Red Sox Round Table: One moment in team history that you would change

John McNamara mismanages Sox in ’86

For me, I’d go back and have John McNamara manage the 1986 World Series differently. After going back and re-watching all seven games, it’s clear that the series wasn’t lost in Game Six or Game Seven, but in Game Four.

After effectively going with a three-man rotation in the ALCS, McNamara managed to not lose (instead of managing to win) when he went with Al Nipper as his Game Four starter over Bruce Hurst on three days rest. His rationale was that if the series went seven games, he’d have Hurst, Roger Clemens, and Oil Can Boyd for the last three. Meanwhile, the Mets went with a three-man rotation and it worked for them.

It ended up being disastrous for the Sox. After winning the first two games in New York, they lost Game Three at home (Boyd’s start). Ok, no problem…the Mets had won 108 games that season and probably weren’t going to get swept. But the Red Sox had two more games at Fenway Park and the chance to step on the Mets’ throats and take a commanding 3-1 series lead in Game Four.

Instead, McNamara went with Nipper who hadn’t pitched in 17 days and who had been mediocre during the season (10-12, 5.38 ERA). The Sox lost the game, letting the Mets tie the series and get back fully into it.

Yes, the Sox won Game Five and should have won in Game Six (again, awful McNamara managerial decisions…removing Clemens, leaving Buckner in, etc)…but I’d go back and go for broke in Game Four to put the Mets away instead of managing not to lose.

-BSI Contributor, Drew Athans