This weekend's managers: Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch

[harmony]

The new book Winning Fixes Everything by former Red Sox and Astros beat reporter Evan Drellich includes interesting disclosures about the relationship of Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch when Cora was a bench coach and Hinch the manager of the 2017 Houston Astros.

 

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/winning-fixes-everything-evan-drellich?variant=40828339322914

 

At an August 2017 game in Tampa, Cora assumed the managerial duties when Hinch was ejected in the first inning. Astro Hall of Famer Craig Biggio had no day-to-day duties with Houston but hung out in the dugout for that game. After the game Cora reportedly stormed into A.J. Hinch's office screaming "Why do you have Biggio watching me? You don't think I can do this on my own?"

 

The Astros flew back to Houston and on a team shuttle bus Cora played music loudly on his speaker. Players and other team personnel, trying to reach their families by phone in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, could not hear their loves ones over the music. Astro broadcaster Geoff Blum reportedly approached Cora: "Any other day, crank it. But if you can just turn it down a little bit, and let us kind of figure out how we're goig to get home, see the families are OK ..."

 

"Oh, you want me to turn it down?" Cora shot back. "You want me to turn it down? I'll turn it down. How about I just turn it off?"

 

Blum returned to his seat on the bus but Cora was soon hovering over him. "I bet if Puerto Rico was going through this you'd be playing the music," Cora reportedly said. Blum replied "You got to be kidding me. How dare you say that?"

 

Cora reportedly then called Blum a "c***."

 

The yelling continued for about five minutes before the team exited the bus. When Blum tried to apologize Cora reportedly snapped at Blum and Hinch, "He's your buddy, you want him to be your bench coach, you don't trust me," Cora said to Hinch. Cora reportedly called Hinch "a f***ing c***." The second rant lasted about 10 minutes in front of most of the team.

 

Reports were that Cora was clearly drunk and "sort of being a drunk *******," according to the secondhand account of one front office employee.

 

To quote the book: "'Cora really likes to drink,' said someone who traveled with the Astros. 'Any road trip I was on with him, or plane flight I was on with him, he was drinking a lot. Him and Craig Bjornson, CB, were basically wasted on every single flight. Such much so that Cora would turn into the equivalent of like, the scary homeless person that's talking to themself doing like drunken tai chi in place, and you're like: Oh, my God, what's wrong with that guy? Like, Cora would get that level drunk on basically every single trip.'"

[Bellhorn04]

So Cora had a drinking problem when he was the Astros. Does he still have it? Would the Red Sox have re-hired him if he'd exhibited this kind of behavior with the Sox? No chance. We haven't heard a single thing about Cora behaving badly during his time with the Sox.

 

And what did Chris Sale say when he was talking about the decision by Cora for Sale to take in Opening Day rather than pitch? "That's why everybody loves him."

 

There's my rebuttal.

[Bellhorn04]

Alex Cora leads Red Sox effort to fly supplies to Puerto Rico

Jan 31, 2018

ESPN

New Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora and a contingent from the team flew to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to deliver 10 tons of supplies to help with the Hurricane Maria recovery effort.

 

Cora, who is from Puerto Rico, was joined by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello, team president Sam Kennedy and assistant general manager Eddie Romero on the trip to bring medical supplies, water filtration systems, food and other equipment.

 

"While many areas have recovered from the initial devastation of the storm, there is still a great need on the island for relief," Cora said. "I am thankful to the Red Sox, who did not hesitate when I suggested a relief trip this offseason, and I am grateful to JetBlue for transporting all the supplies and for the many organizations who made donations.

 

"To the fans who contributed this past season, and to Seth, Henry, and Herb, your generosity is above and beyond what I could have hoped for. Embracing this mission and helping the people I care so much about has made me feel welcome and supported by this city and organization in ways I could not have imagined."

 

The group was met at the airport in San Juan by Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez and pitcher Chris Sale, and the group then traveled to Caguas, Cora's hometown.

 

They delivered more relief supplies and baseball equipment to area children and presented Caguas Mayor William Miranda Marin with a $200,000 donation to help restore power to the city.

[Old Red]

So Cora had a drinking problem when he was the Astros. Does he still have it? Would the Red Sox have re-hired him if he'd exhibited this kind of behavior with the Sox? No chance. We haven't heard a single thing about Cora behaving badly during his time with the Sox.

 

And what did Chris Sale say when he was talking about the decision by Cora for Sale to take in Opening Day rather than pitch? "That's why everybody loves him."

 

There's my rebuttal.

 

I’m sure Cora will get trashed out the door just like Tito did.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Alex Cora leads Red Sox effort to fly supplies to Puerto Rico

Jan 31, 2018

ESPN

New Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora and a contingent from the team flew to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to deliver 10 tons of supplies to help with the Hurricane Maria recovery effort.

 

Cora, who is from Puerto Rico, was joined by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello, team president Sam Kennedy and assistant general manager Eddie Romero on the trip to bring medical supplies, water filtration systems, food and other equipment.

 

"While many areas have recovered from the initial devastation of the storm, there is still a great need on the island for relief," Cora said. "I am thankful to the Red Sox, who did not hesitate when I suggested a relief trip this offseason, and I am grateful to JetBlue for transporting all the supplies and for the many organizations who made donations.

 

"To the fans who contributed this past season, and to Seth, Henry, and Herb, your generosity is above and beyond what I could have hoped for. Embracing this mission and helping the people I care so much about has made me feel welcome and supported by this city and organization in ways I could not have imagined."

 

The group was met at the airport in San Juan by Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez and pitcher Chris Sale, and the group then traveled to Caguas, Cora's hometown.

 

They delivered more relief supplies and baseball equipment to area children and presented Caguas Mayor William Miranda Marin with a $200,000 donation to help restore power to the city.

 

Geez, why let facts and the humanitarian efforts of a guy ruin a good smear campaign by one writer with an obvious grudge?

[notin]

So Cora had a drinking problem when he was the Astros. Does he still have it? Would the Red Sox have re-hired him if he'd exhibited this kind of behavior with the Sox? No chance. We haven't heard a single thing about Cora behaving badly during his time with the Sox.

 

And what did Chris Sale say when he was talking about the decision by Cora for Sale to take in Opening Day rather than pitch? "That's why everybody loves him."

 

There's my rebuttal.

 

Really with the exception of some in-game strategies, there isn’t much about Cora that’s wrong.

 

And even when I question them, I know 1) there’s a reason he’s an MLB manager and I’m not and 2) he does make these calls with infinitely more info than I use to criticize them…

[harmony]

Geez, why let facts and the humanitarian efforts of a guy ruin a good smear campaign by one writer with an obvious grudge?

That's a harsh judgment if based on only a condensed summary of three pages from a 329-page book:

 

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/winning-fixes-everything-evan-drellich?variant=40828339322914

 

Winning Fixes Everything chronicles in critical detail the Astros' rise from three straight 100-loss seasons to a World Series title and beyond. The accounts in the book may or may not be accurate. Reserve judgment until the entire book is read.

 

People are complex. Alex Cora probably is complex.

 

It's easy to label as fake news any information that tarnishes the image of a hero. We've seen it before.

[Bellhorn04]

That's a harsh judgment if based on only a condensed summary of three pages from a 329-page book:

 

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/winning-fixes-everything-evan-drellich?variant=40828339322914

 

Winning Fixes Everything chronicles in critical detail the Astros' rise from three straight 100-loss seasons to a World Series title and beyond. The accounts in the book may or may not be accurate. Reserve judgment until the entire book is read.

 

People are complex. Alex Cora probably is complex.

 

It's easy to label as fake news any information that tarnishes the image of a hero. We've seen it before.

 

I don't see anyone denying the accuracy of the accounts of Cora's drunken behavior.

 

But they do feel like the kind of sensationalism intended to do nothing but sell books.

 

The real question is why you chose to highlight these negative accounts for us? What's the purpose?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don't see anyone denying the accuracy of the accounts of Cora's drunken behavior.

 

But they do feel like the kind of sensationalism intended to do nothing but sell books.

 

The real question is why you chose to highlight these negative accounts for us? What's the purpose?

 

I have also never seen nor heard anyone making any of these pre-Boston claims about Cora beyond excerpts from this one book.

 

What I have seen and heard plenty of times is how Red Sox ballplayers, anyway, like playing for him.

[notin]

I don't see anyone denying the accuracy of the accounts of Cora's drunken behavior.

 

But they do feel like the kind of sensationalism intended to do nothing but sell books.

 

The real question is why you chose to highlight these negative accounts for us? What's the purpose?

 

 

I have not read the book. Probably never will.

 

Does it do a deep dive into Cora’s drinking? Or just mention is in passing?

 

I mean, just because someone “likes to drink” doesn’t even mean there is much in the way of drunken behavior. Sure it can be an inference, but it can also be a way of implying or exaggerating a behavior that may not or may rarely be there…

[harmony]

I don't see anyone denying the accuracy of the accounts of Cora's drunken behavior.

 

But they do feel like the kind of sensationalism intended to do nothing but sell books.

 

The real question is why you chose to highlight these negative accounts for us? What's the purpose?

Alex Cora reportedly is the current manager of the Boston Red Sox.

[harmony]

I have not read the book. Probably never will.

 

Does it do a deep dive into Cora’s drinking? Or just mention is in passing?

 

I mean, just because someone “likes to drink” doesn’t even mean there is much in the way of drunken behavior. Sure it can be an inference, but it can also be a way of implying or exaggerating a behavior that may not or may rarely be there…

Alex Cora was not a focus of Winning Fixes Everything, which critically examines a Houston franchise that challenged, and sometimes crossed, ethical and legal boundaries.

 

The book is recommended for anyone interested in technology's role in the evolution of Major League Baseball.

[moonslav59]

Selectively choosing the most "bait worthy" passage is telling.

[Bellhorn04]

Selectively choosing the most "bait worthy" passage is telling.

 

It was really important that we know Cora called two guys a "c***".

[moonslav59]

It was really important that we know Cora called two guys a "c***".

 

I'm just glad my past has no such bait click incidents.

 

[harmony]

It was really important that we know Cora called two guys a "c***".

That was more troubling than the reported drinking. That language is common in many workplaces but probably crosses the line when directed in anger at a co-worker. The word would be even more egregious if directed at a woman.

[a700hitter]

Before this had been made public it was obvious that Cora is a low-life cheater. Character isn't usually limited to one aspect of a person's life.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It was really important that we know Cora called two guys a "c***".

 

Clam! Carp! Char!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That was more troubling than the reported drinking. That language is common in many workplaces but probably crosses the line when directed in anger at a co-worker. The word would be even more egregious if directed at a woman.

 

Crab.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Before this had been made public it was obvious that Cora is a low-life cheater. Character isn't usually limited to one aspect of a person's life.

 

Cool calm chap.

[Bellhorn04]

That was more troubling than the reported drinking. That language is common in many workplaces but probably crosses the line when directed in anger at a co-worker. The word would be even more egregious if directed at a woman.

 

We all know this. And I've read Ball Four and North Dallas Forty and others, so I know what goes on behind the scenes of a pro sports team can be ugly.

 

But the book is about the Astros' cheating scheme, and Cora getting drunk and cussing others out on a particular occasion has nothing to do with that. That's why this is strange.

[moonslav59]

We all know this. And I've read Ball Four and North Dallas Forty and others, so I know what goes on behind the scenes of a pro sports team can be ugly.

 

But the book is about the Astros' cheating scheme, and Cora getting drunk and cussing others out on a particular occasion has nothing to do with that. That's why this is strange.

 

Juicy morsels of clickbait.

[Bellhorn04]

Juicy morsels of clickbait.

 

Sure seems that way.

[harmony]

Juicy morsels of clickbait.

The reported drunken incident involving Alex Cora was buried in a 329-book about the culture of a Houston Astros franchise that went from three straight 100-loss seasons to two World Series titles. The incident certainly did not merit mention in the book's liner notes (or in any promotion of the book). Alex Cora is not a focus. Winning Fixes Everything provides a detailed account of the evolution of the Astros and Major League Baseball the past two decades. The book is highly recommended.

 

Is the title to this thread considered clickbait? if so, to what end? The thread's creator lacks the standard clickbait's financial incentive.

 

The short shared passage could be of interest to Boston fans because Alex Cora is the current Red Sox manager. Or not:) But this fan of another team would be interested in a similar report about his team's current manager.

 

At any rate, thank you for the feedback.

[Bellhorn04]

Is the title to this thread considered clickbait? if so, to what end? The thread's creator lacks the standard clickbait's financial incentive.

 

The title isn't clickbait and you have no financial incentive. But the content is exactly like clickbait.

[moonslav59]

The reported drunken incident involving Alex Cora was buried in a 329-book about the culture of a Houston Astros franchise that went from three straight 100-loss seasons to two World Series titles. The incident certainly did not merit mention in the book's liner notes (or in any promotion of the book). Alex Cora is not a focus. Winning Fixes Everything provides a detailed account of the evolution of the Astros and Major League Baseball the past two decades. The book is highly recommended.

 

Is the title to this thread considered clickbait? if so, to what end? The thread's creator lacks the standard clickbait's financial incentive.

 

The short shared passage could be of interest to Boston fans because Alex Cora is the current Red Sox manager. Or not:) But this fan of another team would be interested in a similar report about his team's current manager.

 

At any rate, thank you for the feedback.

 

I never said the title was clickbait. I'm not sure about the article in its totality.

 

I think you posting just this snippet seems like clickbait, to me.

 

It is news. It is worthy of reporting.

 

I'm just saying it was presented to elicit emotional responses based one a man's down moments in life. It seemed like clickbait, to me. Maybe trolling would be a better term.

 

I have n o issues, at all, with you, harmony. I enjoy your posts. I don't think any less of you over this.

[dgalehouse]

As human beings, we all have weaknesses and shortcomings. Alex Cora is certainly no exception. Be careful about putting anyone on a pedestal. You will usually be disappointed.

[Bellhorn04]

As human beings, we all have weaknesses and shortcomings. Alex Cora is certainly no exception. Be careful about putting anyone on a pedestal. You will usually be disappointed.

 

I agree, I just think we're all old enough and worldly enough here to have realized this a long time ago.

[Old Red]

As human beings, we all have weaknesses and shortcomings. Alex Cora is certainly no exception. Be careful about putting anyone on a pedestal. You will usually be disappointed.

 

Well said, and like I said in another post I have to doubt that things will come out, and Cora will be trashed going out the door like Tito was.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Well said, and like I said in another post I have to doubt that things will come out, and Cora will be trashed going out the door like Tito was.

 

Maybe. Meanwhile, Boston's front office and ownership recruited and interviewed him to be manager before the 2017 postseason ended, the Red Sox players loved playing for him so much that they set a franchise record for wins, and won a World Series his first year.

 

Then, after his suspension from the MLB, many of the same Red Sox players implored the front office to rehire him, and he guided them back to the ALCS.

 

If only they had all consulted the single writer of one book first.