Stability. It’s one of the most important characteristics of good teams. In 2016 it’s been a welcome change for the Red Sox.

For the first time in years, the Sox have a group of players that allow Manager John Farrell to put a fairly consistent lineup on the field each day. The bulk of his lineup will play every day when healthy.

Stability is essential, but Boston is also fortunate to have a lot of young talent like catcher Christian Vazquez. The Associated Press

This year he has good players. Players he can expect production from over the course of the season. That hasn’t been the case in recent years.

Last season the Red Sox were forced to use 136 lineups over the course of 162 games. In 2014 the Sox used even more – 145 through the course of the season.

It’s no coincidence that a manager who has to constantly tweak his lineup has a team that doesn’t contend. Both the 2014 and 2015 teams finished dead last.

Yes, the championship team of 2013 featured 126 lineups, but depth was a strength on that team, forcing Farrell to mix and match lineups to maximize production.

Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, Stephen Drew, Mike Carp and others were platoon players. Farrell had to constantly substitute one for the other, and move them up and down the lineup based on pitching matchups.

This season Farrell was able to use the same lineup in five of Boston’s first eight games. That’s because Travis Shaw won the starting third base job in spring training, and Brock Holt was installed as the primary left fielder when Rusney Castillo again struggled to hit big-league pitching.

Friday night there was a significant change in the lineup at catcher. Christian Vazquez was recalled from Pawtucket and Blake Swihart sent back to Triple-A, where he will begin spending some time in left field to increase his versatility. Vazquez was immediately inserted into the eighth spot in the lineup, where Swihart had been batting, and had two hits.

Farrell had the same lineup out there the next day. Vazquez had another hit and the Sox won their third straight game.

The manager won’t be able to put the same lineup out there every day for the rest of the season. It’s a long grind and players need a rest from time to time. That’s why Marco Hernandez made his major league debut at second base Sunday (breaking up Aaron Sanchez’s no-hit bid in the fifth).

Ryan Hanigan will catch more than the average backup catcher. He was behind the plate when knuckleballer Steven Wright took the mound Sunday, and should be back in there for Joe Kelly’s start against the Rays on Tuesday night.

And outfielder Chris Young will start against most left-handed pitchers. Back in February, Farrell said Young would start against every left-hander. Trouble is, the Sox didn’t face a lefty until Monday, when J.A. Happ started for Toronto. So playing time has been hard to come by for Young.

It’s important for a manager to keep all his players involved, to make sure the reserves are ready to contribute. Farrell will do that, finding innings for those who aren’t in the regular lineup.

He’s got a young, talented team. To get the most out of everybody he’ll need to continue putting them out there on a daily basis.

Tom Caron is a studio host for the Red Sox broadcast on NESN. His column appears in the Portland Press Herald on Tuesdays.

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