One year after his ouster in Boston, former Red Sox manager Alex Cora continues to look like a serious candidate for their current opening in the dugout. Cora had an in-person meeting with Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and general manager Brian O’Halloran last Friday as they seek a replacement for fired manager Ron Roenicke, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. They met in Cora’s native Puerto Rico, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
This could set up a second Red Sox stint for Cora, who managed the team from 2018-19 and led it to a World Series title (’18) and a 192-132 regular-season record. Despite the success the Red Sox had under Cora, the two sides parted ways last winter after Major League Baseball gave him a one-year suspension him for his role in Houston’s 2017 sign-stealing scandal (Cora was the Astros’ bench coach then). Cora’s now eligible to return.
Along with Cora, the Red Sox have narrowed their search to Marlins bench coach James Rowson, Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza and Phillies player information coordinator Sam Fuld. Cora’s the only member of the group with major league managerial experience. Industry sources view him as the favorite for the Boston job, per Cotillo.
“Industry sources”? And just who may they be. Some Yankees staffer? Not even Red Sox sources. If the writer can’t do better than that then he/she should be honest and just leave it out. That’s misleading and lazy journalism.
Said the well-known, anonymous critic of journalism with a well known history as an expert in journalism.
No, said the person sick and tired of the unprofessionalism of sports reporters who make things up and who demonstrate a contempt for their readers and who refuse to operate with the same standards of professionalism demanded in other areas of life. Just because you refuse to be treated with respect doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t. .
You may want to seek out the MLB Trade Journalism site.
It’s me, I’m their source.
…….Yes, plus there were some guy in the bar who was rambling about baseball, I do believe that he was one of the sources too…..
The term industry sources has been used since these type stories were printed in newspapers. If you’re just now realizing it you’re either new to sports or havent been paying attention.
So they shouldn’t report that the Red Sox flew all the way to Puerto Rico to meet with Alex Cora? I would say that would give Credence to the sources who say the Sox are serious about hiring Alex Cora. Or at least considering it amongst their other choices. This article is fine and welcome and I’m glad for it. I appreciate the updates. By this article I mean the one here on mlbtraderumors plus the original source articles.
Right with you Gary. Main point was the Sox flew people to Cora instead of him flying to them. Reminds me of a poor man’s attempt to get Schilling back in the day. A VERY POOR MAN’S ATTEMPT. Just a horrible move if they sign him. The desperate Tigers sign Hinch and the Sox appear ready to double down on Cora. Baseball continues to disgrace itself more and more.
Just say no to Cora, don’t do it…..so many other qualified non-cheaters out there.
Did you read about the findings of the investigation? Easier to pint something as black or white instead of critical thinking with context.
Paint*
Uh Paddy…your not suggesting her wasn’t guilty are you…were not that stupid.
rocky7: Are you sure you haven’t taken 1 to many punches to the head from Apollo Creed, Clubber Lange, & Ivan Drago? I’m not the grammar patrol, but come on now. “YOUR not suggesting HER wasn’t guilty are you… WERE not stupid.
Don’t forget Tommh Morrison.
I was not. But I recall him not being a central character in 2017 or 2018. As a bench coach and then a manager, he had to be held responsible.
The vilifying of someone in the entertainment business(that is what most pro sports are) with some naive indignation as if Cora committed a felony is laughable while also being annoying like a fly one hasn’t been able to swat yet (like ones named beisbolista).
He served his suspension. Maybe it was light according to some opinions. Deal with it and let it go. This is coming from a Dodger fan.
But I will not react to the previous scandals like an a 12 year old or a grumpy old man.
You trust the findings of that “investigation”? Like it or not he was part of a cheating culture and he embraced it. That said, he served his punishment and now he has the right to continue his career.
Not really. He shouldn’t have a right to work in this industry. He betrayed baseball and all the fans of the teams he cheated. He served no time, he simply got a one year vacation. He did no rehab to prevent it in the future. The guy is a scumbag and ANYONE who hires one the three amigos deserves to lose and be hated by the fans.
I had to rewrite this a half dozen times removing inappropriate comments. That’s how much I detest Cora, Hinch and Beltran.
I agree.How about the Mexican League, the KBO, or somewhere in Puerto Rico?
lol get a grip its professional baseball
Ya know KD17, it’s funny because I’m in agreement with you on Cora but you have the absolute worst take on the subject ever. Your logic and your explanations come from left field and I really don’t understand them. Your supposed facts and Foundations are off base so you have NOTHING to build upon for your case.
The other day I read all of your 10 paragraph posts regarding the Red Sox and you are just so far out in space it’s not even funny. Here’s a couple points from just your post right here..
Who are you to say he should never work in baseball again? Who are you? He was banned for a year and served his ban. Done.
What do you mean he served no time and just had a one-year vacation? Do you know he wasn’t paid during this year? When a person goes on vacation they usually get paid for that time and then come back to work. This was not a vacation. Do you understand what a vacation is? He was FIRED. Do you understand what being fired is? My goodness.
Alex Cora is a scumbag? I can’t even comment on that one. Who are you to make such a comment like that towards another man? Oh that’s right, I know, an anonymous comment forum. Don’t write anything you wouldn’t say to someone to their face. Just saying. Unacceptable. Again, my goodness.
I may be a little over-the-top here but after reading KD17 for the last three days, I am just so done.
I understand and respect your point of view. But all this vitriol directed at these three is taking away anger that should be directed much higher up. At Manfred, Luhnow, and most of all Crane imo.
Every statement Crane has given since the scandal has been absolutely pathetic as the leader of an organization. Compare Crane’s reaction to Mark Cuban’s reaction (to an admittedly much more serious sexual harrassment scandal but I think we know how Crane would have reacted to the same scandal).
Culture starts at the top and everything the Astros said and did is behavior that trickles down from leadership. Ignorance isn’t an excuse either. It’s no surprise Houston’s front office workers were jumping at opportunities to leave.
Hate Cora, hate Beltran, hate Hinch, but really you’re wasting your time by not being more angry with the people most responsible
Did ALL owners betray baseball by not having punishments in place in the 90s for PED use?
Get off your high horse, I’ll provide the stepladder to help you down.
The only thing Cora and the Astros are guilty of is developing a system that was too obvious! Virtually EVERY team in baseball was stealing signs in one way or another with video equipment in MLB! They were made an example, so stop with the sanctimonious BS! NOBODY cares you hate Cora!
GARY
Scumbag – a contemptible or objectionable person
So for me he’s contemptible and objectionable. Why isn’t he to you?
Honestly, if I met Cora I would spit in his face for his offenses against baseball and the Red Sox. See, I have contempt for his despicable behavior. This man made a ton of money in a game that I love then crapped all over it by cheating twice. He’s an adult not an 18 year old who made a mistake. Adults should be held accountable for their mistakes. He wasn’t sufficiently held accountable for cheating and then he got a break by avoiding a second sentence. He hasn’t been sufficiently punished in my eyes and either have Beltran or Hinch. I also take issue with the players association for not sticking up for the clean players but rather protecting the cheaters. The Astros that participated should have gotten suspensions too.
The great part about living here in the U.S. is that people who want to support a scumbag like Cora are free to do so. And people like me who have great contempt for him are free to do so. Nothing says you and I have to agree but if I’m talking to my kids I don’t want to suggest to them that it’s cool to be a two time cheater or a convicted cheater. I’m going to ask that they do everything with integrity. They may not do it but as a parent that all you can do, try to show the line between right and wrong. Apparently, our values don’t align and I’m ok with that.
I apologize for sounding preachy but there is no excuse for downplaying the actions of Cora. He’s a cheater who got a break and didn’t get caught the second time.
Who am I to say he should never work in baseball? A fan, a former player, a former coach and a former teacher of the game who is retired and hoping the next generation of baseball players, coaches and front offices have more integrity than Cora. That’s who I am.
Who are you to support such a scumbag?
Paddy – Where have you been? The jump in home runs during all decades since 1871 is directly related to the juice in the ball not the steroids in the player. Worst case, players were guilty of attempted cheating thinking that steroids were making a difference. The facts show otherwise.
For me the yard stick for cheating is games altered. How many games were altered by steroids if HRs weren’t different during the steroid years? NONE based on the numbers. Now compare that to 90 games potentially impacted by the actions of Cora, Hinch, Beltran and the Astro players. The cheating dwarfs 1919 and isn’t comparable to steroids since there was no impact to results based on the numbers..
Remember what Cora and others did in 2017 potentially impacted NINETY games including three playoff series one of which was the World Series. Then, in Boston, how many more games were impacted despite him not getting convicted thanks to the Players Union deal with the commissioner?
What is actually missing is the high horse you reference. The biggest wrong doing in a sport deserves the biggest penalty. That didn’t happen.
KD, you make a few good points sprinkled in with several non sequiturs.
If people are going to whine…no one should be complaining louder than Kershaw. His home performance versus road performance in 2017 WS is almost comical. But he does not because he is an “actor” and not a “commentator.”
One can whine about what should be. Or move on and deal with what is, not what could have been. If you bring up numbers, you should actually back your point up with actual statistics.
KD 17@, you are something else. Your definition for SCUMBAG doesn’t quite match up to the words you’re using. Scum bag. You’re calling a person somewhat of a sack to hold “scum.” That’s a little bit more than an “objectionable person” don’t you think? Seriously?
Then you would say you would spit in Cora’s face if you saw him in person. Really? That act has to be one of the lowest, dirtiest, disrespectful actions one person could do to another. Spit in a person’s face. And you have kids? God help us.
He should’ve been banned from baseball for life! He’s a stain on MLB!
KD you are what’s wrong with the US. You’d spit in his face . I don’t support Cora at all, but you are one vile self righteous person if that’s your position. Just gross. Please don’t bring our country into this as justification. Pathetic really.
All you need to do is look at altuve numbers vs breaking balls this year it’s obvious they cheated on top of the mountain of video evidence
Gary, I gave you the dictionary definition and you chose to make up your own definition. Seriously dude, you suck at discussing a point.
I completely agree that spitting is disrespectful. Excellent point. All the lowest, dirtiest crap you used as adjectives is nothing more than you trying to exaggerate my disrespect ineptly. But you got the disrespect part right. No hatred. Nothing more than contempt and disrespect for his role in two cheating controversies that negatively impacted baseball.
You do realize nobody needs to think like you? Right? I haven’t tried to change your completely screwed up opinion. I accept that you are entitled to making mistakes as you see fit. Let others enjoy their own opinions. You aren’t in a position to brow beat anybody into thinking like you so why even try? Let others enjoy their distaste for the scumbag and you tell your kids that cheating twice is ok. You’ll probably win a father of the year award for outstanding values. hahaha Seriously, how do you explain cheating twice is ok to your kids?
KD how do you explain spitting on someone. Get off your pathetic soap box. I hope you don’t have kids. “Enjoy your distaste” That says it all about you.
Gary – I simply skip KD17 as his views are not from left field, they are from the moon. I not longer waste time reading his garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!
LV96@, I think I’ll take that advice. I mean seriously who comes up with this stuff ? The logic is just not there.
KD, You don’t read well either.. I said I was with you on Cora. I wouldn’t hire him and I think he cheated. Try reading for once.
If it’s taking this long does it mean he’s actually not going to get it? It seems odd that they didn’t just name him the new manager. There must be some internal division within the organization.
I have heard it opined ownership wants him but Bloom wants his own guy.
Henry isn’t one to really meddle though. If Bloom really wants his own guy he’ll have the power to do that.
The Valentine debacle was Lucchino’s doing and he doesn’t have the influence to make that kind of call anymore.
Obviously there’s two sides to this in the Red Sox organization, as someone else stated. If he’s being considered this seriously but not being named, there’s enough support and push back that it’s a stalemate. With so many viable managerial options out there, why put themselves through the internal strife and the public awkwardness of a reunion? Just move on.
Alex Cora is a disgrace. Period. The Red Sox might be setting themselves up to have an aggressive, decisive manager, but otherwise the whole thing will be an embarrassment and if they do well under him, people will assume they cheated and if they don’t do well, it’ll look like a step backward for the organization.
He is not worth it.
Then again, a lot of folks go back to cheating exes all the time…
I’m over it. He’s done his time. Let’s bring him back. At the end of the day, he lives, eats, sleeps baseball. He knows Boston and their players as well as anyone. There’s not a better candidate out there. i want my team to win and he represents the best chance to do that.
So have you forgotten 2019 already?
COMPLETE mismanagement of spring training.
How about what existed of the minor sign stealing deal with the redsox. As a skipper you should see a guy jeep going in and out of the dugout like crazy through a game to get those signs.
2017 of course was a stain on all of baseball.
Move on, better candidates out there and give the team a fresh start. Plenty of fans are sick of cora and bringing him back says something (negative) about team culture up top.
Plenty of fans=the 28 fans GAsoxfans is connected to on social media and that he may see on comment boards such as this one.
Ditto on GASoxFan’s comments. Sucked as a player, sucked as a manager,AND he cheated twice and was convicted once. If that’s on anyone’s resume, do you hire them? NOPE. Not even as a custodian of the men’s room.
Lol this is laughable, people with way worse records than ‘cheating’ can get jobs. He also won a WS so not THAT bad of a manager.
The world is quite grey, even if all you see is black and white.
KD17: What are your achievements in life? Have you reached the HIGHEST level POSSIBLE in YOUR occupation? Alex Cora did. Have you EVER cheated, did ANYTHING underhanded or against the rules &/or regulations? Alex Cora has. Alex Cora has also taken responsibility for those actions. Have YOU had YOUR transgressions brought out in the daylight for ANYONE & EVERYONE to judge, chastise, and condemn you for them? Alex Cora has.
Prospect – If you are asking if in my career (which is now over) I ever was found guilty of the most heinous cheating in my industry? I’d have to say no.
Your response seems very personal. Is Cora related to you?
Your response also assumes the two incidents were Cora’s only transgressions as you call them. What makes you think it’s not just the tip of an iceberg? Many famous sayings like once a cheater always a cheater ring in my ears whenever you mention his name.
You assumed a lot about me and I’m guessing you can only judge me by the things you’ve done in your life. I really hope if you do relate to Cora’s cheating and feel everyone does the level of cheating Cora has done or even the level of cheating Cora has been convicted of then you have a somewhat dark perspective on human behavior.
Nobody is perfect is a fair statement but that doesn’t open the door to justifying cheating. CONVICTED CHEATER. Put that on your resume and see how many companies want to hire you. Why should the Red Sox? Because you like the guy? Not a good enough reason for me.
What an imbecilic statement!
Yeah, he sure sucked it up as a player. He played at the highest level of pro ball from 1998-2011. Because he is not a HOFer does not mean he sucked. It seems like a few people on this particular comment board are arguing out of there emotions about the cheating scandal.
One would think-especially in the last day or two-how bad it looks when you argue from a wounded ego and hurt emotions. Assess and analyze the situation and then comment instead of ranting based some grumpy grandpa/petulant 12 year old perspective.
Cora served his suspension. Maybe it was far too light for the unrealistic idealists, but far more efficient to accept it and let the whiney b!|€h$ attitude go. Let it go….or just keep whining and see how that works
With every post KD just keeps exposing himself for what he is. To say he sucked as a player is the so ridiculous. I really don’t like defending Cora, but people like KD are just beyond reason.
Are you old enough to have watched games Cora played in? I am and I did and he and his brother were average in the case of Joey and far below average in the case of Alex ball players. They were known for not having a good work ethics and appeared to lack effort on many plays Typically players not willing to work hard take shortcuts so for him to cheat is not a stretch to anyone who watched him play.
Cora and his brother were diminutive quick players who couldn’t hit for power and didn’t have much speed. That was fairly standard for 2B of that era. Alex was in the majors for 14 seasons and never got 500 at bats in a season. He was a back-up and in my opinion a bad back-up. Why? Because he hit .250 or less most years, didn’t steal many bases for a 2B and didn’t hit for power or average. His glove was adequate. Yes, he was in the majors as a back-up but saying he sucked at the major league level is a fair and accurate statement. If you want to debate that making the majors is a great achievement that’s fine I agree but most people don’t compare MLB players to people in general they compare them to other MLB players and I stand by my statement that he sucked.
Joey only played in 11 season but he was a regular unlike Alex for many seasons. He was like Alex in that he was a diminutive 2B but he was a better hitter. His .277 average was respectable so I will retract my statement that Joey sucked. He was league average at best.
Suggesting I’m beyond reason because I don’t agree with you is a very shallow comment. I just provided the data which was the basis of my comment. Where is your proof that I’m wrong? Paddy made the only semi-worthy point about Cora sucking but nobody evaluates a MLB player comparing them to people off the street, they compare them to other MLB players and that’s why sucks fits. The numbers don’t lie.
You Cora supporters need to get a grip on reality. This guy has never been good at anything AND he cheated twice. Let’s face it. I’ve spent a couple of days now clearly delineating why I have contempt for Cora and why I think poorly of him as a manager and player and all you’ve done is criticize my opinion because it’s not yours. Next time, show up to the debate with some facts so people can respect your opinion.
Also, grow up. When you are losing an argument walk away instead of the childish rants about how I’m over the top and ranting when in fact it’s you who can’t deal with my opinion. I have no issue with your poor choices in life because they are yours not mine. So stop attacking people because they don’t agree with you. If it’s not obvious by now, I’m not backing down with my opinion because you clowns continue to call me names out of ignorance. Learn how to present a factual argument and maybe you won’t look so foolish on this website.
FYI… I’m not wounded, upset, hurt or any of the other things you suggested because I disagree with you. I am adamant that Cora is a scumbag and deserved more punishment and that he would be the worst choice to be the Red Sox new manager. The fact that I am passionate in my distaste for him has to do with his actions. These are all rational arguments supporting my opinion.
You guys who over react to anything negative about Cora are the folks with issues. Good luck with those.
You going to spit on me too? I am not losing anything. You have some win lose issue with your posts. I don’t want Cora back. I lost all respect for him. They didn’t need to cheat. Anyone who says they would spit on him or anyone is trash in my opinion. That is actually a crime, now more than ever with COVID. You are the one who always has to be right. “never been good at anything”? Just moronic. Like him or not, he was a professional ball player. Not everyone can do that. Many have tried and failed. He was not a superstar, but a good clubhouse guy. Your issues show with every post.
Fuld, Kelly, Mendoza are the only 3 guys I would have any interest in from this list
Alex Cora is a disgrace petiod?!!? Didn’t he guide a team to a championship 2 years ago? Go put your head in the sand.
He gets way too much credit for “guiding” that team. That team was stacked and played out of their minds. I could have managed that team to a win. He also shat the bed in 2019 with the same team. That blunder of a ST causes every pitcher to be months behind. He is NOT the end all be all. He’s a POC.
Nice use of the past tense. “Shat” lol!
Well, he is a disgrace as a human being anyway. If that’s the sort of person the Red Sox want leading their team it’s their funeral..
He’s actually arguably a very good person in the ways that truly matter. He’s super active in donating time, money, and labor to his native Puerto Rico.
Glad the measure of a man is solely based on his onfield behavior and not all the things he does off of it. Bregman is another guy who gets a terrible rap but is incredibly active in the community.
What are the rest of us doing in our free time? Commenting on the character of men we truly know very little about?
67redsox: You tell them, cause YOU are such a GREAT person. I’m sure there’s ABSOLUTELY NO DEFECTS in YOUR CHARACTER.
They should hire him back. He paid his punishment and he’s a good manager. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption. There are a lot of self-righteous people on here.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3
Lean not on your own understanding
Proverbs 3:5-6 (my screen name)
What about all of the other people who deserve a chance that didn’t participate in the 2017 cheating scandal?
Self-righteous to think Cora proved he’s a cheater and others should get a first chance instead of Cora getting his job back? Not at all.
We’re in no position to judge.
Then how will the Red Sox hire anyone? Isn’t Chaim Bloom in no position to judge?
Right. Interview and hire the best candidate. If that’s Cora, then hire Cora.
So Chaim Bloom is without sin? He’s in a position to judge, it would appear.
I guess I don’t follow you. I just said redemption is good so let Cora have a chance after paying his punishment.
Why is redemption better than not needing to be redeemed in the first place?
Why not give the job to Sam Fuld, James Rowson, Don Kelly, or Carlos Mendoza, none of whom have a history of cheating the game? Why don’t they get a first chance instead of Cora getting a second?
differentbears: Bloom is in a POSITION of leadership,a position of power within the organization. No one is claiming that Bloom is without sin. There’s ONLY ONE who has been without sin. His name is Jesus Christ.
He’s a SERIAL CHEATER who did no rehab. He’s a crap manager. He deserves NOTHING from baseball. He’s already gotten too much from the game he cheated twice.
Self-righteous definition from the dictionary
having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior.
That makes nearly every person on the planet self righteous compared to Cora!! We are all morally superior. Most of the folks that aren’t are in jail. The key word in this definition is UNFOUNDED. You are proven wrong by that one word. There is a documented conviction that makes EVERYTHING we say FOUNDED not unfounded
Let him find a job in another industry. He abused his privilege to be a part of the baseball industry TWICE.
The New England Puritan ethos is unbecoming.
prov356: Amen! For we have ALL fallen short…
Pontius Pilate for Red Sox GM, Judas for manager then.
I’m curious, did AJ Hinch have this much vitriol spewed against him when he was picked as manager in Detroit? Didn’t he also serve a 1-year suspension for the Astros cheating? Wasn’t he just as culpable as Cora? In fact, I’d say he was more culpable as he was the freakin manager and the one who was supposed to be in charge of the players. Yet it seems Cora is being labeled more of the bad guy here than Hinch. Wondering why that is.
Hinch’s failure was being too timid and not exercising his authority strongly enough.
He didn’t implement or aid in the cheating, other than not taking strong enough steps to stop it.
That said, aside from resignation, I’m not sure what he COULD do aside from what he did in sabotaging the cheating equipment. The cheating program came from the TOP. THE VERY TOP. so telling your boss, hey, these guys won’t stop…. deaf ears.
Cora helped Design. Implement. Tweak. Execute. Subvert orders of the superior (hinch) but possibly at the directions of others even higher up.
One had failings in executing their duties. The other engaged in activity attacking the integrity of the game, and guys careers/contracts.
There’s your difference.
Also, just look at the attitudes and explanations when attempting to atone.
Because Hinch claims he was powerless to stop it. He’s either feckless or a liar. And plenty of people have spoken out on this site as to his disqualifications for future baseball opportunities.
Cora, Beltran, Hinch, Luhnow. None of them should work in baseball again, IMO. But apparently second chances for the cheaters and those who claim they couldn’t control their teams, while guys who haven’t had a shot have to wait longer.
If you believe Hinch, he’s a terrible leader and lacks the moral backbone to speak out when the inmates take over his asylum. Or he’s a liar and a cheat.
Which one makes him a great choice to manage your team?
Ricky Renteria should be considered!
A change of Sox would do him good!
Seems odd the Red Sox traveled to Cora. Maybe they took the trip to Puerto Rico to break the news to him that he won’t be getting the job.
At first that makes sense but I think that would be just a phone call really. A trip to Puerto Rico wouldn’t be necessary to say he’s out of the running.
If rehired does Alex Cora bring back Ron Roenicke? Lmao
Red Sox are dragging this one out so they can say they turned every stone trying to find the best person for the job and finally the truth came out. Introducing Alex Cora new and refreshing the cat’s meow. :LOL
I mean, why not? MLB just welcomed back AJ Hinch, who oversaw the greatest team scandal since the Black Sox. They just approved a hedge fund guy who has skirted around a major scandal, so bringing back Cora, Hinch’s lieutenant who was part of two scandals, makes sense for MLB 2020.
There’s a crucial distinction between Hinch starting fresh in Detroit and Cora returning to Boston (potentially).
And what is that distinction exactly? Cora’s suspension was related to the same scandal as Hinch’s was. If you’re trying to claim the overblown stuff from 2018 you seem to be forgetting that MLB found no culpability on Cora’s part for that.
Nicely qualified but you circumvented what actually happened. They simply didn’t have enough evidence to convict without player testimony. That should NEVER be confused with him not doing anything. Thanks once again to the Players Association nobody would testify. That makes this a cover-up not a not guilty. We all know he was involved but being involved and proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s involved are two different things. As any lawyer will tell you. Innocence is not the word to use in this case. The phrase is a lack of evidence since the players REFUSED to testify. Thus a cover-up which can’t be confused with innocence.
Just remember, if Cora gets the job it means he probably blackmailed ownership when the cheating scandal occurred. By keeping their names out of the cheating since they were completely aware of it, he guaranteed a comeback after the suspension. Think about the ridiculous public appearance by ownership at his dismissal. Normally, owners would be angry that someone embarrassed their organization and simply would fire them. Not these owners, they reluctantly dismissed him because they had to or at least that’s the way they played it. Ask yourself why. In light of the leverage Cora had on them and their desire not to be suspended it makes perfect sense. Can we prove it? No. But it it looks like crap, smells like crap then it’s probably crap.
Your imagination is beyond the stratosphere. Where do you come up with this stuff?
Do you realize blackmail is highly illegal and if caught and convicted Cora would spend many years in prison? Bro you’re killing me.
Doesn’t necessarily have to be blackmail. Maybe ownership offered cora a deal… play along and keep quiet during the investigation (remember Boston was already disciplined multiple times)… in exchange, they said hey, let’s mutually part ways for now… don’t push us to pay the balance of your deal – we know you could since you wouldn’t have done anything wrong while here in Boston – and when this all blows over you’ve got a place back with us.
It’s not the craziest idea I ever heard, except, the new GM isn’t on board with bringing him back. Would be an unusal flexing of backbone for a new GM but, keeping cora out would earn bloom points and respect from me for the first time in his tenure. (Not that may particular opinion of him counts to him, it doesn’t really)
That makes a lot more sense of a scenario. Well said. Quite possibly could be the case.
Seeing that the Red Sox retained 95% of Cora’s staff… what does that tell everyone?
Francona, Farrell, Cora all have something in common all of Boston will remember: All 3 won the World Series in their first year as Red Sox Manager…..
And only one of those three has proven to be worth his salt…
This is so awesome… why would they fly all the way to PR when they could just walk out to their CF camera and talk to him through that?
Because when he’s in Puerto Rico he’s not at the plate with a bat in his hand.
The best part of this is all these Red Sox fans that claim Cora is a “horrible person” and a “stain on the game” also think David Ortiz is a saint. Hypocrites, every last one of them!
AC is good enough for now, bring him back in for the same low bucks as his last contract. Sox have way more important issues to solve than a manager.
I don’t know why anyone is surprised. Cheaters are admired these days. ARod is on ESPN and was recently up for buying an MLB team, for Christ’s sake.
The stakes and the pressure must be high in Boston to consider bringing back a two-time cheater. Yes, two-time. But, when the stakes are that high you will do what you must to win. Ask every player who’s ever taken a PED. I do not blame the Red Sox for considering this re-hire. Unless there are candidates out there you can definitively say “he’s the best guy”. Cora is a viable option whether we like it or not.
This is also a time to show Cora he can be forgiven for his baseball sins. However, he does something again and the penalty should be a lifetime ban. This job would be a great opportunity to show Cora how to bring integrity to the game of baseball for once in his career.
Given his past, I don’t think this is the best position to rebuild trust. Let him start over as a lesser coach where more guys have power to watch what he does. 1st base, 3rd base, even quality control coach if you feel that way.
Would we hand the keys to a school bus of kids on a daily basis to an alcoholic, that just got a plea deal probation for crippling someone for life in a drunken car accident, that’s gone to one weeks worth of AA meetings, and that has deflected responsibility for his actions citing in part that he’s Irish?
No, we wouldnt. But cora claims to have cheated in part due to his competitive spirit from being Puerto rican – a slander against all Latin players implying others would feel some genetic drive to act like him. Just as offensive as the Irish example above.
My opinion – I don’t know that he really, sincerely atoned, and I feel he’s had a bit light of a punishment. But it’s too soon to give him keys to the car anyways. He needs to work his way back with close monitoring to make sure he doesn’t fall back into nefarious ways, and manager is a bad place to start.
I hear you. I don’t necessarily agree with this potential decision by Boston but I also understand it.
“Major League Baseball gave him a one-year suspension him for his role in Houston’s 2017 sign-stealing scandal”
WHAT??
Coupe: That is correct. Cora was only punished for his actions in Houston. People should really read the commissioner’s report on the 2018 Red Sox. No incidents of cheating were found. They speculated about the actions of Watkins while admitting they “largely do not have direct evidence” against Watkins. They also could only conclude that the Red Sox “may have benefitted” and “potentially benefited” from Watkins theorized actions. They couldn’t show that any cheating occurred in Boston after months of interviews and reviewing video.
My comment is about the wording, not the punishment. I copy and pasted exactly how it reads.
Got it. Thanks.
MLB has decided and delivered the sentence. It should be left at just that. Now MLB needs to implement and enforce a policy where cheating in this or similar manners will be met with swift and severe consequences. That said, it would behoove the Red Sox to move on from their former manager and forge a new direction. I won’t stop being a fan if he’s rehired but hope it doesn’t happen