The Red Sox deliver an early Christmas present in 2018
![LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fbosoxinjection-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F10-2F1054824094-850x560-03c0eab064575a8fbe5c652c31d5675d.jpg)
The holidays are here my friends and what better way to celebrate than by looking back at a great season by our Red Sox? From start to finish this season was the best gift Red Sox Nation could’ve received.
I would like to start out by wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and a happy and safe New Year. With that said, let’s look back at the best year in Red Sox baseball. That’s not even an exaggeration either! This team was the best squad in the history of the franchise.
Not only did they set a club record in wins, but they also dominated the baseball world and raised the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of it all. Boston would also boast numerous individual accolades from this past campaign. It was really a year for the record books and feels like one of those seasons that we’ll be telling our grandchildren about.
When I originally started this my goal was to turn the “Twelve Days of Christmas” into the “Twelve Plays of Soxmas.” But as I was going through the season, that was easier said than done. There were just too many awesome moments from this squad. I tried to narrow it down to some of the biggest but I’m sure I missed some. Again, there were just too damn many! But hey, that’s life.
Let’s get to ripping into the wrapping paper and get these presents opened!
Signing Alex Cora
This was the match that lit the fuse that led to winning the World Series. When Dave Dombrowski signed the charismatic Puerto Rican star, it instantly changed the mood in Boston. Alex Cora is a former player with the Red Sox and was also on a World Series winning squad in 2007.
I’ll admit there was some trepidation as Cora would be a first-year manager, but coming off the collapse of John Farrell, I was willing to give it a go. AC didn’t disappoint in any way whatsoever this season. He also handled the media well, never missed a beat in the game, and inspired his squad from day one.
After the combustion that was the tenure of Terry Francona, the implosion of John Farrell and the embarrassment of Bobby Valentine, Cora has corrected the course. Alex Cora could very well be one of the best managers in the game, especially if this season is any inkling into his real ability to lead.
To me, this was the most important thing that the Red Sox could’ve done this season. The front office needed to change the culture of the clubhouse and give the young talented squad we had someone who could understand them. Cora was the perfect fit considering his resume and age. Safe to say, AC was one hell of a gift.