Rays’ choice of reliever confuses Cora
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A day later, it was worth asking: Why did the Tampa Bay Rays give up on Monday night’s game?
They chipped away at the Red Sox’ 8-0 lead in the eighth inning to plate three runs off Nathan Eovaldi, then put two more on base before Matt Barnes came in.
In a sense, the Rays did their job, getting both Eovaldi and Barnes into a game that had once seemed very much in hand. But after Barnes closed out the eighth with the Rays just five runs behind, the hosts chose to waive the white flag and used a position player on the mound.
Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters it was a “tough decision” but said the cutoff point for him was being within four runs.
With Rays infielder Michael Brosseau throwing nothing but curveballs ranging from 57-73 mph, the Red Sox plated one more run in the ninth.
The Rays also scored in the ninth for a final of 9-4, but it seemed odd they had given up in a somewhat close game against a division rival.
“I don’t know man, it’s a tough one,” manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. “Five-run game. They had a reason to do it. It’s one that puts you in a tough spot too because while they’re saving their pitching, we have to finish the game with our pitching. I don’t know. They had their reasons.
“Like I always said, I manage my team. They decided they wanted to save their bullpen and they did. It’s just, it’s weird because of the score and the way the team swung the bat and the ball is jumping. They scored runs. But they have their reasons.”
Using position players on the mound has been the trendy thing to do rather than waste relievers. The number of position players used as pitchers is on pace to be more than six times as often in 2019 as it was in 2009.
“In an era where everyone is using their bullpen a lot, that happens,” Cora said. “At the same time … (Terry Francona) told me in 2006 when I was a player, ‘When you manage, be careful not to chase wins. Some games although you feel you can come back, it’s going to be hard to come back. If you try to use your bullpen for a win or whatever, you’re going to be chasing your tail for a week.’”
MLB will change the rules for 2020, expanding active rosters from 25 to 26 guys but making each team designate every player as either a pitcher or position player. Position players will no longer be allowed to pitch unless it’s extra innings, one team is winning by at least six runs or the player is designated as a two-way player, meaning they have at least 20 innings pitched and at least 20 games started at another position in the previous season.
Hitters “don’t like it” when position players pitch, Cora said. “You still have to bear down and try to do your best. You kind of like, have to change your swing sometimes. Less is more, actually. I know it’s uncomfortable.”