Alex Cora Q & A

Jul/02/07 09:50 AM Filed in: Alex Cora
Diehard spoke recently with Alex Cora for a story on the Red Sox reserves that appears in the August issue of Diehard. In this Q&A, Cora discusses why it’s easier for a bench player to get playing time on a contender, his daily routine and how he’s successful but not satisfied as a reserve. (FREE PREVIEW OF PREMIUM CONTENT!)

Diehard: How tough is it to build a cohesive bench with players who can handle their roles?

Alex Cora: I think winning helps a lot [laughs]. People talk about chemistry and all that. Chemistry comes with a three-game winning streak. There’s no magic thing. You win and it’s fun to come to the ballpark.

It’s tough when you’re not winning. You don’t play a lot. It seems like people that run teams, they panic a little bit and they want to throw nine guys out everyday. And it doesn’t work that way.


DH: Why is it easier to get playing time on a contender?

AC: It seems like when you’re winning, I think the way they think is [if] they can get an off-day here [for a starter], you can take it. For me, personally, that’s the way it works. [Teams] don’t want a losing streak and they don’t feel confident in [the] bench. But if you’re winning, it seems like it’s contagious and it seems like everybody helps.


DH: Have you talked to Wily Mo Pena and Eric Hinske, who are each under 30 and not far removed from their days as regular players?

AC: Yeah, we talk about it. It’s not easy, but I think it helps [when] we talk about it. Everybody knows that you don’t have great days everyday. Sometimes, you come to the ballpark and you’re like ‘Wow, I’m not going to play today.’ But we talk about it and we pick each other up and that’s why we have such a good routine going here. It doesn’t give you time to wonder what if, what would happen [if he played everyday].