FORT MYERS, Fla. — After reaching the playoffs last October, a glamour team in the American League East replaced the manager who won the club’s last championship. The choice was someone who had never managed in the majors, but had played for the team in the World Series. He was in his 40s, with a college education. He had recent experience as an ESPN analyst, and a brother who also played in the majors.
All of that applied to the Yankees and Aaron Boone. It also applied to the Boston Red Sox and Alex Cora. Just as both teams have a new right-handed slugger in the middle of their lineups — Giancarlo Stanton for the Yankees, J.