With an almost 180-degree turn, I think popular Alex Cora has to go.
As many of you know, I am from Boston with deep allegiance to most of its sports teams, especially the Red Sox. I went to Fenway with my dad, saw Ted Williams’ last home run when I was maybe 10 and went crazy when the Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino in 2004.
Even though Cora was caught in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017, I was in favor of him returning to lead Red Sox Nation after his suspension for the COVID-shortened 2020 season. But my beef now is just about on-the-field, where the Sox have turned horror show.
Full disclosure. The team that was picked to finish fourth in the American League East was a big surprise over the first half of the season, getting great play from unexpected places. Yes, the Sox were playing over their heads, which still delighted New England.
But since the all-star break, they have played the worst baseball in the Major Leagues. I have fumed all-season about how many bad pitches they swing at until the Boston Globe finally revealed they have the highest so-called “chase rate” in the game. They have given so many walks away by swinging at high fast balls and low breaking balls.
Their overall play has been abominable. A couple of weeks ago, still in the pennant race, they made seven errors in a 10-1 loss to the Rangers, the second-worst team in the league behind the Orioles.
The next week, they lost to Minnesota, last place in the AL Central, when catcher Christian Vasquez forgot how many outs there were and didn’t run from second base on a line-drive single to right. Later, Alex Verdugo (whom I love, by the way) tried to stretch a wall-ball to a double, stopped and was thrown out going back to first.
The Sox are high in some slugging stats but strike out too much and are dismal at scoring runners from second and third. Their once-good starting pitching can’t get through the sixth inning and all-star closer Matt Barnes can’t get anyone out or find the strike zone.
Cora seems like a great guy, respected by his players. They are hanging on by a thread to the second wild card spot. If they miss it, Cora’s got to pay.
(featured image via Elise Amendola/Associated Press)
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Dear Art,
Two things.
1) the Red Sox have been mediocre, but it’s simply not true that “since the all-star break, they have played the worst baseball in the Major Leagues.” They are 20-21, which is disappointing, but the Orioles are 12-28 since the All-Star break. Probably almost half the teams have done worse than 20-21. Probably a few have played like the Orioles. But I’m not a professional sportswriter, so it’s OK for me not to know.
2) There is no way the Red Sox are firing Alex Cora. Simply because, after leading a team expected to finish fourth to spend half the season in first, they have slumped? This is not college football. Sure, he must share blame for their many mental errors, but he’s also the guy who has coaxed fine performances out of rejects or bargain signings like K. Hernandez (“he can’t hit leadoff!”), Hunter Renfroe (“platoon player!”), Bobby Dalbec (“should be in in AAA!”), Josh Taylor, etc etc. etc. The Red Sox know that Rafael Devers thrived under Cora, slumped when he was gone last year, and is all-world at the plate now. Cora is a major talent. He’s the reason they played over their heads over half the year. And they could still win it all, if they get in the playoffs healthy and hot (right now they are right where they were in 2004). He’ll be the manager in 2022 no matter what. Wish we could do some kind of wager where you say they will fire Alex Cora if they miss the playoffs and I say no way.