On the whole I want to like Alex Cora. He seems very loyal w/ a lot of the players, and shows real patience w/ some like Jarren Duran. He was the manager for the last Boston World Series win. But what he is doing to the pitching staff is criminal.
The one redeeming part of this season is the Red Sox building a young pitching staff. Bello, Crawford and Houck are young arms any team would be ecstatic to build a staff around. But Cora has zero faith in Crawford or Houck as evidenced by his quick hooks of both. He famously pulled Tanner in a game against the Nats when he was pitching a no-hitter. Today, once again, what appeared to be a solid start from the improving Crawford was ended after a solo homer. The final numbers: 4.2 innings, 73 pitches, 2 runs. Nowhere near good enough for the red sox manager.
If Cora doesn't believe in 2 pitchers any other team in the league would be ecstatic to have, than either trade Crawford (I can't bring myself to say trade Tanner Houck) or fire Cora. If it's trade Kutter, then include Verdugo and Blaze Jordan/Nick Yorke or both to get Dylan Cease or Mitch Keller. Then have a sit down with Cora and explain that he will have faith in the pitcher the team just acquired, or he will be shown the door.
The one redeeming part of this season is the Red Sox building a young pitching staff. Bello, Crawford and Houck are young arms any team would be ecstatic to build a staff around. But Cora has zero faith in Crawford or Houck as evidenced by his quick hooks of both. He famously pulled Tanner in a game against the Nats when he was pitching a no-hitter. Today, once again, what appeared to be a solid start from the improving Crawford was ended after a solo homer. The final numbers: 4.2 innings, 73 pitches, 2 runs. Nowhere near good enough for the red sox manager.
If Cora doesn't believe in 2 pitchers any other team in the league would be ecstatic to have, than either trade Crawford (I can't bring myself to say trade Tanner Houck) or fire Cora. If it's trade Kutter, then include Verdugo and Blaze Jordan/Nick Yorke or both to get Dylan Cease or Mitch Keller. Then have a sit down with Cora and explain that he will have faith in the pitcher the team just acquired, or he will be shown the door.