A Tale of Two New Old Socks.

Sean Casey has decided to retire from Major League baseball. Instead, he'll be taking his act on the road this season (or at least as far as New Jersey) as he has accepted an on-air position at MLB Network, the breadth of which has yet to be determined. It seems like it would be a good fit. Best of luck to him.

Alex Cora, who has abandoned his ducklings by signing with the Mets for next season, will remember them fondly (of Pedroia):

"I don’t have a little brother, but now I do. I feel a part of [Pedroia’s] career, getting to the point of seeing him getting the rewards for everything he’s been preaching, I feel very proud of him."

He's also a big Mike Lowell fan (and what rational person isn't?):

"Getting to play with a great teammate and [an even] better person like Mike Lowell was special. I consider him a friend."

And the rest of us? Yeah. He likes us too:

"It was more than work, it was a family. Obviously, the stage you’re on with the fans, that’s something everyone needs to experience. You can talk all you want about Red Sox Nation, that kind of stuff, being all around the country but until you’re part of it, you don’t have a clue. And I was one of those guys who was like, ‘Hey, that stuff’s no big deal.’ It is a big deal."

Say it with me: Awwww.

Moment 1: Get Down Tonight.

March 1. Florida.

First came the pictures. There really wasn't any sort of explanation to accompany those photos and we were left to wonder what sort of fabulous disaster could have led to their existence. And then on the next spring training game that NESN aired there was video. And it was more than the imagination could have ever come up with.

I can't even begin to express how much the sight of Dustin Pedroia clomping around arrhytmically while his pants fall off amuses me. But if I ever need a giggle, just the thought of that scene will suffice.

And so Mike Lowell's Dancing with the All-Stars event takes it's place as my favorite semi-related to baseball moment of 2008.

Happy Birthday Alex!

(And Dougie. And, for that matter, David Murphy.)

Happy thirty-third birthday to Alex Cora. He may not be the best defensively and he may not run particularly quickly but he is a tough out. And for all his faults as a ballplayer, Cora seems like a really good guy. When Bay scored the winning run of the ALDS the team headed toward homeplate, except for Cora-who went to congratulate Lowrie. He took Pedroia under his wing last season. The baby infielders are his ducklings and it's very sweet.

Whither Cora next season? Who knows. I think one writer had him headed out to Seattle to bench coach for his brother. Assuming, of course, that Joey got the job. Regardless, happy birthday and many happy returns.

Cuteness Overload.

Much to my mother's chargrin, I'm not really one to coo over babies. In all honesty, I think infants look a lot like potatoes. Cute little kids are a different story, though. They're more interesting, they've got personality, and they're less root vegetable-esque. In the August issue of Boston Magazine, they have a photo spread of some of the kids of Sox players (current, former, and coach) modeling very expensive clothing.

Just a couple of things occurred to me:

1. Alex Cora has some good-looking kids. His wife must be absolutely breathtaking. If his step-son isn't breaking hearts at his high school, then I don't know what's wrong with those girls.

2. Wake's son is a doll. Mike Timlin's kids are spitting images of him. David's daughter is going to be a stunner.

3. Clearly, they've all been around baseball their entire lives. Youk's fiance's son is the only one who looks like he doesn't know what he's doing.

4. But none of them can hold a candle to possibly the cutest peanut to ever exist on the face of the earth: D'Angelo Ortiz. The kid just oozes cute. For no good reason, I've already ascribed his father's personality to him which makes him even more adorable.

The Somewhat Virtuous Alex Cora (It was also the Time of his Run In With the Law)

The Red Sox are supposed to be very patient hitters. Alex Cora may very well be the epitome of hitting patience. When he was with the Dodgers in 2004, Cora had an eighteen pitch at bat against Matt Clement (then with the Chicago Cubs.) He fouled off fourteen straight pitches before finally smacking a home run. He talks about it a little bit here.

Oh Dear

Alex Cora was arrested in Florida yesterday (January 30).

In 1999, he was arrested for DUI, pled no contest to the charges, and then failed to show up for a probation violation hearing. He turned himself in yesterday and was released on $20,000 bond.

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.