Starters are often placed into playoff games where the season lays in the balance, but rarely has the strategy been employed as frequently as Alex Cora used it this fall. Cora’s “rover” strategy helped lead the Red Sox to World Series glory.
Throughout the season, the eighth inning had proved problematic for Boston, particularly in the second half. As soon as the postseason began, the team’s first-year manager began to insert starting pitchers in relief to preserve the lead for closer Craig Kimbrel.
“That’s the willingness of the players, their athletic ability, and knowing they were going to be able to bounce back no matter how much we used them,” says Cora.