MLB Playoffs: Why was the Red Sox right to give Alex Cora another chance?

When Boston Red Sox announced that he had mutually separated from the Puerto Rican manager Alex Cora in January 2020, after an MLB investigation concluded that it helped develop the signal theft system that contributed to the title of the Houston Astros World Series 2017, the press release reeked of reluctance.

The Red Sox had no real desire to ditch Cora, but his role in the Houston scandal was too pronounced to realistically move forward with him as their patron:

And anyway, MLB ended up suspending him for the 2020 season a few months later, after it concluded its investigation into the 2018 Red Sox.

Cora served her suspension and her rehire last November was not surprising. But if there was any lingering doubt that the Red Sox were right to give him a second chance, leading this talented but flawed team of 2021, a team few expected to even make it to the postseason, on the doorstep of the World Series it extinguishes it.

Boston entered October with tons of questions in the bullpen, but Cora has routinely pushed the right levers, even as ace Chris Sale just didn’t have her in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. And his decision to put Kyle Schwarber in first place has worked wonders.

It may interest you: Red Sox Chris Sale asked Cora to pitch against the Yankees but didn’t even add him to the roster

Cora is now 15-4 in the postseason, giving him the best winning percentage (.789) of any manager with at least 15 postseason games. And he’s 5-0 in possible clinches (games to win series). Without a doubt, he makes a difference on the bench.

Rafael Martinez

I am fond of the King of Sports, especially the Boston Red Sox in MLB and in general all of Mexican baseball. This profession has given me the opportunity to cover major events such as the Caribbean Series, LMB All Star, LMP (uninterrupted since 2009), signings of important players. I had the chance to attend the 2013 World Classic in Arizona, USA, albeit as a fan. Apart from this beautiful sport, I love basketball, where I have also narrated games and even an NBA friendly 10 years ago, but I carry baseball in my veins. Bachelor of Communication Sciences from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) , from which I graduated in 2011. I was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa and started in the world of sports journalism in 2004 in the newspaper El Sol de Mazatlán, where I was a baseball columnist and reporter at the same time. In January 2009 I came to El Debate as a journalist reporter and it was almost six years (in the first stage), until in November 2014 I emigrated to the radio providing my services in Línea Directa-Grupo RSN. My cycle there ended in July 2019 and after a few days, El Debate gave me another opportunity to work and opened the doors for me again. That is how I came to Al Bat, where I have been since 2019 as a web journalist.

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