Alex Cora, no. 13

Birth Date: October 18, 1975 in Caguas, Puerto Rico
Height/Weight: 6'0", 180 lbs.
College: University of Miami
Contract: 2 years at $4 million (through 2008)


As a utility infielder Cora doesn't get many at bats. He played in only 83 games with 207 at bats last season. His Batting Average for last season was an uninspiring .246, it was above his lifetime batting average of .244, though. His Slugging percentage was an alright .386. He had 51 Hits, Walked only 7 times (3%), and Struck Out 23 times (11%). He bunted 7 times and had 2 sacrifice flies.


Last season, he played 47 games at second base, 33 games at short stop, and 1 game at first base. At second base he had 67 Put Outs, 95 Assists, turned 20 Double Plays, and was charged with 1 Error. All of which puts his Fielding Percentage at .994, well above the league average of .985. His Range Factor per game was 3.45, well below the league average of 4.54; his Range Factor per nine innings, however, was 4.9o, much closer to the league average of 4.98. The difference could be explained by the fact that as a utility player, he didn't play many complete games. Range Factor per Game is determined by Put Outs plus Assists divided by the number of Games played; players who play more during the game have more opportunities to get Put Outs and Assists.


At short stop he had 25 Put Outs and 69 Assists. He made 18 Double Plays and was charged with 3 Errors. His Fielding Percentage was .969, just shy of the league average of .970. His Range Factor per 9 innings was 4.18, below the league average of 4.47. His outing at first base was not as successful. He played only 3 innings. During which, he had 1 Put Out and was charged with 1 Error.

In the clubhouse Cora is known for his knowledge of baseball and baseball statistics; other players, apparently, ask him about the players of the team they are about to face. During the on-field interviews after the World Series, there was talk of Cora becoming a manager. He brushed it off, saying he wasn't ready yet.

Alex Cora is a decent utility infielder. Next season probably looks to be more of the same. He's a year older but he's never made a trip to the disabled list (he doesn't really play enough games for that to be an issue, anyway.) As is common, he might play even better because it's a contract year.