Breaking: Rival Manager Turns Heads With Unexpected 5-Word Message to Yankees, Stating That… Read more
Any fans doubting the death of the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry need look no further than Alex Cora. Yes, the Red Sox and Yankees still play 13 regular-season games, and the current playoff format allows for potential postseason matchups through the ALCS.
However, the days of these two clubs publicly disliking one another are long gone. Take Cora’s comments about the injury-ravaged Yankees this week. The Yankees recently lost ace Gerrit Cole to season-ending Tommy John surgery and remain without designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows), infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf), and starting pitcher Luis Gil (lat).
How does Cora, who owns three combined titles in Boston as a player and manager, feel about the Yankees’ current outlook? “They’re going to be OK,” Cora said. Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Yankees manager Aaron Boone Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK Frank Becerra Jr.. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK Cora pointed out the Yankees still have manager Aaron Boone, two-time Atlanta Braves All-Star Max Fried, and former Cy Young finalist Carlos Rodón. “They’re a really good team, managed by one of the best in the business,” Cora told reporters, according to the Yankees’ official website.
“Yeah, Gerrit is out,” Cora added. “But Gerrit was out last year, and they made it to the World Series.” Cora is conveniently forgetting the Yankees had perennial MVP candidate Juan Soto, who joined the crosstown Mets in free agency. Additionally, the Yankees had a healthy Gil and watched Stanton dominate the postseason.
New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Moments like this make us yearn for old times. Cora wouldn’t necessarily have publicly celebrated the Yankees’ injuries, but it’s unlikely he’d praise the club’s management and declare, “They’re going to be OK.” “When your chief rival says how good you are, it might be a good idea to be skeptical,” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote.
Says the manager of the team who would benefit the most if the NYY retain one of the worst managers in the game,” another argued. “Of course he’ll say this.” The Yankees and Red Sox don’t meet until June 6. We’ll see how ‘OK’ the Yankees are then.
