HOUSTON -- It's doubtful that any major league manager uses the word "re-set'' more than the Red Sox' Alex Cora.
Bullpen overused in recent days before a starting pitcher delivers seven innings? That's a re-set.
Off-day on the horizon after a demanding stretch of the schedule had the Sox playing every day for three weeks? Re-set!
On Wednesday, after his team saw its modest three-game winning streak snapped with a one-sided 6-1 loss to Houston, Cora opted to look at the big picture.
After all, his team had, for the first time since late June, won a series, and had done so against one of the two best teams in the American League. Moreover, the trade deadline had passed, and the Red Sox were finished with their roster shuffling. For all the veterans who worried that they might be shipped out to parts unknown, decimating the roster further and reducing the club's already longshot playoff chances, there was some finality to the week.
The Red Sox, for better or worse, were done with their transactions. Finally, This is Us.
"It was important for us (to take two of three),'' said Cora. "If you keep winning series, you know what's going to happen -- you're going to play meaningful games in September. We feel that way. To come in here, get two-of-three, move forward, be ready for Kansas City and win the series over there, re-set Monday (an off-day). We're grinding, but we're ready to play.''
The day began with chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom joining the team here, and holding some conversations with players in the clubhouse. Some were not happy about a perceived lack of communication between the players and team management. (In a rarity, there was no representative from Baseball Operations for the first two games here). Others were miffed by the trade of starting catcher Christian Vazquez, weakening the team at a critical position with two months to play.
"I wanted to be here after the trade deadline. I think that's important,'' said Bloom. "I saw some of the things that (Xander Bogaerts) said and even independent of that, he's the first guy we want to talk to in this clubhouse. We talked briefly (Wednesday morning), but we'll talk (more).''
Bogaerts said publicly the other day what others were merely thinking to themselves, which could be boiled down thusly: What are we doing?
It was one thing for management to get ahead of things and inform both Bogaerts and Devers they would be staying put at the deadline. But when Vazquez was shipped across the field -- in the middle of batting practice in the series opener -- there was a fear in the Red Sox clubhouse that a mass exodus would take place Tuesday.
That didn't happen, with the only other player moved off the major league roster being Jake Diekman, hardly an integral piece. Still, the Vazquez transaction unsettled and mystified players. If, as Bloom had noted, the Sox were still in "win now'' mode, unwilling to cash in on the 2022 season and still focused on getting to the playoffs -- standings be damned -- why had they traded such a valuable piece?
It's doubtful Bloom had anything to say Wednesday that would satisfy inquisitive players. But now that the deal is done, the focus has to shift to the final eight and a half weeks remaining in the season.
On Thursday, first baseman Eric Hosmer is set to join the Sox in Kansas City. He was the biggest acquisition for the major league roster and represents part of the overhaul that's taken place this week. Hosmer will be more-or-less the everyday first baseman. Tommy Pham is the new left fielder. Alex Verdugo has shifted to right. Jackie Bradley Jr. has come the fourth outfielder. Reese McGuire is sharing catching duties with Kevin Plawecki.
Franchy Cordero has been optioned. Jaylen Davis will likely join him Thursday when a spot has to be cleared for Hosmer. Bobby Dalbec is now a spare part.
Just because the Sox didn't pull off a blockbuster doesn't mean they look the same as they did when they arrived here Sunday night.
They don't.
Whether they're good enough to leapfrog a handful of teams currently ahead of them and stay in the race the rest of the way remains to be seen. The introduction of the third wildcard team allows a club to hang around if they can stay at .500 or better. The Red Sox have, at minimum, managed to at least do that much.
Eventually, additional internal reinforcements will arrive. Trevor Story could return in a couple of weeks. Michael Wacha is expected in a week or so. Matt Barnes is due to be activated in Kansas City. Kike Hernandez is somewhere on the horizon.
"Obviously, it hasn't been easy,'' admitted Cora of a tumultuous week, "but it's part of the business.''
The Royals await, vulnerable. Taking three-of-four would give the Sox a 5-2 trip, and a return home -- changed, overhauled, still fighting.
Re-set, as it were.