First of all, everyone has to be available, including pitchers. They are trying to get to the next round.
Second, the Sox lost that game yesterday in the first few innings. Madigral's error in the 1st inning was crushing. I know errors are part of the game but, in the playoffs that play HAS to be made. You could see right away Keuchel was struggling with his location. If the Sox get that last out, Oakland gets no runs and it's a different game. It certainly woke the A's up. No doubt, Keuchel got hit hard. But plays in the field have to be made.
Then Madigral made a key baserunning mistake which cost the Sox a run. You can't be doing that stuff at any time during the season, but especially not in the playoffs. And I laugh when I see and read people saying it was a rookie mistake. Bullsh*t. I have seen guys in high school with a better knowledge of baserunning. He should have been taught the proper way to run bases in the minor leagues. And he probably was.
During the short season the Sox were 6th in pitching and 6th in hitting in all of MLB. And they were in the bottom half in fielding. Stupid baserunning mistakes should be another stat. It would be an interesting one.