The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[Maxbialystock]

Cora is the first baseball manager inhistory to recognine the length of the season. Even with Devers on the DL, he rest Xander. This team was a physical mess in September every year (to say nothing of October!.

 

I can't think of a player on this squad who hasn't improved over last year

 

Who would have imagined Swihart as a member of this squad 3 months ago? And certainly not an IMPORTANT part of the team!

 

About right. I happen to think his in-game decisions are pretty good, but his overall team management clearly has been amazing. And for exactly the reason you state: the 162 game season is a grind; and a smart manager does what he kind to keep his players from being ground up.

[Sox75]

#1 Cora is not just having a great 1st year managerial beginning, it is beyond epic

 

#2 It is appropriate to write off day in day out critiques of Cora as short sighted

 

#3 It is also appropriate to point out in game decisions by Cora

 

#4 While it is ok to blindly defend his every in game decision, it is conversely appropriate to knock decisions that guys think cost games.

 

#5 It's not small minded or short sighted to disagree with an in game managerial decision. It's what we do here.

 

#6 Cora is doing a fantastic job! The guys seem to like and respect his leadership. He seems like a great guy, and I've loved the guy since his days a player for the Sox.

 

#7 Cora is clearly a GREAT young MLB manager! He deserves a HUGE amount of credit for this run. It's stunning to see improvement by almost every guy on the team. These guys seem incredibly motivated by Cora, and he deserves tremendous credit for how this team is playing.

 

#8 but Cora is not a God. He makes mistakes. All our players make mistakes.

 

#9 Is it short sighted to say it when you think Cora has made what you think is a bode-headed call? Nope.

 

#10 That's what makes this armchair MLB team management so much fun! Hell, even I'm a top 10 mlb manager.

 

 

dog's top 10 of the day

[Kimmi]

And everything a manager does is an informed act. They still make mistakes. And those situations are worthy of discussion.

 

Just because a decision ends with a bad result, that does not mean the decision was a mistake.

 

If Moreland were healthy, I still would not have pinch hit for Jackie.

[a700hitter]

Just because a decision ends with a bad result, that does not mean the decision was a mistake.

 

If Moreland were healthy, I still would not have pinch hit for Jackie.

And in my opinion that would be a mistake in light of Moreland's record as a PHer and his head to head stat against Rodney of 6 for 10.

[notin]

I can’t do the managerial mistake argument. Too many of those with a certain someone over on free forums in which he would acknowledge that the manager knew the situation better, but Farrell was still wrong just because.

 

I think the straw that broke my back was his insistence that Farrell brought in the wrong reliever and should have used Barnes. Even after Farrell had a press conference saying Barnes was not available, this poster called Farrell out and insisted Barnes was available...

[a700hitter]

I can’t do the managerial mistake argument. Too many of those with a certain someone over on free forums in which he would acknowledge that the manager knew the situation better, but Farrell was still wrong just because.

 

I think the straw that broke my back was his insistence that Farrell brought in the wrong reliever and should have used Barnes. Even after Farrell had a press conference saying Barnes was not available, this poster called Farrell out and insisted Barnes was available...

You don’t have to buy it. It is always just an opinion. Managers surely make mistakes. They are human. Do observers get it right when they call a manager’s move a mistake. That is surely imprecise, but it is worthy of discussion.

[dannycater]

This thread exists? LMFAO

[Bellhorn04]

You don’t have to buy it. It is always just an opinion. Managers surely make mistakes. They are human. Do observers get it right when they call a manager’s move a mistake. That is surely imprecise, but it is worthy of discussion.

 

Can't disagree with any of that.

[Spudboy]

Can't disagree with any of that.

 

You can if you just want to mess with a700.

 

We see it frequently.

[Hitch]

How dare people question things.

[Dalas21000]

Why is Pomeranz still a starting pitcher with such a high ERA? Shouldn't they give someone else a chance?

[Dalas21000]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

 

7 more wins than any other team. Why couldn't Farrell do that?

 

Honestly, I don't think it has much to do with who is manager. I didn't think of Farrell that much when he was in Boston but he won a World Series somehow. I don't agree with a lot of the decisions Cora makes but they still win a decent amount of games. I think Farrell would have done about the same this year.

[Sox75]

No doubt Cora is doing a great job of keeping ALL the guys involved, motivated, & happy.

 

BUT, I have a feeling this is a year that has come together with a lot of nice addition, subtraction, and kids growing up.

 

Perhaps the BIGGEST impact added is JDM? Sure, he's quantifiable in stats, but I think he's added so much more value than just his talent and stats. He seems to love to teach, & the kids seem eager to listen. Being around true greatness makes others want to do better. They see the work it takes, and that rubs off.

 

Sale rubs off on the whole pitching rotation.

 

Mookie's rise rubs off on all the young guys.

 

Subtracting Hanley was also key. It let's other guys like Mooreland know that THEY too are key to the team success.

 

Guys are growing up. Beni is breaking out. X-Bo is locking down on D, & adding POP.

 

Subtracting JF & adding Cora is also KEY. It adds a young manager who can relate to ALL these guys.

 

YES! Cora is KEY to this team's run, but without the other keys, this team still struggles to grow up.

[Maxbialystock]

I disagree frequently with A700hitter on this very topic--in-game decisions by Cora, whom I almost invariably defend. I just think Cora is better informed than we are, simple as that. But A700hitter is only doing what all baseball fans have been doing for decades. And in at least one instance--leaving Wright in to give up 10 runs--I have vehemently disagreed with Cora. And the Sox ended up winning that game.

[illinoisredsox]

Why is Pomeranz still a starting pitcher with such a high ERA? Shouldn't they give someone else a chance?

 

Who do you propose? With 3 of the top 6-7 starting pitchers in the organization on the DL, there are not a lot of choices.

[mvp 78]

Why is Pomeranz still a starting pitcher with such a high ERA? Shouldn't they give someone else a chance?

 

He pitched fine last night.

[Station 13]

He pitched fine last night.

 

He pitch just fine enough to hold a spot until E-rod and Sale are back.

[a700hitter]

I disagree frequently with A700hitter on this very topic--in-game decisions by Cora, whom I almost invariably defend. I just think Cora is better informed than we are, simple as that. But A700hitter is only doing what all baseball fans have been doing for decades. And in at least one instance--leaving Wright in to give up 10 runs--I have vehemently disagreed with Cora. And the Sox ended up winning that game.

FTR, I have very infrequently criticized Cora. I have been much more positive about him than critical, but everyone makes mistakes and baseball lends itself to second guessing. It is part of the great American past time.

[Kimmi]

A thought about Jackie's base running play with the terrific slide that resulted in a run:

 

Smart heads up base running or boneheaded mistake?

 

My point is that this is what happens when the team pushes an aggressive base running philosophy. If he had been thrown out, many people would have immediately said "another stupid out on the bases". But what if he's safe and scores a run?

[mvp 78]

You can score and still have it be a bad call. You can lose and still have made all the right calls. I think you'd know that just because baseball is LOL random.

[Kimmi]

You can score and still have it be a bad call. You can lose and still have made all the right calls. I think you'd know that just because baseball is LOL random.

 

I agree, which is my point.

 

I'm trying to make the point that just because an out was made on the bases, it doesn't mean that our runners are being stupid or boneheaded. It's a risk you take when being aggressive.

[Bellhorn04]

A thought about Jackie's base running play with the terrific slide that resulted in a run:

 

Smart heads up base running or boneheaded mistake?

 

My point is that this is what happens when the team pushes an aggressive base running philosophy. If he had been thrown out, many people would have immediately said "another stupid out on the bases". But what if he's safe and scores a run?

 

Cora actually said Jackie made a base running mistake but then made a great slide. He gave credit but did not gloss over the mistake.

[Kimmi]

Cora actually said Jackie made a base running mistake but then made a great slide. He gave credit but did not gloss over the mistake.

 

Yes, I did read that.

 

As far as I recall, however, I didn't hear a single criticism in the game thread about Jackie making a boneheaded play. It's very similar to the difference in perception between Pom's start and Johnson's start.

[Kimmi]

Cora actually said Jackie made a base running mistake but then made a great slide. He gave credit but did not gloss over the mistake.

 

The point being that you can't say that a play or decision was a good play or a bad play based on the end result.

[dgalehouse]

The point being that you can't say that a play or decision was a good play or a bad play based on the end result.

 

The bigger mistake was made by the nervous Holder. He erred by throwing behind the runner , thus enabling Bradley to dash for home.

[S5Dewey]

The bigger mistake was made by the nervous Holder. He erred by throwing behind the runner , thus enabling Bradley to dash for home.

 

That and the fact that JBJ didn't allow himself to be caught in a rundown. When the ball was thrown behind him JBJ committed to heading for the plate for better or worse.

Those rundown seldom work out well for the summer if the defense knows what theyre doing.

[greenwell]

That and the fact that JBJ didn't allow himself to be caught in a rundown. When the ball was thrown behind him JBJ committed to heading for the plate for better or worse.

Those rundown seldom work out well for the summer if the defense knows what theyre doing.

 

Take Bogaerts great play a few days ago on the rundown as an example of this.

[Kimmi]

The bigger mistake was made by the nervous Holder. He erred by throwing behind the runner , thus enabling Bradley to dash for home.

 

I agree. And Bradley, knowing he was caught in a run down, made a very wise commitment and an excellent slide.

[Spudboy]

I agree, which is my point.

 

I'm trying to make the point that just because an out was made on the bases, it doesn't mean that our runners are being stupid or boneheaded. It's a risk you take when being aggressive.

 

I get your point. It is a valid comment.

 

However, some of us see base running blunders that do not seem to be connected with just being aggressive.

 

An example is my Binky Blake in the game where E-rod was hurt.

 

That was just plain stupid base running.

 

The team is on a roll. Otherwise there would be more bitching about running into outs and being picked-off.

[a700hitter]

I agree. And Bradley, knowing he was caught in a run down, made a very wise commitment and an excellent slide.

And if the pitcher did the right thing that is taught in high school and had run at Jackie instead of throwing to 3rd, Jackie's blunder would have been exposed. Nice slide be Jackie, but the post game analysis was that it was initially a bonehead play.