The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[BillyWilliams]

Cora is the greatest Sox manager of all time. Am I still alone on this?

 

That's rich coming from the guy who points out small sample sizes all season.

 

But I did find it strange to treat a manager who just won the World Series like this....

 

https://nypost.com/2018/10/31/red-sox-fan-arrested-for-pelting-alex-cora-daughter-with-beer/

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

 

Cora on getting hit by beer: ‘I’m good... You ask my daughter, she didn’t care... The kid didn’t mean to hurt anybody... We’re fine... I’ve just got to be ready to make that play the next time.’

 

Cora is too good for our s***** world.

[Bellhorn04]

@alexspeier

 

Cora on getting hit by beer: ‘I’m good... You ask my daughter, she didn’t care... The kid didn’t mean to hurt anybody... We’re fine... I’ve just got to be ready to make that play the next time.’

 

Supremely well played AC.

[S5Dewey]

Wait a minute... speaking as someone who was AT the parade, can I chip on on this (knowing that the last time I did this my opinion was dismissed)?

 

I was in the area of Boston Common along with thousands of other fans lined up four to six deep along the route. I saw several beer cans thrown TO the people on the duck boats but NONE that I would say was thrown AT them. (A infielder throws the ball TO the first baseman; a pitcher who's trying to hit a batter throws the ball AT him).

In fact, I saw one rider on a duckboat catch a beer in midair, pop the top on it, and pour it into his mouth until the beer ran down over his tongue and into the street.

 

To say fans were throwing beers AT the players mischaracterizes what was happening - unless of course it was a misguided Yankees fan - which is possible - but if that's what was happening there was more than one Yankees fan doing it. Of course, the whole thing came from the NY Post - 'nuf said about that.

[moonslav59]

If you're referring to Tito in 2011, it kind of weakens your point, because that was his 8th season with the team. 8 seasons is an eternity in this job.

 

I'm not out to disrespect Tito. he was the greatest Sox manager ever, even with the 2011 season included.

 

I really liked almost everything about Tito, but not as much as with Cora. I don't really want to get into the specifics, but I do think 2011 does take away a little from Tito's overall record.

 

I know Cora's tenure is tiny compared to Tito's 8 seasons, and longevity does matter, but I still think Cora is a better manager than Tito was (is).

[moonslav59]

That's rich coming from the guy who points out small sample sizes all season.

 

But I did find it strange to treat a manager who just won the World Series like this....

 

https://nypost.com/2018/10/31/red-sox-fan-arrested-for-pelting-alex-cora-daughter-with-beer/

 

Look, I even qualified my position by saying I'm always bashing people over using small sample sizes, but I actually made my claim even before we won this year's ring.

 

To me, watching how he manages, gets players focused (some for the first time) and exudes confidence and determination in everyone around him makes him our best manager ever.

 

I have no issues with anyone wanting a larger sample size or believing Tito's longer record places him #1.

[oldtimer]

I'm not out to disrespect Tito. he was the greatest Sox manager ever, even with the 2011 season included.

 

I really liked almost everything about Tito, but not as much as with Cora. I don't really want to get into the specifics, but I do think 2011 does take away a little from Tito's overall record.

 

I know Cora's tenure is tiny compared to Tito's 8 seasons, and longevity does matter, but I still think Cora is a better manager than Tito was (is).

 

Both can be good managers. Boosting one doesn't take away from the good qualities of the other. One way to look at it is to find the good qualities common in both and by that approach finding what makes a good manager. Making the players feel comfortable and having a harmonious and goal oriented clubhouse appears to be part of what they both did well until the discord that seemed to arise in Tito's later Sox career. To be fair, he was battling issues with illness at that time.

[moonslav59]

Both can be good managers. Boosting one doesn't take away from the good qualities of the other. One way to look at it is to find the good qualities common in both and by that approach finding what makes a good manager. Making the players feel comfortable and having a harmonious and goal oriented clubhouse appears to be part of what they both did well until the discord that seemed to arise in Tito's later Sox career. To be fair, he was battling issues with illness at that time.

 

Yes, I know.

 

Again, I'm not putting Tito down by saying Cora is the best. My opinion on Tito has not change any.

[cp176]

Yes, I know.

 

Again, I'm not putting Tito down by saying Cora is the best. My opinion on Tito has not change any.

 

Francona for the most part did a wonderful job for us. He was what people called "a player's manager"- whatever that might mean to any individual. Cora has been referred to as to being "a player's manager" as well. I think that he is as well but I don't see any idiots playing for him. He knows what types of players he wants and can work with. I like that very much. It is as much to do with attitude as it is with actual talent.

[Kimmi]

Alex Cora, along with several team members and coaching staff, including David Price, are taking the World Series Trophy to Puerto Rico.

 

I think it's awesome how committed Cora is to his native country, including asking for a plane full of supplies to be flown to his country as part of his deal when he signed with the Sox.

 

It's also awesome how Cora honored his friend with the initials AA on his cap.

 

These things don't really have anything to do with baseball, but I 100% believe they affect how the players view Cora as a leader, which in turn, affects the play on the field.

[a700hitter]

Alex Cora, along with several team members and coaching staff, including David Price, are taking the World Series Trophy to Puerto Rico.

 

I think it's awesome how committed Cora is to his native country, including asking for a plane full of supplies to be flown to his country as part of his deal when he signed with the Sox.

 

It's also awesome how Cora honored his friend with the initials AA on his cap.

 

These things don't really have anything to do with baseball, but I 100% believe they affect how the players view Cora as a leader, which in turn, affects the play on the field.

I am glad that you don't teach geography. Puerto Rico is not a country.

[iortiz]

Alex Cora is the perfect combination of an old school baseball manager and a sabermetrician geek. His philosophy also covers those intangibles like human factors, locker room chemistry, player convincing & motivation, delegation, etc. which are fundamental to run a baseball team.

 

We are in good hands with him and DD.

Edited November 3, 2018 by iortiz

[a700hitter]

Alex Cora is the perfect combination of an old school baseball manager and a sabermetrician geek. His philosophy also covers those intangibles like human factors, locker room chemistry, player convincing & motivation, delegation, etc. which are fundamental to run a baseball team.

 

We are in good hands with him and DD.

What I like most about Cora is how he is on top of every aspect of what is going on o the field. Even when he is discussing something with his bench coach, he is still watching the field. I don't like managers who are flipping through charts and graphs in the dugout. Cora does his data homework before the game starts, so he is prepared to do his job properly from the dugout by watching the game.

 

I can't remember having such a high opinion of any Red Sox manager, and I loved Tito.

[cp176]

Alex Cora is the perfect combination of an old school baseball manager and a sabermetrician geek. His philosophy also covers those intangibles like human factors, locker room chemistry, player convincing & motivation, delegation, etc. which are fundamental to run a baseball team.

 

We are in good hands with him and DD.

 

what I'm hearing you say is that he is a normal human being who gets what is important. And i believe absolutely that you are right in saying that with DD and Cora in charge all things look pretty good moving forward. I would only add that we got us a pretty solid group of owners as well.

[Sox75]

Taking the WSC trophy to Puerto Rico is yet another great decision in this GREAT Red Sox year.

[Bellhorn04]

Cora is rewarded with an extension and a raise.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/red-sox-extend-alex-cora.html

[SoxnCycles]

Cora is rewarded with an extension and a raise.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/red-sox-extend-alex-cora.html

 

Well deserved.

[moonslav59]

I am glad that you don't teach geography. Puerto Rico is not a country.

 

It is treated like it isn't part of this one.

[Slasher9]

Cora is rewarded with an extension and a raise.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/red-sox-extend-alex-cora.html

 

he's a bargain. i think he made less than $1MM last season. will be very interesting to see how year 2 goes.

In 6 or 7 years we may all agree with Moon on him being best evah.

[sk7326]

he's a bargain. i think he made less than $1MM last season. will be very interesting to see how year 2 goes.

In 6 or 7 years we may all agree with Moon on him being best evah.

 

I have a hunch he will be the Red Sox manager as long as Dombrowski is at the top of the org chart.

 

Heck I wouldn't be surprised if he got bored after 3-4 seasons and wanted to get into the front office.

Edited November 15, 2018 by sk7326

[Bellhorn04]

he's a bargain. i think he made less than $1MM last season. will be very interesting to see how year 2 goes.

In 6 or 7 years we may all agree with Moon on him being best evah.

 

We'll see what you have to say when he brings you Back to Back Duck Boats.

[Dojji]

Cora is rewarded with an extension and a raise.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/red-sox-extend-alex-cora.html

 

Good for him, he more than earned it. Hopefully he sticks around awhile.

[Slasher9]

We'll see what you have to say when he brings you Back to Back Duck Boats.

 

a parade next year?!?! if that happens....i'm jumping all in on the "best evah" bandwagon!

[Kimmi]

I have a hunch he will be the Red Sox manager as long as Dombrowski is at the top of the org chart.

 

Heck I wouldn't be surprised if he got bored after 3-4 seasons and wanted to get into the front office.

 

One of Dombrowski's finer moves.

[StephenCurry30]

as we know cora got everything to work last year, every move, no matter how questionable, it worked... this year, the magic isn't happening... I think you need to hold your horses on "best manager ever". lets wait a few years then evaluate him.

[Kimmi]

as we know cora got everything to work last year, every move, no matter how questionable, it worked... this year, the magic isn't happening... I think you need to hold your horses on "best manager ever". lets wait a few years then evaluate him.

 

Calling Cora the "best manager ever" was indeed premature after one season, and that would be the case even if the Sox were off to a 10-0 start this season.

 

That being said, we are only 10 games into the season. It's too soon to know whether the magic is happening or not happening. Cora's decisions are not aimed at the short term goals, but rather at the season goals.

[Maxbialystock]

Calling Cora the "best manager ever" was indeed premature after one season, and that would be the case even if the Sox were off to a 10-0 start this season.

 

That being said, we are only 10 games into the season. It's too soon to know whether the magic is happening or not happening. Cora's decisions are not aimed at the short term goals, but rather at the season goals.

 

Yes and no. Cora does like to plan for the whole season, but most of his decisions deal with the here and now--what lineup to use, what sequence of relievers, when to pinch hit, when to pull a pitcher, etc.

 

I think he blew it in ST, pure and simple, because his rotation so far stinks and shouldn't. But he also said his bullpen would be fine, and they have been, mostly. He as much as DD gave Swihart a slot over Leon, and Swihart already has 3 errors at C.

[Bellhorn04]

as we know cora got everything to work last year, every move, no matter how questionable, it worked... this year, the magic isn't happening... I think you need to hold your horses on "best manager ever". lets wait a few years then evaluate him.

 

Yes and no. Cora does like to plan for the whole season, but most of his decisions deal with the here and now--what lineup to use, what sequence of relievers, when to pinch hit, when to pull a pitcher, etc.

 

I think he blew it in ST, pure and simple, because his rotation so far stinks and shouldn't. But he also said his bullpen would be fine, and they have been, mostly. He as much as DD gave Swihart a slot over Leon, and Swihart already has 3 errors at C.

 

O ye of little faith.

[notin]

Calling Cora the "best manager ever" was indeed premature after one season, and that would be the case even if the Sox were off to a 10-0 start this season.

 

That being said, we are only 10 games into the season. It's too soon to know whether the magic is happening or not happening. Cora's decisions are not aimed at the short term goals, but rather at the season goals.

 

 

Nobody should ever be crowned “best ever” at anything after their first try...

Edited April 7, 2019 by notin

[Kimmi]

Yes and no. Cora does like to plan for the whole season, but most of his decisions deal with the here and now--what lineup to use, what sequence of relievers, when to pinch hit, when to pull a pitcher, etc.

 

I think he blew it in ST, pure and simple, because his rotation so far stinks and shouldn't. But he also said his bullpen would be fine, and they have been, mostly. He as much as DD gave Swihart a slot over Leon, and Swihart already has 3 errors at C.

 

Many of Cora's decisions have to deal with the here and now, because he has a game to manage, but we have seen him often pull a pitcher when the pitcher is cruising with a relatively low pitch count, to save some innings on the arm. We have often seen him rest his regulars when the team is struggling or when a player is hot, to make sure the player has enough in the tank in September and October. So many of his line up and pitching decisions are based on the whole season.