Kevin Millar Defends Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Amid 'Ridiculous' Hot Seat Talk
Kevin Millar Defends Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Amid 'Ridiculous' Hot Seat Talk originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After starting 30-34, the Boston Red Sox have seen their manager, Alex Cora, get put on the hot seat. Cora has been the manager of the Red Sox since 2021, having managed the team in 2018 and 2019 before taking 2020 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advertisement
He helped lead the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series championship, but now faces questions over his future with the team. On episode 221 of the Play Tessie podcast, fan favorite Red Sox player Kevin Millar defended Cora amid the calls for his firing.
"Alex Cora getting heat is ridiculous," Millar said. "He's a dude. Guys love playing for him. He just signed an extension. It's (on) us. If I hand an 0-2 curveball and give up a three-run home run, that's not on Alex Cora."
Millar and Cora were teammates with the Red Sox in 2005, the year after Millar helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. It's no surprise that Millar defends Cora, as the two, even in just one year together, built a strong connection.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Red Sox are struggling as a team, losing eight of their last 11 games. Sitting 9.5 games behind the New York Yankees for the American League East lead and four games out of a wild-card spot, the Red Sox need things to turn around, and fast.
Advertisement
But it's not solely on Cora to turn things around. "Players gotta step up," Millar said. "Players gotta be better, we gotta play better."
Cora has been at the forefront of the blame for the Red Sox's recent issues. But Millar's defense of Cora points to the players as the ones to blame for the issues at the beginning of the year.
Whether it's poor pitching, which the Red Sox have had plenty of, or hitting not working in key moments, those stem from the players, not Cora. "But Alex Cora is not an issue," said Millar. "It drives me crazy."
Cora's seat may still be hot, but a fan favorite Red Sox player has his back. While Cora may still get fired, for now, Cora will try to help the Red Sox out of the hole they dug themselves into at to beginning of the year.
Advertisement
Related: Red Sox Exec Breaks Silence Amid Alex Cora Hot Seat Rumors
Related: Alex Cora Provides Lackluster Roman Anthony Red Sox Update
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mangum leads Rays against the Red Sox after 4-hit game
Tampa Bay Rays (36-30, second in the AL East) vs. Boston Red Sox (32-36, fourth in the AL East) Boston; Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Ryan Pepiot (3-5, 3.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 64 strikeouts); Red Sox: Lucas Giolito (1-1, 6.42 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 27 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rays -117, Red Sox -103; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays take on the Boston Red Sox after Jake Mangum had four hits on Monday in a 10-8 win over the Red Sox. Boston has a 32-36 record overall and a 17-17 record at home. The Red Sox have a 6-17 record in games decided by one run. Tampa Bay is 36-30 overall and 13-10 on the road. The Rays have the ninth-best team ERA in baseball at 3.54. Tuesday's game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Rafael Devers has 14 home runs, 54 walks and 57 RBIs while hitting .280 for the Red Sox. Abraham Toro is 17 for 40 with five doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over the last 10 games. Advertisement Junior Caminero leads the Rays with 30 extra base hits (15 doubles and 15 home runs). Yandy Diaz is 14 for 40 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Red Sox: 5-5, .269 batting average, 5.14 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs Rays: 7-3, .249 batting average, 3.36 ERA, outscored opponents by 20 runs INJURIES: Red Sox: Wilyer Abreu: 10-Day IL (oblique), Josh Winckowski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Burdi: 15-Day IL (knee), Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Liam Hendriks: 15-Day IL (hip), Alex Bregman: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Masataka Yoshida: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (knee), Tanner Houck: 15-Day IL (flexor), Chris Murphy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Rays: Jonny Deluca: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ha-Seong Kim: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Bigge: 15-Day IL (lat), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Richie Palacios: 10-Day IL (knee), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Giants seek to prolong win streak, take on the Rockies
San Francisco Giants (38-28, second in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (12-53, fifth in the NL West) Denver; Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 19 strikeouts); Rockies: Carson Palmquist (0-4, 8.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 14 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Giants -228, Rockies +187; over/under is 11 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants are looking to build upon a five-game win streak with a victory over the Colorado Rockies. Colorado has a 12-53 record overall and a 6-25 record at home. The Rockies are 4-37 in games when they have given up a home run. San Francisco has a 16-17 record in road games and a 38-28 record overall. The Giants have a 21-4 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents. The teams match up Tuesday for the fifth time this season. The Giants are ahead 3-1 in the season series. TOP PERFORMERS: Hunter Goodman leads the Rockies with a .280 batting average, and has 14 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 14 walks and 37 RBIs. Tyler Freeman is 13 for 31 with a home run and four RBIs over the past 10 games. Jung Hoo Lee has 17 doubles, two triples and six home runs for the Giants. Heliot Ramos is 13 for 40 with a double, a triple and a home run over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rockies: 3-7, .224 batting average, 5.13 ERA, outscored by 24 runs Giants: 7-3, .213 batting average, 2.05 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs INJURIES: Rockies: Ezequiel Tovar: 10-Day IL (oblique), Tanner Gordon: 15-Day IL (oblique), Kris Bryant: 60-Day IL (lumbar), Ryan Feltner: 15-Day IL (back), Austin Gomber: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jeff Criswell: 60-Day IL (elbow) Giants: Jung Hoo Lee: day-to-day (back), Jordan Hicks: 15-Day IL (toe), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (pectoral), Tom Murphy: 60-Day IL (back) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Twins open 3-game series at home against the Rangers
Texas Rangers (31-35, fourth in the AL West) vs. Minnesota Twins (35-30, second in the AL Central) Minneapolis; Tuesday, 7:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Tyler Mahle (0-0); Twins: TBD BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -124, Rangers +104; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday to begin a three-game series. Minnesota has a 35-30 record overall and a 19-10 record in home games. Twins hitters have a collective .387 slugging percentage to rank 10th in the AL. Texas has an 11-22 record in road games and a 31-35 record overall. The Rangers are 16-2 in games when they scored five or more runs. The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. TOP PERFORMERS: Trevor Larnach has eight doubles, a triple and 10 home runs for the Twins. Willi Castro is 15 for 38 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games. Wyatt Langford has eight doubles, 11 home runs and 26 RBIs for the Rangers. Marcus Semien is 15 for 32 with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 5-5, .269 batting average, 4.69 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs Rangers: 4-6, .215 batting average, 2.51 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs INJURIES: Twins: Zebby Matthews: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Pablo Lopez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm), Michael Tonkin: 60-Day IL (shoulder) Rangers: Jake Latz: day-to-day (hand), Nathan Eovaldi: 15-Day IL (tricep), Joc Pederson: 10-Day IL (hand), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Gray: 60-Day IL (wrist), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (shoulder) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
