Joe Kelly has posted an 0.37 ERA since Opening Day, and I love the fact that Cora has been riding him into the ninth night in and night out.

Overall, considering the injuries the Red Sox have faced, I think Alex Cora has done a tremendous job. He has some areas to improve upon, but you can’t be mad at someone who is managing the best team in baseball.