Ed Puskas: Trusting in Tito to manage

No disrespect to Tyronn Lue, who coached the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship, but who would dispute that having LeBron James was the key to overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals?

Baseball teams can win with more modest talent, great chemistry and the right manager.

The Indians have all three. The first two games of the American League Division Series have shown that Terry Francona is the guy you want in the dugout if the goal is pulling off an October surprise and continuing Cleveland’s championship year.

The Indians were written off by some observers after losing starting pitchers Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, but they still earned home-field advantage for the ALDS and can finish off the favored Red Sox today in large part because of Francona.

The veteran manager made all the right moves in a tense opener and his knack for getting the most out of players in key situations was on display in each of the first two games.

Francona went with mercurial right-hander Trevor Bauer in Game 1, then expertly used his bullpen as Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen finished out the game. Some observers were sure Francona had relied too much on his relievers, particularly Miller and Allen. Each threw season-high pitch counts, but this was no normal game.

Winning the opener was critical because it changed the complexion of the series. All the pressure was suddenly on Boston lefty David Price, who showed why he’s 0-8 with a 5.74 ERA in the playoffs.

Some managers wouldn’t have started Lonnie Chisenhall against a dominant lefty like Price. But Chisenhall has had some success against Price and had more in Game 2, when his three-run homer broke it open. It was Chisenhall’s first home run off a lefty in 2016.

That’s why Francona has a reputation as a players’ manager. He knows his roster inside and out and isn’t afraid to go with his gut and show confidence in a player despite what others mught see as an unconventional matchup.

Some wondered how ace Corey Kluber would pitch in Game 2 after missing time with a leg injury. But Kluber was the ace he’s always been and gave the Indians just what they needed — dominance and length.

Now Francona turns to Josh Tomlin, a hot-and-cold flyball pitcher, today at Fenway in Game 3. Francona loved the right-hander’s bulldog nature, but because those earlier moves worked to perfection, he has a rested and deep bullpen ready if Tomlin gets in trouble.

It figures to work because Francona tends to make all the right moves in October.

Just ask the Red Sox.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.