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Red Sox manager Alex Cora defends his questionable bullpen decisions

By Sean Penney

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on April 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on April 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 29: Red Sox Manager Alex Cora in the dugout before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on May 29, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 29: Red Sox Manager Alex Cora in the dugout before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on May 29, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Was there a better option? Joe Kelly and Heath Hembree have a better strikeout and groundball rate but both have been unreliable lately. Matt Barnes remains unavailable due to a hip issue. It was too soon to think about Kimbrel.

The results didn’t pan out but Cora went with two of the guys he trusts most in that seventh inning and had reasonable explanations for his decisions.

We also have to keep in mind that the Red Sox are essentially using September as auditions for which relievers will make the postseason roster. A double-digit lead over the Yankees in the standings affords them the luxury of experimenting. Boston will still inevitably win the division, at which point this one loss will be shrugged off as nothing to worry about. Cora may have handled this same situation differently if this were a playoff game but he’s not in a position where every game needs to be treated as a do-or-die situation.

Next. Red Sox offseason checklist. dark

We know the Red Sox bullpen has some issues but being managed by Cora isn’t one of them. As frustrating as it was to watch the bullpen let another late lead slip away, this loss does nothing to diminish the faith we should have in the manager’s ability to lead this team to championship glory.

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