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Stock Down: Red Sox manager Alex Cora makes curious decision Monday night

File this under you never thought that you would see something like this. Ever. There’s taking one for the team, then there’s what Boston manager Alex Cora did to relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough against the Houston Astros Monday night.

Called up before the opening game of a three-game series in a pivotal series in the American League Wild Card race, Cora brought Barraclough on in the top of the fifth in relief of Chris Sale with the Red Sox down 3-2. Cora elected to let Barraclough finish the game and it wasn’t pretty. He allowed 10 runs, all earned, on 11 hits, five walks, and two home runs, including a shot to Jose Altuve to complete the veteran’s cycle in the game.

After the game, Cora explained his thinking and he was looking at the long-term picture rather than the moment of a winnable game.

“For us, it’s tough,” said Cora. “But this is where we’re at. It’s 16 games in a row. And a lot of teams go through this and we just have to get over that hurdle. Right now for us, this is where we’re at. We’re going to be in better shape [Tuesday] bullpen-wise. Much better.”

Take that any way you want, but it sounds like a guy frustrated with decisions made above him, being given a hand he doesn’t like and maybe, just maybe, beginning the steps of leaving in some capacity this offseason.