The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[cp176]

Not the way that I wanted to see Cora start his season, having to face the hound dogs right away, but he knows what it's like to play in Boston.

 

He'll be fine.

 

He does know what it is like to play in Boston for sure and I hope everything works out well for him and I think that it will. Still there is a big difference between playing and managing particularly here. What ever he does he will always be under the microscope and he will be second guessed at every turn. I have never really had much confidence in Joe Kelly but Cora has to show a little faith in the guys he has regardless of we think. I'm looking at this differently - 4 hits 6 runs should not happen. Against the Rays, Kelly and Smith should have been able get through one inning. I see it as being on them for the most part.

[Kimmi]

He does know what it is like to play in Boston for sure and I hope everything works out well for him and I think that it will. Still there is a big difference between playing and managing particularly here. What ever he does he will always be under the microscope and he will be second guessed at every turn. I have never really had much confidence in Joe Kelly but Cora has to show a little faith in the guys he has regardless of we think. I'm looking at this differently - 4 hits 6 runs should not happen. Against the Rays, Kelly and Smith should have been able get through one inning. I see it as being on them for the most part.

 

I pretty agree with everything you said here.

 

I do not blame Cora for this loss. Then again, one would be hard pressed to find any loss that I blame on the manager. Cora absolutely has to show a little faith in his players, so while I thought he left Kelly in one batter too long, I have no problem with him doing so.

[Michfan]

Geesus, every team should have a relieve pitcher or 2 that can at least throw strikes. Frustrating

[a700hitter]

Cora blew one game that he should have secured in the win column. He's off to a bad start. The last time we hired a manager who was supposed to represent the next generation of managerial geniuses he was the worst manager in my lifetime. He eventually started forgetting his son at the ballpark and got arrested for trafficking cocaine through the mail and was on the way to another last place finish had the baseball strike not interceded. I don't buy hype, and I don't care if a manager is likable and gets good press. He can't blow games like yesterday's game.

[a700hitter]

I pretty agree with everything you said here.

 

I do not blame Cora for this loss. Then again, one would be hard pressed to find any loss that I blame on the manager. Cora absolutely has to show a little faith in his players, so while I thought he left Kelly in one batter too long, I have no problem with him doing so.

After the second walk, Kelly was probably pretty certain that it was not his day.

[Kimmi]

After the second walk, Kelly was probably pretty certain that it was not his day.

 

I have agreed that I think Cora probably left Kelly in one batter too long, but in game one of the season, the decision is defensible.

 

For many reasons.

[a700hitter]

I have agreed that I think Cora probably left Kelly in one batter too long, but in game one of the season, the decision is defensible.

 

For many reasons.

It may be a learning experience for him, but it is not defensible.

[cp176]

Cora blew one game that he should have secured in the win column. He's off to a bad start. The last time we hired a manager who was supposed to represent the next generation of managerial geniuses he was the worst manager in my lifetime. He eventually started forgetting his son at the ballpark and got arrested for trafficking cocaine through the mail and was on the way to another last place finish had the baseball strike not interceded. I don't buy hype, and I don't care if a manager is likable and gets good press. He can't blow games like yesterday's game.

 

He had some issues yesterday for sure. My biggest concern with him might be that everyone considers him to be a "player's coach"

and that means different things to different people. Somewhere along the line he is going to have to make decisions that not everybody is going to like. He doesn't have to be an ******* about it but if he gets to close too the people he has to deal with it will be tougher.

[Bellhorn04]

I just love being a fan of this team. First game of the season completed and BANG, we get an Alex Cora Managerial Decisions thread. I am not at all criticizing the thread. Not in the least. Like I said, I just love being a fan of this team.

 

Red Sox fans are nuts without a doubt.

 

When we lost this game it struck me that we lost a game to the Rays in almost identical fashion to start the season in 2003. A nice lead with Pedro cruising and it was blown by our 'closer by committee'. Shaughnessy confirmed this is in his crazy column day. The score was 6-4. Kind of freaky. Check it out!

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200303310.shtml

[moonslav59]

Red Sox fans are nuts without a doubt.

 

When we lost this game it struck me that we lost a game to the Rays in almost identical fashion to start the season in 2003. A nice lead with Pedro cruising and it was blown by our 'closer by committee'. Shaughnessy confirmed this is in his crazy column day. The score was 6-4. Kind of freaky. Check it out!

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200303310.shtml

 

I was at that game!

 

I had been visiting a buddy in North Palm Beach and stopped by to catch the opener on my way to my sister's in North Carolina.

 

(I left before the pen meltdown and while listening on the radio, I almost drove my car into a concrete bridge after we blew it).

[jad]

He has the worst winning percentage of any manager EVER in the RS! How he still has a job is beyond me.

[moonslav59]

Damn the sample size argument!

 

A zero winning percentage is totally unacceptable!

[Emp9]

Red Sox fans are nuts without a doubt.

 

When we lost this game it struck me that we lost a game to the Rays in almost identical fashion to start the season in 2003. A nice lead with Pedro cruising and it was blown by our 'closer by committee'. Shaughnessy confirmed this is in his crazy column day. The score was 6-4. Kind of freaky. Check it out!

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200303310.shtml

 

Good catch!

[mvp 78]

Cora pitched great tonight.

[Natick to NC]

Yup Cora lights out lol ...So JD must be playing RF next game right ? Sandy behind the plate and Holt in for Nuney ? With Blake likely to pH for Sandy or Holt someplace around the 7th inning ? ....this kid needs ABs and it's not going to happen here it's obvious to me he's trade bait now .

[MADSTORK]

The great Joe Kelly in 2017 while pitching the 7th and 8th innings a total of 36 IP. The player allowed 15 ER and 18 BB

 

To all those who say those statistics in the late innings is acceptable is priceless!

[moonslav59]

The great Joe Kelly in 2017 while pitching the 7th and 8th innings a total of 36 IP. The player allowed 15 ER and 18 BB

 

To all those who say those statistics in the late innings is acceptable is priceless!

 

He musta been great in the 6th!

[Bellhorn04]

He musta been great in the 6th!

 

Stork also failed to mention that in the 9th inning and extra innings Kelly pitched 14.1 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and 6 walks.

[Maxbialystock]

Page 8 of this discussion which is basically about one inning in the first game of a 162 game season. Could be a world land speed record for fastest lynching of a new manager.

[Bellhorn04]

Page 8 of this discussion which is basically about one inning in the first game of a 162 game season. Could be a world land speed record for fastest lynching of a new manager.

 

Symptomatic of life in the internet age. Reactions and overreactions keep getting faster.

[Emp9]

Symptomatic of life in the internet age. Reactions and overreactions keep getting faster.

 

The f*** you mean bro?

 

 

 

 

 

[Kimmi]

The great Joe Kelly in 2017 while pitching the 7th and 8th innings a total of 36 IP. The player allowed 15 ER and 18 BB

 

To all those who say those statistics in the late innings is acceptable is priceless!

 

Joe Kelly stat rankings for qualified relievers:

 

HR/9 - 13th

BAA - 33rd

ERA - 39th

WHIP - 63rd

WAR - 65th

IP - 102nd

K/BB - 139th

 

Those numbers don't look great, but if you consider that there are 30 teams with 7 relievers per team, they are not bad at all. Yes, Kelly gives up too many walks. OTOH, he doesn't give up that many hits which gives him a respectable WHIP.

 

To me, he is a #2/3 quality reliever on a team, which makes him a 7th or 8th inning guy.

[a700hitter]

Page 8 of this discussion which is basically about one inning in the first game of a 162 game season. Could be a world land speed record for fastest lynching of a new manager.

No one has called for his head yet, but he takes the hit for game 1.

[Kimmi]

No one has called for his head yet, but he takes the hit for game 1.

 

3 OOBs in 2 games.

 

Is that Farrell's fault?

[a700hitter]

3 OOBs in 2 games.

 

Is that Farrell's fault?

Is he the manager? There is plenty of stupidity to go around in manager's offices and coaching staffs in baseball. it is not a very good idea to encourage your catchers to run.

[Maxbialystock]

No one has called for his head yet, but he takes the hit for game 1.

 

Next best thing. Look at the thread title and the number of pages. There is a palpable hunger for something that is hardly new to the Red Sox Nation. I believe we are on our 5th manager in the John Henry era--and 2 of the previous 4 actually managed WS winners. Of course, I personally believe that managers are for the most part hired to be fired and was OK with all four firings. Still . . .

[jad]

Yeah, well Sox fans are just not satisfied with .500 ball, especially when the record is entirely against teams with a NON-WINNING percentage! Today's game obvioully crucial for Cora's future.

[a700hitter]

Next best thing. Look at the thread title and the number of pages. There is a palpable hunger for something that is hardly new to the Red Sox Nation. I believe we are on our 5th manager in the John Henry era--and 2 of the previous 4 actually managed WS winners. Of course, I personally believe that managers are for the most part hired to be fired and was OK with all four firings. Still . . .

You are overreacting. Pissing and moaning about a manager letting a 4-0 lead slip away in the 8th inning against a half-assed team is to be expected. Stop wringing your hands about it. Cora will live.

[MADSTORK]

Stork also failed to mention that in the 9th inning and extra innings Kelly pitched 14.1 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and 6 walks.

 

Mop up Duty 11 of 14 IP were with a 4 run or more lead

[Maxbialystock]

No one has called for his head yet, but he takes the hit for game 1.

 

He plays him game 1, Kimbrel is not available for the two games he did save. You can’t manage the first game of the season likes it’s a playoff game. Right now Cora looks a whole lot smarter than the critics.