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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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