The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[mvp 78]

On pace for only 114 wins. DFA Cora.

[Kimmi]

Cora's pregame interview yesterday after 3 straight losses, in which he began with a story about how much fun it was to watch his twins trying to dunk a basketball, seems so representative of why this team has been playing so well all year.

 

Apparently, this type of leadership was missing last year in Farrell.

[cp176]

Cora's pregame interview yesterday after 3 straight losses, in which he began with a story about how much fun it was to watch his twins trying to dunk a basketball, seems so representative of why this team has been playing so well all year.

 

Apparently, this type of leadership was missing last year in Farrell.

 

I loved that story. It's easy to forget that these guys are human beings with families. They don't exist just for us to go on about. the story about Cora and his twins should help to put into perspective what is really important.

[moonslav59]

I loved that story. It's easy to forget that these guys are human beings with families. They don't exist just for us to go on about. the story about Cora and his twins should help to put into perspective what is really important.

 

I agree. There just seems to be en aura of a genuine personality with Cora, and I think it has rubbed off on the team as a whole.

 

I felt something was missing last year, and it was hard to put into words. I called it "lack of fire and desire," but I'm not sure that captured it.

 

I'm super pleased with Cora and his staff. DD should also be commended on picking up so many pieces that filled our greatest needs (JD, Pearce, Brasier, Kinsler & Moreland)..

[Slasher9]

It's easy to forget that these guys are human beings with families.

First we get Robot Umps.

then we get Robot Players. problem solved.

[Bellhorn04]

I agree. There just seems to be en aura of a genuine personality with Cora, and I think it has rubbed off on the team as a whole.

 

I felt something was missing last year, and it was hard to put into words. I called it "lack of fire and desire," but I'm not sure that captured it.

 

Based on the comments that have come out it seems that the players weren't having much fun last year.

[Slasher9]

winning = fun

[notin]

First we get Robot Umps.

then we get Robot Players. problem solved.

 

And the game can be played for robot fans...

[Slasher9]

And the game can be played for robot fans...

 

it may already be. my DVR watches every pitch, mound visit, pitching change, commercial, lenny clark interview.

i only watch the pitches.

[Kimmi]

Based on the comments that have come out it seems that the players weren't having much fun last year.

 

I get the impression that last year, there was a lot of focus, from Farrelll, on individual player's stats and performance, in particular their 'failures'. That would certainly make things less fun.

[Bellhorn04]

I get the impression that last year, there was a lot of focus, from Farrelll, on individual player's stats and performance, in particular their 'failures'. That would certainly make things less fun.

 

Plus the incidents that seemed so poorly handled and hung over the team like a black cloud.

[Bellhorn04]

Alex is a wild man.

 

I think he's pretty f***ing good, personally...

[StephenCurry30]

I may disagree with some of coras moves, but he has done literally no wrongs in the playoffs, every. damn. move. has. worked.

[a700hitter]

I can't complain. Unlike Farrell who would make wrong moves that his players had to cover for later in the game, Cora's moves are almost always the right moves and they work out.

[Slasher9]

Alex is a wild man.

 

I think he's pretty f***ing good, personally...

Credit where credit is due. Proof is in the pudding. World Series bound!

[oldtimer]

I can't complain. Unlike Farrell who would make wrong moves that his players had to cover for later in the game, Cora's moves are almost always the right moves and they work out.

 

Cora went to Kimbrel. Got to be good for him and his confidence to close this one out. Same could be said of Price. Cora stuck with him and it paid off. Same for Devers who came through tonight and has to be a growth experience for the kid. Lots of decisions by Cora and so many worked out.

[Kimmi]

Cora went to Kimbrel. Got to be good for him and his confidence to close this one out. Same could be said of Price. Cora stuck with him and it paid off. Same for Devers who came through tonight and has to be a growth experience for the kid. Lots of decisions by Cora and so many worked out.

 

Cora seems to have that magic touch.

 

It must be the analytics that he's using.

 

I was excited about Cora's hiring from Day 1. Dombrowski did good on that one.

[Slasher9]

Cora seems to have that magic touch.

 

It must be the analytics that he's using.

 

I was excited about Cora's hiring from Day 1. Dombrowski did good on that one.

 

Here’s the rub.

Cora is not a strictly analytics guy.

He uses a ton of old school “gut feeling”....

[cp176]

Here’s the rub.

Cora is not a strictly analytics guy.

He uses a ton of old school “gut feeling”....

 

that's one of the reasons why i like cora. he gets it. take advantage of a blend of all to make it work.

[Bellhorn04]

Cora seems to have that magic touch.

 

It must be the analytics that he's using.

 

I was excited about Cora's hiring from Day 1. Dombrowski did good on that one.

 

Dave has been brilliant since the day the 2017-2018 offseason started.

[Kimmi]

Here’s the rub.

Cora is not a strictly analytics guy.

He uses a ton of old school “gut feeling”....

 

No argument there.

[Kimmi]

Dave has been brilliant since the day the 2017-2018 offseason started.

 

No argument there either.

[oldtimer]

No argument there either.

 

He has done an excellent job. Still, we have to see how the Price contract works out long term and also Pedey's. No GM will hit 100%, just hope there are no huge mistakes.

[moonslav59]

Here’s the rub.

Cora is not a strictly analytics guy.

He uses a ton of old school “gut feeling”....

 

The perfect balance.

[Kimmi]

He has done an excellent job. Still, we have to see how the Price contract works out long term and also Pedey's. No GM will hit 100%, just hope there are no huge mistakes.

 

I was agreeing with Bell about Dombrowski's brilliance for this year. I do not think that his moves during the first two years of his tenure with Boston were brilliant, Price contract included. That said, I am a David Price fan, and I've had confidence in him to pitch very well this season.

 

It looks like it's all coming together for us. The Championship is by no means a given, but if we do win it all, all of Dombrowsk's moves will have been worth it.

[Kimmi]

The perfect balance.

 

I think a huge part of Cora's success is getting his players to buy into the analytics. He said that was a priority in the offseason and it looks like it's working.

[moonslav59]

I was agreeing with Bell about Dombrowski's brilliance for this year. I do not think that his moves during the first two years of his tenure with Boston were brilliant, Price contract included. That said, I am a David Price fan, and I've had confidence in him to pitch very well this season.

 

It looks like it's all coming together for us. The Championship is by no means a given, but if we do win it all, all of Dombrowsk's moves will have been worth it.

 

This is the window DD built. It is the best chance we have to win a ring. We can be highly competitive through next year and maybe 2020, if we keep spending near the max limit.

 

I'm fine with what DD has done. I'm hopeful we get the ring(s) we built the team for.

 

[moonslav59]

I think a huge part of Cora's success is getting his players to buy into the analytics. He said that was a priority in the offseason and it looks like it's working.

 

Yes, but he also has created a sense of urgency and what I call "fire & desire."

 

He's helped create an atmosphere where everyone feels like they belong and have a defined, important and known role in our winning.

 

Bone head mistakes went way down. Same players- way less mistakes.

 

Defense improved. Base running improved. We led the league in runs scored. Our pen over-performed. Despite 38 starts from our starter depth, we held our own in that area as well.

 

Adding Eovaldi, Pearce and Kinsler brought stability and made Cora's job a lot easier.

 

DD may have gone a bit too far in trading future assets to get what we have now, but clearly he has built a team ready and able to win it all. I'm extremely thankful to DD for this, and I am still thrilled he added Cora to the team.

[cp176]

Getting your players to understand the value of useful analytics I think is probably beneficial but to those guys on the field I'm guessing that it is just a small piece of the puzzle. There are so many other essentials in coaching that have to be dealt with.

[Kimmi]

Yes, but he also has created a sense of urgency and what I call "fire & desire."

 

He's helped create an atmosphere where everyone feels like they belong and have a defined, important and known role in our winning.

 

Bone head mistakes went way down. Same players- way less mistakes.

 

Defense improved. Base running improved. We led the league in runs scored. Our pen over-performed. Despite 38 starts from our starter depth, we held our own in that area as well.

 

Adding Eovaldi, Pearce and Kinsler brought stability and made Cora's job a lot easier.

 

DD may have gone a bit too far in trading future assets to get what we have now, but clearly he has built a team ready and able to win it all. I'm extremely thankful to DD for this, and I am still thrilled he added Cora to the team.

 

I don't know about the fire and desire part. I can't imagine that the guys didn't have the fire and desire last season. That said, I do think that Cora has created a better clubhouse atmosphere than what the team experienced last year. I think last year many of the guys were trying too hard and were unable to have any fun (by their own accounts).

 

You don't have to sell me on Cora. I'm a believer.