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SIT and HIT 7 UNDER 27 PLENTY of YOUNG What to Do with Different TALENT in THIS Designated Hitter Rules? WORLD SERIES When They’Re on the Road, His Path

SIT and HIT 7 UNDER 27 PLENTY of YOUNG What to Do with Different TALENT in THIS Designated Hitter Rules? WORLD SERIES When They’Re on the Road, His Path

Bill Burt @BurtTalksSports Chris Mason @bychrismason

2018 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5* * Game 7* Tuesday, Oct 23 Wednesday, Oct 24 Friday, Oct 26 Saturday, Oct 27 Sunday, Oct 28 Tuesday, Oct 30 Wednesday, Oct 31 Fenway Park Dodger Dodger Stadium Fenway Park Fenway Park Boston Los Angeles Los Angeles Boston Boston SCHEDULE 8:09 p.m., Fox 8:09 p.m., Fox 8:09 p.m., Fox 8:09 p.m., Fox 8:15 p.m., Fox 8:09 p.m., Fox 8:09 p.m., Fox *if necessary 3 NEW MAN(AGERS) THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE RED SOX AND DODGERS

1. TWO-HEADED MONSTER The Red Sox reeled off a franchise record 108 wins in the reguar season thanks in large part to and J.D. Martinez. The two legitimate MVP candidates combined for 75 homers and 210 RBIs, and Betts led the majors with 129 runs scored.

2. OUTSTANDING OUTFIELD DEFENSE There is no better defensive trio in base- ball than Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and . Just ask . “Us as , we say it all the time, it feels like we’re playing with four ,” Sale remarked.

3. NATE’S BEEN A SECRET WEAPON Coming into the postseason, there was photos some question as to whether World Series managers Dave Roberts, left, of the Dodgers and , right, of the Red Sox both hope to have more to celebrate this would be in the Red Sox rotation. That’s post-season. pretty crazy in hindsight. Eovaldi has been exceptional, holding the Yankees and Astros to 3 runs in 141/3 . Cora and Roberts are cut from the same cloth 1. THE WHOLE LINEUP CHRIS MASON Dave Roberts. . The two both played happen. Roberts stole second DOES DAMAGE The two relatively green for the Sox and Dodgers, in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Though they don’t BOSTON — A players’ skippers are cut from the and were teammates in L.A. scored the game-tying in have a definitely-don’t- manager, he wasn’t too far same cloth. Winning a lot, before Roberts was shipped to the bottom of the ninth, and pitch-to-him player, just removed from the game when both Cora and Roberts are as Boston. was the catalyst to the greatest about everybody in the he got a new big league gig, upbeat as they come. They’re “I still remember in ‘04 when comeback in baseball history. Los Angles lineup can do and found immediate success. spearheading a new wave of he got traded,” Cora said. “We “I texted him, right after he damage. Eight Dodgers He’s cognizant of analytics easygoing managers that are were in at that time, stole second base,” Cora said. more than 20 home — very cognizant — but real- taking over the game. we had the best team in the “I don’t know what’s going to runs this season. izes there’s a feel factor that “(The Dodgers) were 10 West and he happen here but if this hap- comes with calling the shots, games back or something like got called into the office by pens, you’re going to become 2. FOUR STRONG STARTERS too. Though he was never that with a lot of good teams Jim Tracy and they told him a hero. And he is here in this Dave Roberts has a dominant starting really an everyday player, he ahead of them. I still remem- he got traded to the Red Sox. city.” rotation. , Hyun-Jin Ryu, knows what it takes to win. ber DR saying something like, He was down, upset, it was a If Cora can win a World , and Rich Hill have keyed He’s got a ring to prove it. ‘We will win the West,’” Cora good group. We felt that we Series managing in Boston, another run to the World Series. minority manager said. “When I read it I was like had something special going he’ll quickly join Roberts in hired by a prestigious fran- ‘DR is crazy’ But that’s who he on. the city’s sports pantheon. 3. THEY’LL RUN WILD chise, he’s quite proud of his is. He’s very positive. He has a “I still remember, I told him, Chris Mason is a Red Sox The Dodgers are always active on the roots. great pulse of that team.” ‘Hey man, you’re going to a beat writer for the Eagle-Tri- basepaths. They lead the postseason with Who is he? Depends on The same could certainly be great baseball city, you never bune and CNHI Sports Boston. 13 stolen bases and have only been tossed whether you’re reading this in said of Cora, who will come know what can happen. Just Email Chris at cmason@eagle- out three times. No other team had more Boston or Los Angeles. into this World Series with enjoy the ride.’” tribune.com and follow him on than 11 attempts in the first two rounds. He could be Alex Cora or 115 wins in his first season as a Of course, something big did at @bychrismason —Chris Mason SIT AND HIT 7 UNDER 27 PLENTY OF YOUNG What to do with different TALENT IN THIS rules? WORLD SERIES When they’re on the road, his path. the Dodgers and Red Sox will With Betts at second, J.D. forever, but Machado only turned 26 in July. have to play by the other’s Martinez, Andrew Benin- With some prime years still ahead of him, the rules. tendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. is going to reset the free agent MOOKIE BETTS That means there will be a could all get into the lineup. The league office must have been thrilled market this winter. designated hitter at Fenway Dodgers: Adding a bat is far when the Dodgers punched their ticket to face and the left fielder has lived up to them. His Park, but not Dodger Stadium. easier than subtracting one. Boston instead of Milwaukee. , 26 diving catch to seal Game 4 of the ALCS will live So what are the teams to do? Though he hasn’t played Not only are they two of the biggest mar- Before the season, Alex Cora told Bogaerts on highlight reels forever. Red Sox: With no DH in Los much this postseason — 14 kets, the Sox and Dodgers boast some of the he didn’t care if he hit for average. The man- Angeles, the Sox have a real plate appearances thus far best young star power in baseball. It’s a mar- ager just wanted Bogaerts to do damage. Mes- WALKER BUEHLER, 24 conundrum on their hands. — was Los Ange- keting gold mine. sage received: His 23 homers and 103 RBIs were In his first full season, the Dodgers already Their four best hitters right les’ most commonly used Here are seven players (under 27) to watch: career highs. trust Buehler a whole lot. He was given the now are all outfielders, so designated hitter against the start in their tie-breaker game against the who sits? this year. MOOKIE BETTS, 26 CODY BELLINGER, 23 Rockies, and spun 6 2/3 shutout innings, never One unorthodox solu- Dave Roberts could go back An AL MVP frontrunner, Betts took a leap He’s the NLCS MVP and reigning Rookie of allowing a runner to advance past second. tion would be to move to that well. forward in 2018, becoming only the second the Year, so it’d be fair to say Bellinger has Mookie Betts to second would be an player in Sox history to join the 30-30 club known a bit of success in his young career. , 21 base. Though they’d miss intriguing option, too. (home runs and stolen bases). Outstanding in He’s been durable, too, playing all 162 of L.A.’s The youngest of the bunch, Devers has his outfield defense, Betts’ Chris Sale and right field, Betts could win his third straight games this season. proven that the moment isn’t too big for him natural position is on the are lined up to start the first Gold Glove, too. time and time again. His three-run homer in infield — he played second two games in Boston, and ANDREW BENINTENDI, 24 Game 5 of the ALCS sent the Red Sox to the all the way to the majors — Freese has hit .321 against , 26 Expectations were high for Benintendi, who World Series. and was only moved because lefties this season. It’s hard to believe because he’s been around won a (2015) at Arkansas, —Chris Mason was blocking —Chris Mason

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