Keep it Rolling

Unless you live under a rock, you know that game three of the World Series takes place tonight. It's the latest in a series of must-win games for the Sox. Sure, they haven't had any elimination games this postseason. But each of emir wins has been vitally important. You want to win game four in Yankee Stadium. Don't want to give the Yankees hope, and play in a game five. Have to win game game two against the Astros. Can't go down 2-0. Gotta win game three against the Astros. Need to take back home field advantage. Winning game four against the Astros is huge...3-1 is completely different than 2-2. Need to win game five against the Astros. Don't want to let it drag along. Need to win game one of the World Series to set the tone. Need to win game two to keep home field advantage.

So, here we are tonight needing to win game three. For one thing, a 3-0 series lead is way way better than a 2-1 lead. For another, mentally the Dodgers have been waiting for this. At home against a right handed pitcher, this is where their true team comes out. If the Sox win this game too? Talk about a punch to the gut. Now what would they have to hang their hats on?

Which is why, I imagine, Alex Cora has managed with such an urgency during the postseason. But, he hasn't managed stupidly, which is a delicate balance. So while I can't imagine starting Chris Sale tomorrow on short rest is in his plans because that would be stupid, I could certainly see him disrupt his plans for tomorrow if it meant getting a win tonight. Postseason wins don't always present themselves, so you need to go after them when they do.

Thinking it over, I realize that one coach who doesn't manage the playoff games with urgency is Bill Belichick. He's very happy to stay the course and let the percentage play out. I bet he would see a 2-0 series lead, and not change a thing. After all, they only need to win 2 of the next five, and it doesn't matter which two. So, if he's ok with the pitching match-ups the Sox have in game six and seven, he would have no urgency at all to win any games in Los Angeles. Which is also why he sometimes get screwed by an odd play or a bad call. If you play the percentages when it's first and goal from the one, but get an uncalled pass interference on fourth down, you're screwed. When you stay calm even though you're trailing in the Super Bowl only to see Tom Brady fumble for the first time in like ever, you lose. It's Belichick's blessing, and curse. And it's not the way Alex Cora handles things.

Hard to say who's right.