THE MODERATOR: Okay, everybody, open the questions with Aaron.
Q. I know you had some tough decisions to make with the roster, you included Will Warren on the roster. Why do you think his stuff will translate to the bullpen, and how do you expect to use him?
AARON BOONE: A lot of different roles could pop up for him. But feel like there's some pockets where he could be really effective for us. It might be in a short burst. It might be in a situation where we need length. It might be in an extra-inning situation where you are out of pitching and you got to roll.
So, you know, he's pitched really effectively all year. And kind of him -- he's on his fourth day today. So for most of the series should be in good shape to be able to give us what we need.
Q. You said yesterday it was likely going to be Goldschmidt. How do you weigh Goldschmidt against lefties this year and Ben Rice, what he's done lately, because he has been one of the hottest hitters on the team?
AARON BOONE: I mean, Goldy is going to play against every lefty we face. I mean, that's pretty easy call. You know, Ben is obviously a huge part of our offense, and has had a phenomenal year and is hot. But he -- I think part of that is he has faced the people he should be facing too. He will be back in there tomorrow against Bello. Obviously we have a really good chip over there sitting on the bench hopefully in a big spot as well.
Q. I know you have bigger stakes than just winning the game. Can the baseball fan in you appreciate for the fans or for the game, an ace-verse-ace matchup you are getting this, also the Crochet-Judge kind of battle of the titans, kind of those two big guys going against each other? Is there a part you separate from your stakes you can appreciate that?
AARON BOONE: A little bit. It is about winning the game. Certainly, I love the game. I love the sport. The history of it all. You understand that there are definitely some intriguing matchups within the game that hopefully is something that is great for our sport. Especially if we come out on top.
Q. What are some of the particular challenges managing against Alex Cora?
AARON BOONE: As I said yesterday, they always do a good job of the game within the game. You got to make sure you are buttoned up. They are going to exploit and find every little small advantage they can.
I think he is -- I think he is also a tremendous leader and they kind of take on his personality, and I think they play hard for him and play a lot for them.
That's a tribute of who he is and how he runs things. But, you know, you got to make sure you are buttoned up when you go up against them, and that's in large part due to his leadership.
Q. Aaron, how much tougher are some of these lineup decisions for a three-game set as opposed to a five- or seven-game series?
AARON BOONE: I don't know. I don't think any tougher necessarily. You are trying win the game, whether that's in a five-game game, in a three-game game, you know. So I guess obviously there's more urgency just by definition in the best-of-three, but nothing changes in lineup decisions when you are, you know -- it is playoffs. You are doing all you can to win.
Q. When hitters step into the box in the postseason, people talk about the need for them to make the moments small. Given the magnitude of the stakes, how hard is it to actually do that?
AARON BOONE: That is one of the challenges. That's the life of a big leaguer. It is getting to the big leagues and learning how to control that in a regular season environment, learning how to control that as a young player trying to find your footing. Boom. Now fast forward to the playoffs.
It is just another -- that's what sport is. That's what major league sport is, whether it is our sport, golf, football, you know, you are trying to control situations and slow things down as best you can while also playing, you know, playing fast and playing, you know, like a major league athlete. Some are better than others, obviously. But I think it is an important component to have.
Q. Going with Rosario at second base, is that strictly a matchup decision or is Jazz still hurting a bit?
AARON BOONE: Jazz is doing good. I wouldn't hesitate to use Jazz. He could be in this game early. But, yeah, obviously as tough as Crochet is, you know, he has been especially tough on lefties. There's no great matchup. Amed has good history with him. Hit him well, faced him a lot this year. Felt like I wanted that extra right-handed bat in there.
But Jazz is good to go. Will be ready to go. Also with Max, want the strength on the left side with my defense, all those kind of things come into play.
Q. Which leads me to ask about Mack versus Caballero. You talk about Caballero being such an important weapon off the bench, being able to deploy him in spots. Why go with him?
AARON BOONE: Get another righty in there. As great as Mack is at third, Caby is great at third too. We are talking about a really good shortstop that third might be even his best position. He can really defend over there as well. That part, you know, either guy I feel really comfortable with, you know, they do it in a different way but they are both really good over there.
Q. What is it about Rodón that leads you to believe this postseason he can excel?
AARON BOONE: He had really good moments last postseason. I think going through an entire postseason with the Yankees in New York, I think, really served him well. You look at his outings last postseason, the first one against the Royals where he came out and struck out the side in the first and kind of even then a little overamped and got away from him a little bit.
I thought he really learned from that experience. His next one against Cleveland was really good. So he has I think really benefited from the experience he gained in the postseason last year. He has done a really good job since he has been here of learning from, you know, some stumbles, learning from some good times.
And I think it has helped him in his experiences moving forward. Last year, I am hoping that that serves him well and just really slowing things down, really controlling moments, because that's an important thing to have.
Q. Following up to Andy's question about Cora. When you say the Red Sox take on Cora's personality, what does that look like in practicality from what you see?
AARON BOONE: I don't know. I think there's an intensity they play the game with, an edge, an intelligence that they play the game with. Like Alex has a good way about him as far as just having a really good energy and control of things. I think his players follow that.
Q. This is your 7th season now. How have you changed as a manager since that first series against the Red Sox in the ALDS? Is your kind of approach to managing the ebb and the flow in October shifted at all? Has like the in-game management shifted?
AARON BOONE: Yeah, I mean, I think we talk about these players have an experience, as a manager you have that experience to fall back on. Hopefully to glean from and gain from. Tough to say how it has changed. It just probably has evolved. The game evolves, and the game keeps moving and changing in some way, shape or form.
Every team you go into the postseasons with is different. So that factors in. Like each day can be a little bit different based on who you have on the mound, who you are up against, what kind of bench do you have, those kind of things. Hopefully I have evolved, but I don't know exactly how necessarily.
Q. Your team is relatively healthy, Cole and Schmidt aren't here, but no new injuries. Is the timing something that matters, and are you pleased to be coming in at this point?
AARON BOONE: I hope the timing is perfect. When the dust settles, we will know if it was. I feel great about our team. I have said to a lot of people, this is my seventh postseason. I think at this point where we are as a club this is the best group we have gone in with, the way we are playing, health. Different ways to beat ya.
All coming down to a best-of-three. We got to go do it and hopefully get to keep moving on. I feel great about our group. I feel like they are playing with a lot of confidence. They are playing for one another. They trust one another. Should be fun. And hopefully we get it done.
FastScript by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports