Bill Koch

Monday

Jul 30, 2018 at 8:53 PM

BOSTON — There certainly appears to have been a healthy collection of brainpower on the rosters of Boston’s 2004 and 2007 World Series champions.

Alex Cora, Gabe Kapler (Phillies), Dave Roberts (Dodgers) and Kevin Cash (Rays) all are serving as big league managers this season, with Cora and Kapler renewing acquaintances during this brief two-game series at Fenway Park. Cora, Kapler and Roberts each had their teams holding division leads going into Monday and Cash had piloted Tampa Bay to a 53-53 mark, on pace for its first .500 season since 2013.

“I wish I could say that we all got together and we talked about it, but that wasn’t the case,” Cora said. “I played with [Roberts] in ’04 with the Dodgers before he got traded here — never thought that both of us were going to be managers. We never mentioned it. Cash, the same way, and Gabe.”

The Red Sox entered Monday 41 games over .500 for the first time since 1946, a season in which they eventually racked up 104 victories. Philadelphia is on course for what could be its first playoff appearance since 2011. That both Cora and Kapler are first-year managers has done nothing to prevent their success.

“The organizations where we were brought in, they’re solid,” Cora said. “They’re pretty good.”

The patriarch of the group also has his team in playoff contention. Terry Francona and the Indians occupy first place in the A.L. Central, a comfortable nine games ahead of a Twins team that is selling off key pieces ahead of Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

“People that taught the game — Tito, [Brad] Mills, DeMarlo [Hale], Luis [Rivera] — when I was here,” Cora said. “[Rivera] helped me a lot.

“We were very passionate about the game, but to say we were going to manage in whatever year? No, I can’t recall a conversation of us saying this is what we wanted to do.”

Injury update

Eduardo Rodriguez (right ankle) is spending more time out of his walking boot and ramping up his physical activity.

Rodriguez met with Dr. George Theodore over the weekend and has been cleared to add more exercises to his routine. Running on the treadmill could soon be a part of the picture as Rodriguez attempts to return to the mound in short order.

“You talk to him and there’s no hesitation,” Cora said. “He believes that he’s going to contribute this year, which is probably the most important thing.”

Rodriguez had thrown 19 straight scoreless innings before suffering his injury covering first base in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays on July 14. The left-hander's earned-run average was down to a career-low 3.44, and Boston was 16-3 in his 19 starts.

Flemming gets the call

Monday featured an off-field call-up to the Red Sox, as Will Flemming made his big-league debut in the radio booth. The normal partner of Josh Maurer at Triple-A Pawtucket joined Joe Castiglione for the call on WEEI and its affiliates. Flemming was filling in for Tim Neverett, whose father, Bill, passed away on Friday. … The Red Sox entered the game having won 18 of their last 20 interleague games, including 12 of their last 13. Boston’s 234-157 record since interleague play began in 1997 is the best in the big leagues. … Craig Kimbrel entered Monday with 99 saves since his trade to the Red Sox prior to the 2016 season. Only Jonathan Papelbon (216), Bob Stanley (132) and Dick Radatz (104) have reached triple digits with the team. ... Drew Pomeranz will oppose Jake Arrieta in the finale of the two-game series on Tuesday. It will be the second start for Pomeranz since his return from the disabled list and his fifth career appearance against the Phillies.

— bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

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