World Series: Cora, don’t get stupid

Photo by Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

By @RyanGrosman
Laced
October 26, 2018

It happens every year. Once managers get into the postseason, there’s a tendency for them to get stupid.

Like bringing in Lance Lynn with the bases loaded stupid.

They start doing things they don’t normally do. Putting players in situations that they’re not used to (again, see Lance Lynn).

Yes. When their backs are against the wall, they may be forced to do something they’re not entirely comfortable with. But most of the time, mangers just simply forget what got them there.

Which brings me to Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.

As the series shifts to L.A. and the DH goes bye-bye (which, is itself, stupid), Red Sox manager, Alex Cora, has a big decision to make.

How to get hitting machine J.D. Martinez into his lineup.

And to this I say, Cora, don’t get stupid.

Remember what got you to this point – pitching, defence and timely hitting. It definitely wasn’t Mookie Betts at second base or J.D. Martinez at first or in right.

While I don’t believe Cora is even considering putting Martinez at first, as he’s played a grand total of zero career games there, I do believe he’s seriously contemplating 2 other possible moves:

1. Betts to second, Martinez to right

2. Betts to centre, Martinez to right, Bradley Jr. to the bench

But being up 2-0 in the series, the best move Cora can make is no move at all. For Game 3 at least, Julio Daniel Martinez should ride the pine.

Here’s why.

Betts at second base

Let’s start with the dumbest move – playing Betts at second.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of smart baseball people in favour of this move. They even talk like it’s a no-brainer done deal.

I just don’t get it.

Playing out of position

People are talking like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Just move him to second.

Sure. No problem.

Let’s just take perhaps the best right fielder in the league and play him at a position he hasn’t played in years on the biggest stage.

I don’t give a rat’s fuck if Betts played second base coming up through the Red Sox system. Or if he played an inning in August. Or if he takes infield practice at second every day. Or if he’s a freak athlete who’s good at everything.

None of it matters. This is the World Series. It’s not time to start fucking around. 

There’s a huge difference between practice and actual game action.

For one thing, there’s no actual pressure or consequences in practice. But booting a ball in the game could turn the entire series around.

For another thing, second base isn’t even second base anymore. With all the shifting that goes on during the course of a game, Betts could end up moving all over the place.

Behind second base. On the shortstop side of second. Somewhere between right field and second. Who knows. In other words, he could be logging important innings at spots he’s not used to playing.

F’ing up your D

So if Betts is at second that means Martinez is in right, which weakens you in 2 spots on the field.

As I mentioned, Betts is maybe the league’s best right fielder in maybe the league’s best outfield. I mean, do you really want to break up the Benintendi-Bradley Jr.-Betts impenetrable outfield?

In the postseason, every single error gets magnified. One error can swing a game or even an entire series.

Just look at the first 2 games of the World Series. Defense (or lack thereof) has been a huge factor.

In Game 1, Betts, in his first at bat, popped a ball foul to the first base side. Freese misplayed it, giving Betts a second chance. And we all know what happened then. Red Sox runs.

Then later, Joc Pederson whiffed on a catchable ball in left, which lead to even more runs.

So to weaken your defense and make your team vulnerable in 2 spots on the field is just plain idiotic. And it’s just plain asking for trouble.

Greater risk of injury

Playing Betts at second makes him more vulnerable to injury.

I mean, yes. Betts could easily hurt himself in right field. But if he’s going to go down, I’d sleep much better knowing he went down playing the position he’s supposed to be playing.

Also, a million and one things can happen to him at second, not the least of which is getting spiked while trying to turn a double play.

Sure, there are now sliding rules in place to protect shortstops and second basemen. But that won’t stop the players from raising their spikes when sliding into second. Just ask Dustin Pedroia.

In all my years watching baseball, I’ve never once seen a right fielder get spiked by a base runner.

If Cora plays Betts at second, he’s also putting a huge target on Betts’ back. Or stomach. Or leg. Or wrist.

Everyone knows how important he is to the Red Sox’s success – Dodgers included. You think they won’t target him on a steal attempt or double play? (I’m talking to you, Machado.)

It could happen very unintentionally, as well. A Dodger tries to steal second. Catcher throws it to Betts. Betts slaps his glove down. The runner slides into his wrist. Bye-bye Betts.

Martinez in right

If Cora chooses to move Betts to centre or second, it means he’s making room for Martinez in right. Which, like playing Betts at second, is a huge mistake.

Defensive downgrade

Yes, Martinez has some experience in right. And he’s probably somewhat familiar with Dodger Stadium having played for the Diamondbacks in the second half of last season.

But Martinez is clearly a major downgrade defensively. This, of course, isn’t a newsflash.

He can make the routine play, but has limited range. And what you don’t want to happen is to lose Game 3 because of catch not made. Especially when you’re up 2-0.

So if you happen to have an all-star level, Gold Glove-winning right fielder on your roster, you keep that guy in right.

Bum ankle

To maximize Martinez’s abilities – and his abilities is his bat – you need him to be as healthy as possible.

Martinez turned his ankle in Game 1 and appeared to be limping in Game 2. Resting him in Game 3 could pay dividends later in the series.

On the flip side, playing Martinez in right could make matters even worse.

So for Game 3, bench him. Make him your ace in the hole, super-duper pinch hitter for a double switch or when the Dodgers bring in a lefty.

Context is everything

Where the series is at should heavily dictate a manager’s moves.

Going into Game 3, Cora’s Red Sox are up 2-0.

So far, the Dodgers haven’t looked their best while the Red Sox have been dominant. If you believe in momentum, which I do, the Red Sox have it in spades.

With this in mind, there’s absolutely no reason for Cora to do anything drastic.

It would be completely different, however, if the Red Sox were down 0-2 heading to L.A. for 3 straight games. Then sacrificing defence for offence is a reasonable thing to do.

But regardless, I still would not put Betts anywhere near second no matter what.

Sticking with a winning formula

So far, Cora has stuck with what got him here. He continues to make smart decisions and put his players in the best position to succeed. Which is what being a good manager is all about.

It’s a big reason why the Red Sox up 2-0.

But there’s a very real possibility that Cora might make his first dumb move of the postseason. And this would be the worst time to do it.

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