Fort Myers, Florida: Although manager understands the focus and rumors are coming, Alex Cora doesn’t want to be the center of attention when it comes to the 2024 Red Sox because his contract expires after this season.
That does not absolve him of trying to shut it down in the future.
He stated, “I don’t want this season to be about me,” during his first press conference of Spring Training on Tuesday.
“I’m happy to be here,” the Sox captain declared firmly. “In the fall of 2017, this organization offered me the opportunity to manage a major league team, and more surprisingly—and this is something I hold dear—they gave me the opportunity to return immediately following my suspension. I am grateful for that.”
Cora anticipated a far more difficult journey return to the manager’s office following his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing controversy, his mutual decision to part ways with the Red Sox in January 2019, and his subsequent one-year suspension.
“After the mistake I made, I never thought I would be back managing as soon as I was, and for that, we are grateful,” he remarked. For us, this is our family. As a family, we understand how things operate in Boston, even if we adore it there. It’s an enterprise.
Coming into spring training feeling revitalized, Cora looks, sounds, and says that this is “one of the best offseasons that I’ve had in a while.”
The Sox captain advised fans to “reset, recharge, reenergize, and attack the season the right way.” He also talked about how challenging the previous season had been for him and how it had caused him to reassess his objectives.
“To be honest, I had a difficult year last year,” he stated. “It was a difficult season that affected me both physically and mentally. It was difficult.
He then added, “I think got hit last year with that. It can take a toll on you when you spend more than five or six years in one place.” “I’m relieved to realize that.”
When the 2023 Red Sox collapsed in late August, quickly spinning out of control and finishing in last place with a record of 78-84, their manager took a personal improvement quest. He started a new fitness and health program in September of last year, in anticipation of his induction into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.
“I told myself in September that I needed to move quickly because I would be in a lot of photos at this ceremony,” the speaker said. Cora stated. “So, I started this program, changed my diet, and whatever, and it took off from there.”
He jogged four kilometers on Tuesday morning before making his media appearance. He acknowledges that his family, especially his mother’s strong love, helped him get through it.
“I was crushed by a conversation I had with my mom when I got back home. She was really very honest,” he remarked. “And she told me you looked great in our last conversation before I boarded the plane to leave.”
Workouts became a family affair as his brother-in-law and longstanding partner, Angelica, are running the marathon this year.
He remarked, “I started being like that support guy, and they started training.” “I was rooting for them, but the competition got fierce. She was really kicking my behind as we were jogging, so I thought, “Okay, you’re going to bring it back to that level, and I’m going to bring it to that level.”
Joking aside, I had terrible physical pains last year. I felt really unhealthy and low in energy. Yes, it was awful. It was awful, and I refuse to allow a video game define who I am or what transpires in my life.
Given that Cora is about to embark on his sixth and possibly last season as the Sox captain, it is conceivable that he is reluctant to show his cards. If the team stumbles to yet another poor finish in the fall of next year, he might be prepared to move on from Boston. And he is aware that in the end, he has no say in the matter.
Nevertheless, Cora has set an end date for his managerial career, regardless of whether he stays in Boston.
“I promise you that I won’t be able to handle ten more years.” Speaking about Terry Francona and Tony La Russa, who managed 23 and 35 years, respectively, he remarked, “I don’t see myself being like Tito or Tony.”
“I see myself doing other things in the game, back home in Puerto Rico, with the family,” he remarked.
Cora remarked, “You know, I got two boys and a daughter who is a junior in college.” “Life is about so much more than just baseball.”
But for the time being, baseball is still around.
Leave a Reply