“Try to create an atmosphere where good players want to do good things,” Francona said, and his team has accomplished that.

It was clear months ago that the Red Sox were undermanned compared with the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, and Francona conceded they never got on a roll. But they have also avoided long losing streaks, which suggests that the team still fights.

Of course, measuring effort is impossible. Maybe the Red Sox have stayed competitive simply because Lester and Buchholz have mostly been healthy and effective, and Adrian Beltre has starred at third base. In that case, how much difference has Francona really made?

One thing he has done, at least, is keep the atmosphere from deteriorating  as it often can with large-market teams that are hurt by injuries, like the Mets this season and last.

“It’s definitely a challenge, because the expectations don’t change, whether you’re dealing with injuries or not,” said Joe Girardi, who guided the Yankees to 89 victories despite a rash of injuries in 2008 but was criticized for missing the playoffs. “The expectations on you in New York and Boston aren’t going to change.”

Girardi won the National League manager of the year award in 2006, when his young Florida Marlins went 78-84. Last season, when the Yankees went 103-59, Girardi finished third. Voters  two members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America from each city in the league  seem more willing to recognize managers who do the most with the least than those with large payrolls.