MLB World Series: Dodgers vs Red Sox Friday, October 26, 2018 Alex Cora Red Sox pregame 3 was a cutter down and in, that's why I went to talk to Kimbrel in the 9th when Tony was up, I said, "Hey, stay Q. Just a thought on what J.D. did to test that ankle away from him. Don't pitch in." out there, and your thoughts and reasoning behind Benintendi sitting out tonight? I think his stuff is okay. And they've been able to ALEX CORA: With Jackie playing, J.D., he's okay. It's maintain their stuff. October 26th, I think it is, whatever. He went through the repetitions and he told me he's ready to play. What was the other one? We're playing him in left. Q. Can a manager get hot in the postseason? As far as matchups, for what we have information-wise, ALEX CORA: No. It's all about the players. They're there's no big difference. Maybe Beni has the edge. talented. We got information, we put them in spots that But Jackie's defense with J.D. in left field, it makes we feel that they're going to be successful. But in the sense for us. end they're the ones that hit homers and make plays and actually they make managers look good, that's it. Also we keep Beni on the bench, we have our lefties playing. We've got Mitch and Brock and Rafy. So we Q. After you guys made the deal for Eovaldi, did kept that bat on the bench and I think he'll show up in you reach out to Cash? What sense did you have the middle of the game. It's a good matchup for us of what he was going to be able to do for you against a righty or lefty. We feel comfortable with his versus what he actually ended up doing? bat. He can pinch-run, he can come in and play ALEX CORA: Actually I texted with Snyder, with Kyle. defense. First thing he said, "A hard worker, great guy, stuff amazing." And we saw the good Nate for two outings There's a lot of stuff that went on, but it's simple: Keep against Minnesota, which before he had an outing the big boy in left field and have Jackie play left-center against them and he struggled. Actually the last one and center field, help him out. with the Rays, and then he pitched against them, he was good. And then the Yankee one, that series in Q. Do you think a manager can get hot in the August, that was amazing. postseason? Everything is working out well for you. No. 2, using Eovaldi and Porcello in the And then stuff-wise it was okay, but we kept attacking bullpen, is that a plan heading into the postseason the same plane, I think it started in Baltimore, in the or did that evolve, especially after Rick came in in doubleheader. We stayed down in the zone. And we the first game against the Yankees? always talk about pitch mix. And then towards the end ALEX CORA: No, it was the plan. We knew we were of the season he started pitching up in the zone, going to have an extra arm in every game. Chris is expanding both ways, and now you see the result. healthy, but we actually didn't know how he was going to react. We tried to build him up to 90 pitches and But he's everything Kyle said about him. In the then six up-and-downs during the game, but it never clubhouse he's been amazing. Hard worker. happened. So we had to be prepared. And all of a Sometimes you've got to tell him, hey, slow down, slow sudden Game 1 happened in the Division Series and down. But I'm very happy for him. Very happy for him. we went with Rick, and that was good. Glad that people are noticing him now. And he's been great for us, obviously. The good thing about them is like, even if they pitch, when they're supposed to start, their stuff is pretty Q. I'm sure you're not surprised the Dodgers similar. I heard somebody talking about Rick in changed their lineup dramatically against a righty Houston -- yeah, Houston, he pitched there -- yeah, starter. As a guy who has been a GM yourself, do that his stuff was a little bit down. I don't think his stuff you see this as another trend, just the roster was down. I just thought when we went to certain they've built with the versatility and the balance guys, it wasn't a good game plan. Like Tony Kemp, it and the talent to have such dramatic shifts from Rev #1 by #178 at 2018-10-26 22:11:00 GMT page 1 of 3 one day to the next? ALEX CORA: Yeah, I think versatility is huge In 2000 I played for Sandy Alamo Senior, and Sandy, nowadays. We talk about certain decisions we make he was a guy, he'll always tell you, the game will tell early in the season because of that. And like tonight you something, you just have to pay attention to it. The we're versatile tonight. We've got guys if we double- scoreboard is not for the fans, the scoreboard is for the switch or we run for them, we can move around, Blake, players. Outs, innings, strikes, all that stuff, if you pay Brock, Mookie, Pearce. So that's very important. And attention to that something is going to tell you what to that's what they do. They do an outstanding job using do on the field. And then that same year Robbie their roster. It's a deep one. There's a lot of good played for us for ten days, and that was amazing. I players in that roster. And DR, he does a good job mean, his baseball IQ is off the charts. He tries to take using them all. advantage of every little detail. Q. (Question in Spanish). This guy at that time we knew he was going to be a ALEX CORA: He asked me about Pedey. Like what Hall of Famer, and I still remember there's one out, he's he's meant to the club this year. Obviously I at second, and we're playing in Mayagüez, that's like envisioned Pedey to be my second baseman, and do a the biggest rivalry for us in Caguas. And the catcher lot of things on the field, contribute on the field, but it he was flipping the ball back to the pitcher, back to the didn't happen. But what he's done in the clubhouse, in pitcher, back to the pitcher, and we're talking about the dugout, off the field has been amazing. He's been Robbie Alomar, one of the best players in the Big great. Communication with the players and keep them Leagues and he's playing winter ball. Pitch, flip it, and in check, keeping them in the moment and being our he took off to third. We were in awe. Like, if this guy is 9th coach or 10th coach, I don't know, whatever he's doing this, we better start playing that way. been, he's been great. So that's what I learned from them and that's what we Disappointed? Yeah. He's one of the best second tried to do. basemen in the Big Leagues. I knew going into the situation it was going to be cool. He's one of my best Q. Kevin Cash loses yet another coach in Charlie friends. But things happen for a reason and he's been Montoyo, and obviously he lost Rocco Baldelli upbeat. He's been there with his teammates, and he's already. Talk to me about the Rays turning out like been a big part of what we're trying to accomplishing. the Astros, some managers. And also Montoyo becomes the third Puerto Rican coach active - And then he said something about Pedey managing, Dave Martinez, you, and Joe Espada is still in the well, we'll see. He's very fiery. mix for a couple of jobs. The personal pride that you feel with the Puerto Rican coaches? Q. The question for you is on the whole propensity ALEX CORA: Like I said before, I don't put limits. I'm of sign stealing and the focus on tipping the proud of them. It's awesome. And I'm glad that people pitches. And you had the thing with Houston in the saw him or saw Charlie as capable. That's it. I've other series. And now Machado, some people are been saying it for five or six years. This is not about thinking that he's at second base stealing signs. minorities. It's not about him being Latino or Puerto What's your assessment of the whole thing? Why Rican. Charlie Montoyo is a great baseball man. And is is there so much focus on it now? he's been coaching and managing for a lot of years. ALEX CORA: You just have to be prepared as a team. He's actually in the Hall of Fame of Triple-A. The Jays That's the only thing you can do. Stealing signs and got a Hall of Famer.