Cora begins his new job

May/20/08 09:12 PM Filed in: Alex Cora
AlexCora
On a night where fielding took center stage, it only made sense that one of the most noteworthy developments revolved around the Red Sox [team stats]’ defensive plan of attack.

In the ninth inning of the first game in what turned into the Sox’ doubleheader sweep of the Brewers, Alex Cora [stats] came on as a defensive replacement for Julio Lugo [stats]. It is a strategy that evidently won’t be a one-time thing.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke with both Cora and Lugo about the possibility of using Cora as a late-inning defensive replacement at shortstop.

“I’m ready for it,” said Cora, who started and played the entire second game. “You want to be the one making plays when it counts. Obviously, coming into a game, a close game, you want to be making a play. It’s something you have to ready for and the ball will find you.”

The strategy paid off immediately when Cora made a sensational grab on a popup in shallow left field in the ninth inning by Prince Fielder. The shortstop caught the ball basket-style with his back to the plate.

This will be the second time in Cora’s career he filled the role as late-inning defensive replacement. In 2002 with the Dodgers, he shared playing time at shortstop with Cesar Izturis, with either coming in for second baseman Mark Grudzielanek for defense.

Lugo leads all major league shortstops with 11 errors, three more than Florida’s Hanley Ramirez. His fielding percentage stands at .917, lowest among starters at his position.

The Sox’ starting shortstop did collect a hit while scoring a run in the first game, with his batting average standing at .283.

Cora did make an error in the second game, his first of the season, failing to come up with an in-between hop on a Billy Hall grounder in the seventh inning of the Sox’ 7-6 victory.

It would be one of three errors for the Sox in a game that set a new high for most errors by two teams in a single game (seven) this season.

According to a few players, not helping matters was the wear and tear the Fenway Park [map] field endured from a full day of doubleheader baseball.

“It was pretty rough,” said second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats] of the field. “That ball to AC was a do-or-die play. That was a tough play. It was bad. That was the worse it has been all year.”

(news.bostonherald.com)