Every new Red Sox manager learns the protocol early. Over time, most will come to protect it, not out of protocol, but respect.
Jonny Miller, who has covered the Red Sox for WBZ Radio (1030) since the early 1970s, traditionally asks the first question at the manager’s press availabilities.
This is something current manager Alex Cora politely but firmly noted when another reporter tried to lead off the daily inquisition before Game 1 of the World Series in October. Cora turned to Miller, who posed his question. Then the other reporter got his turn.
Surely this would have been the arrangement as well after the World Series shifted to Los Angeles for Game 3.