The accumulation of a highly successful first season for Alex Cora came to an exclamatory end as he led the Red Sox to the title since '13. Cora brought along his high baseball acumen to an organization that could not get over the LDS hump for the past few seasons. He applied what he learned as bench coach of the then-world champion Houston Astros,and, spread it to his players throughout the season-resulting in one of the most well-rounded teams in Red Sox history. 

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In addition to Cora's aptitude, the Red Sox only made a few key moves which turned out to be major difference makers. The past off-season brought the bat of J.D Martinez to the lineup........a bat that paid huge dividends to the lineup as he posted another 40 + home run season. Two critical trade deadline moves ended up becoming the moves that put them over the mountain top in Steve Pearce and Nathan Eovaldi. Pearce came from the Blue Jays as he delivered in the clutch vs. the Yankees during the regular season (especially his memorable 3-homer game); his crowning achievement came in the World Series as he came through in Games 4 and 5 earning him MVP honors. Eovaldi showed his stuff when on a contender as he produced "lights-out" performances whether it was starting a game,or,coming in for a relief appearance. 

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In the postseason, the Red Sox vanquished the rival New York Yankees in the division series and dethroned the defending champion Houston Astros with four straight wins (after dropping the first game) . Two 100+ win teams this season. They conquered the NL's best in the Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 games. Decisions paid off and this is the end result. Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox

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SEE ALSO: The Final POWER 10 RANKINGS