Could Craig Kimbrel eventually start to appear in the eighth, or even seventh innings?
Things seem to be trending that way.
Appearing on Dale & Keefe with John Tomase on Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated conversations with Kimbrel about potentially appearing in high leverage situations before the ninth inning have begun.
"Little by little, we have been talking about it," he said. "It's something that a lot of people think it is easy to do. A lot of people think their high-leverage situation is the same as mine. I don't agree. This is a guy that has done it one way for a lot of years and information comes into play and conversations come into play. At the end of the day, we do feel that we have guys around Craig that can do the job, too. We have certain matchups that we can exploit over the course of the game, especially late. We're going to still believe in those guys. At the same time, we keep talking. We're still presenting information. … The conversations are on-going."
Kimbrel is in a contract year, so he could be somewhat against it as it could lower his save totals, but Cora feels that won't be an issue.
"I do feel he understands that," he said. "It's a matter of — these guys, they have their routines, man. [It is] one of the things that I am very aware of managing the game. I always thought about it over the years when I was working for ESPN and last year with the Houston Astros. We talk about bringing the closer in in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and no outs with the fourth hitter, and he gets out of the inning. Do we feel like someone else should come in for the ninth or is it fair for the closer to come in that situation? … With time things are going to change. We have to be fair with this guy. This guy didn't have spring training. He's been going through a lot off the field. We're still backing him up. When he is ready and when we come to a conclusion that this is the time, we'll do it."
In nine games this season, Kimbrel is 0-1 with a 1.08 ERA and has struck out 11 hitters in 8 1/3 innings with all of his appearances coming in the ninth inning or later.
