Originally Posted by
Maxbialystock
I have said countless times that in the end the manager is responsible for overall wins and losses, especially in terms of the front office's expectations.
But, since you asked (actually, a700hitter asked), a couple of points in Cora's favor--
1. DD, not Cora, made the decision not to re-sign Kimbrel, a decision I agree with, but it has probably had a ripple effect in the bullpen. Same deal for Kelly even though the Dodgers are sorry they stole him. Kelly wasn't great until the postseason in 2018, but he did have some good games in the regular season, including 21 holds and 2 saves.
2. Yes, a truncated pitching regimen for starters in ST got them off to a bad start, but ERod actually pitched the normal (15 innings) amount this year and had no ST in 2018, but his ERA has shot up from 3.82 to 4.71. So much for the "must work hard in ST" theory. Porcello also pitched a decent # innings, 12, this year, and his ERA is up. David Price, on the other hand, pitched just 6.2 innings in ST and his ERA has is slightly better, 3.39 this year vs. 3.58 last year. Only Sale's ERA has shot up after a truncated ST, from 2.11 to 3.59, and I find it hard to believe that's entirely on Cora. I think we are seeing a different Sale this year. I also think lightening his ST load made sense from the standpoint that in the two previous seasons he has great April-July, and lousy August-September.
3. Hitting is down this year mostly because three--Beni, Mookie, JDM--in the top five of the order are having lesser years than in 2018. This, I would argue, contributes to the RISP disease currently running rampant thru the team.
4. Last year was the best in Red Sox history, and Cora was the manager. So to me he gets a pass this year regardless of what happens.