Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not happy with one of his pitchers for making excuses over his lack of hustle during Game 2 of the ALDS.
During the seventh inning of Boston’s loss to the New York Yankees, pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez lightly jogged to first base on a grounder hit by Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge. First baseman Mitch Moreland fielded the ball, but Rodriguez didn’t make it to first before Judge — who is not known for his speed — beat it out for an infield hit.
After the game, Rodriguez claimed he slipped while trying to leave the mound, but video clearly showed that there was no slip and he simply made a lazy play. Cora said as much on Sunday, adding that he’d had a discussion with his pitcher about taking responsibility.
“I just talked to him and told him just be accountable. That’s it,” Cora said, via Christopher Smith of MassLive. “I guess he told you guys he slipped or something like that. I’m like, ‘Man, if you don’t break right away, just be accountable. That’s all we ask.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, my fault. I just didn’t break. That’s it.’ Hey, I get it. Next time just bust your a– to first base. That’s all you’ve got to do.”
Cora has had to battle against some complacency from the Red Sox in recent weeks. To see that kind of lack of effort in a playoff game is startling, but Cora is doing the best he can to give players tough love publicly and ensure it stops.
