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What Red Sox manager Alex Cora says ‘kills’ him
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- What Red Sox manager Alex Cora says ‘kills’ him
CINCINNATI — The Red Sox led the major leagues in errors last year with 116.
In fact, Boston has the most errors (526) in the league since 2021, the start of Alex Cora’s second stint as Red Sox manager. That’s 33 more errors than any other team during that span.
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“Whoever thinks that I go home and I’m happy because we led the league in errors is freaking wrong,” Cora said before Boston’s regular season opener against the Reds on Thursday. “I hate errors.”
The Red Sox’ outfield defense was elite last year with center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and right fielder Wilyer Abreu both winning Gold Gloves .
The problem was in the infield.
Boston had minus-9 defensive runs saved at first base and minus-9 defensive runs saved at second base last year. To address this, the Sox upgraded their first base defense by trading for Willson Contreras , who ranked in the 90th percentile in outs above average (6) for the Cardinals last season.
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Sure-handed Marcelo Mayer is expected to receive the majority of the playing time at second base.
To shore up third base, Boston also traded for Caleb Durbin , who had five defensive runs saved in 1,060 ⅔ innings at third base for the Brewers as a rookie last season.
“It’s not lack of work,” Cora said. “It starts today. We can talk all about the defense and we switch the program and we use machines and we hit fungos and all that stuff. It starts today. We have to be better defensively.”
Strong infield defense is especially important after chief baseball officer Craig Breslow added starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez in the offseason. Breslow said during Suárez’s introductory press conference that Boston’s identity is pitching and run prevention.
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“I played 13 years in big leagues because I was able to play defense,” Cora said. “Because I didn’t hit, didn’t run. I wasn’t a good offensive player. I was a good defensive player. And as a manager the last four years, leading the league in errors kills me.”
Cora thinks the Red Sox played solid infield defense throughout spring training.
“We’re going to try to stay as consistent as possible — Caleb at third, Trevor at short, Marcelo at second most of the time and Willson at first," Cora said. “And hopefully defense is more consistent that way.”
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