Red Sox manager Alex Cora proving he was the right choice
Ale Cora is having himself a successful year in his first season as the Red Sox Manager. He’s really connecting with the players.
The Boston Red Sox haven’t won a World Series since 2013. After winning the division in back-to-back seasons and getting bounced in the first round they needed a change.
John Farrell wasn’t connecting with the players towards the end of his time as manager. Just like Terry Francona wasn’t at the end of the 2011 season. However, this time beer and chicken in the clubhouse wasn’t involved. There needed to be a change in how the team was run on the field and off. Someone who could connect with the players. Also, to be honest, with the media.
After the Houston Astros won the World Series, Alex Cora was introduced as Manager of the Red Sox. His first year so far has been a success.
Cora wants to bring championships to Boston, not just a division title. In the month of April, the Red Sox went 21-6 this season, followed by 18-11 in May. They went 16-10 in June and 19-6 in July. Finally, so far in the month of August, the Red Sox are 14-5.
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The way the team is playing, they all seem to be connecting with Cora in a positive way, and that is a great sign. Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are both having MVP type seasons. Martinez has 38 home runs on the season while Betts has 27 home runs.
Last season on this date, the Red Sox were 73-53 and the Yankees were four games back in the division. A year later the Red Sox are 89-39 and the Yankees are nine games back. Boston is currently on a 114 win pace. You can say the competition has been bad around the league. However, it was pretty bad last year too.
The difference is the Red Sox want to play for Cora which is why he was the right guy for the job. The Red Sox have brought back pretty much the same team as last year. The only real addition on offense was Martinez to replace the retired David Ortiz at DH. With the numbers Martinez is putting up, he’s having a better year than Giancarlo Stanton.
The Red Sox had their first three-game losing streak since April snapped last night with a 10-4 win over the Indians. Cora has the chance to do something for the first time since 2013, give Boston a chance at winning a playoff series.
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Boston will win the division. The Yankees won’t catch them, the Red Sox are too good. Cora is also being smart about Chris Sale getting him ready when they need him the most the playoffs. Farrell, on the other hand, would have Sale pitch like last year which wore his arm out by September. All those reasons are why Cora was the right guy for the job.