They all play by the book. Very few manage well to game situations. Bochy might be the best one in today's game. Last post season, Francona used Miller early and often for extended outings, because his starting rotation was decimated with injuries. Necessity is the mother of invention. After watching Francona's success, the copycats have been out in force this season. Farrell has used Kimbrel 2 or 3 times in the 8th inning when the game was on the line. Ditto Terry Collins of the Mets who has used Addison Russell in the 7th inning when he was the 8th inning guy, and he used Familia in the 8th. The copycats will do the new strategy to death like a formula even after it ceases to be effective or necessary. It is like how all of these doofuses do the shift to death -- even using it on .240 bottom of the order hitters with no pop who can rarely square up a ball. It is asinine.
Last Sunday night, the Astros were up 10-4 in the 7th inning with 1 out and Gardner gets on first base. With Sanchez up, they overshift to the left side of the infield and hold the runner on first base leaving the entire right side of the infield vacated. There was just so much that was stupid about that alignment that even the clueless ESPN trio that was busy taking turns leaving hickeys on Jeter's ass questioned why they woud be holding on a runner when they needed 7 more outs and were up 6 runs. So many times in 9th inning situations where teams are up multiple runs against left hand hitters, managers will hold the runner and play double play dept at second and SS leaving a huge hole for a ground ball. Why are they giving the batter that hole and worrying about the runner when you need 2 or 3 more outs. It leaves you shaking your head.