FINAL-1 Tue, Sep 25, 2018 12:59:14 AM 2018 RED SOX POSTSEASON PREVIEW 2-for-2 HOW ALEX CORA, J.D. MARTINEZ INJECTED NEW LIFE INTO THE SOX SABGA/Staff photo SABGA/Staff J.D. Martinez Alex Cora AMANDAÂ FINAL-1 Tue, Sep 25, 2018 12:59:16 AM S2 MASTER BUILDER How team president rebuilt Red Sox into superpower Chris Mason of the batters he faced, and • Wednesday, September 26, 2018 26, September • Wednesday, as a reliever, finished sixth in the Cy Young voting. Dave Dombrowski HOLDING ON arrived in 4 TO THE CORE Boston with a Sometimes the best trades reputation as are the ones you don’t make. an executive While Dombrowski has that never never shied away from trad- shied away ing horses for ponies, he from making a big splash. deserves kudos for holding 2018 BOSTON RED SOX 2018 BOSTON That’s proven to be well on to the right ones. deserved, as the Red Sox When he arrived in 2015, posted their best regular Mookie Betts and Xander season in franchise history Bogaerts were up-and-com- thanks in large part to the ers, but not yet superstars. star power on their roster. Prior to the 2016 season the Here are Dombrowski’s five Red Sox needed starting best moves as Sox shot-caller, pitching, so Dombrowski and the one non-move that knocked on a few doors. could come back to bite him: When the ask was Betts and/or Bogaerts, the Sox TRADING FOR said no thanks. 5 CRAIG KIMBREL At that time, Andrew Ben- When the Red Sox dealt intendi and Rafael Devers North of Boston Media Group • Group Media of Boston North four prospects for Craig were top prospects that AP file photo Kimbrel, they were expect- hadn’t yet gotten a sniff The success of the 2018 Red Sox can be attributed to some of Dave Dombrowski’s moves as president of baseball operations. ing a bullpen-altering arm in of the big leagues. They return. weren’t moved either. November there was plenty Houston’s bench coach in SIGNING J.D. MARTINEZ ONE THAT COULD HAUNT HIM: The closer has lived up to If you look at the top of of risk in hiring Alex Cora. 2017. 1 This was Dombrows- NOT DEALING FOR that billing. the Red Sox batting order, The majority of his post- Still, Dombrowski went ki’s finest hour. BULLPEN HELP Kimbrel solidified the it’s homegrown — and J.D. playing days had been as an after a new-school manager He played his cards bril- The 2018 Red Sox are a back end of the bullpen — he Martinez, who we’ll get to in analyst, and the Sox skip- in Cora and it’s paid off in a liantly to land J.D. Marti- ready-made World Series represented Boston in three a moment. per only had one season of big way. nez, a franchise-changing threat — with one blemish. consecutive All-Star Games coaching experience at the bat. Their bullpen has been an — and turned in an other- HIRING ALEX CORA Major League level — albeit, TRADING FOR During last offseason’s issue since last postseason, worldly 2017. Kimbrel struck 3 Though it seems like a pretty darn good one, 2 CHRIS SALE unprecedented free agent and one that was never out a hair under 50 percent a slam dunk now, back in winning a World Series as It took a king’s ransom, freeze, Dombrowski knew addressed. Dombrowski but the payoff has been the market for Martinez. didn’t replace the departing worth it. The big fish were all out of Addison Reed, nor did he Chris Sale is the most the running for one reason add an arm in free agency, GO SOX dominant Red Sox pitcher or another, and with no though the ’pen was seri- since Pedro Martinez. Bar Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals ously lacking in left-handers. none. or Yankees to contend with, When Carson Smith threw To land Sale, Dombrowski there was no rush. his glove — and his season Sewing Machines • Repairs • Fabrics • Notions • Books • Classes had to ship away base- With Martinez’s super — away, Dombrowski didn’t ball’s top prospect in Yoan agent Scott Boras in no rush, make an in-season move. Nor Moncada, Michael Kopech Dombrowski waited. And did he when Tyler Thorn- In Celebration of the Red Sox Clinching the AL East — a flame-thrower with a waited. And waited some burg’s stuff didn’t come back Bring in this coupon for a 10% discount on a one yard or more cut of regularly priced fabric bright big league future — more. as sharp as they’d hoped. The (thru 10/27/18) and two other prospects, Ultimately, he landed Mar- deadline came and passed but Sale has been well tinez on a modest five-year, while Domrowski stood pat. worth it. $110 million deal, and the If the Sox crumble again A fun place to shop - where customers are friends! The ace’s starts are slugger has responded with this season, don’t be shocked sewcreativebeverly.com • 14 Elliott St. • Beverly • 978-524-8848 appointment viewing. one of the best first seasons if their bullpen proves to be Hours: Tues-Fri. 9:30-5:30 • Thurs. ‘til 7 • Sat. 9:30-4:30 • Sun. 12-4 in Red Sox history. the Achilles heel. FINAL-1 Tue, Sep 25, 2018 12:59:17 AM S3 DANVERS: 182 North Street, 978-777-3000 • NEWBURY: 2 Morgan Ave., 978-463-3001 • Group Media of Boston North LET US CATER YOUR NEXT FAMILY OR COMPANY PARTY Open 7 days a week: Sun.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ADD SOME FLAVOR Famous Marinades 2018 BOSTON RED SOX 2018 BOSTON Sirloin Tips | Boneless Chicken TO THE PLAYOFFS! Boneless Pork | Wings & Thighs New Seasoned Steaks Seasoned with Montreal Seasoning Available in All Cuts • Wednesday, September 26, 2018 2018 26, September • Wednesday, Beer & Wine A Great Selection of Beer & Wine to Complement Our Food Items Prepared Foods Salads | Soups | Quiche Dips | Desserts Meats Full Line of Packaged & Custom-Cut Meats Produce Expanded Produce Department www.danversbutchery.com FINAL-1 Tue, Sep 25, 2018 12:59:18 AM S4 Band of Brothers How Martinez and Cora helped change everything for the Sox Chris Mason thinker with a knack for connecting with those around him. He checked After falling flat again in most of the boxes teams • Wednesday, September 26, 2018 26, September • Wednesday, 2017, the Red Sox were in look for in a manager, need of a franchise face lift. despite his inexperience. Two men were able to Dombrowski didn’t engineer that — albeit, they hesitate. were the two biggest free The Red Sox architect agents in their respective landed Cora while the fields. postseason was still being After Boston’s second con- played. During an introduc- secutive deer-in-the-head- tory press conference in lights American League early November, the rookie Division Series exit, John skipper radiated a cool 2018 BOSTON RED SOX 2018 BOSTON Farrell was fired and Dave confidence. Dombrowski eyed a new “Boston, for a lot of peo- manager. ple, is a challenge. For me, AMANDA SABGA/Staff photos En route to the World it’s not,” Cora said. “This a In his first season in Boston, J.D. Martinez has put up MVP- Series as the Houston city that I understand they caliber offensive numbers. Astros bench coach, Alex live baseball 24/7, but you Cora had quite a few suitors. know what? I come from a breakfast, we talk baseball. The Puerto Rico native Sharp, affable and bilingual, country that we live base- For lunch, we talk baseball stressed that transparency Cora was a new-school ball 24/7. In my family, for and for dinner, too.” and accountability were two things he wanted to see in his team, and promised to hold himself to the same standard. While Dombrowski was North of Boston Media Group • Group Media of Boston North swift in landing Cora, it would take longer to acquire the second member of Extreme Makeover: Red Sox Edition. The Sox had missed David Ortiz dearly in 2017 — both on the field and in the clubhouse — and Red Sox manager Alex Cora, showing a little intensity himself, as another season ended says he was impressed with J.D. Martinez’s passion for the prematurely, it was obvious game of baseball. they needed a middle-of- the-order bat. really began to click that negotiations, Martinez was Enter J.D. Martinez. Martinez fit the mold of perched on a podium along- The Sox and the slugger what he wanted on the field side Dombrowski and Cora, were an obvious match, and in the clubhouse. introduced as the newest but he wasn’t going to “The way he talked, he member of the Boston Red come easily. After a career was very passionate about Sox. year saw Martinez belt 45 baseball,” Cora said. “He’d “It’s come to a fruitful home runs, super agent talk about communica- end, and we’re absolutely Scott Boras dubbed him tion with his players in thrilled,” Dombrowski said. “The King Kong of Slug,” Arizona. After that I made Martinez was ready to and they were rumored to some phone calls and, pick up where he’d left off in be seeking a $200 million yeah... They told me he was Arizona. contract. amazing. “I’m expecting, hopefully, Though the two sides “He was able to communi- to do a lot of damage,” Mar- didn’t strike a deal when cate, to share information, tinez said.