"I think it made me a better coach, but also a better person. A swing and miss, and moments later, Alex Cora hoisted the trophy over his head, and watching, Alex's joy became Joey's joy. He interviewed for, in his estimation, seven or eight jobs, and fell short. He was 5 or 6 and he told his coach, 'I want to hit leadoff. His father wasn't feeling right, he was told. Then I realized what he was trying to do. I didn't feel comfortable in the environment," Alex recalled. As a member of the Pirates organization, he felt that would have been the wrong thing to do, when Pittsburgh is chasing its first title since 1979 is looking to hold its own parade. Listen. They had to go to the hospital again. No matter the distance in space or time, however, the bond between the Cora brothers persists. Eight years later, when Alex graduated high school, Detroit drafted him. That kind of age gap meant that while Joey was a big brother to Alex, in the Cora pecking order of two brothers and two sisters, he represented something more than a mere brother to Alex. Two years later, he would make his major league debut -- coincidentally, against the Mariners, with Joey standing at second base for Alex's first at-bat in the big leagues. ', "He was always playing against kids that were older, and you know, he thought was better than anybody else. Complete draft coverage. "I had no idea," Alex recalled. They've got the tools and the people to help you out. Baseball Tonight podcast with Buster Olney. And he was. How Joey Cora pulled Alex along after their father died, Ball cap and gown? $3.13. "Specifically, Cora said, the Pirates are "more into a healthy mind" for both players and coaches, which falls in line with their focus on training, nutrition, rest, recovery and mindfulness. In that regard, he is picking up responsibilities previously held by two coaches: Rick Sofield (third base) and Nick Leyva (infield). Years later, in the fall of 2017, Alex was told he would become the new manager of the Boston Red Sox. Ending Mar 19 at 8:29AM PDT 6d 13h. I had enough of this.' Former major league hurler Jason Bere could interview to become the Mets’ pitching coach, Paul … Guide the squad to win 108 regular season games & win the 2018 World Series Title. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands ... or Buy It Now. This spring, Joey Cora was in Bradenton, Florida, at the Pirates' spring training site, answering questions about that last day of the 1996 College World Series. Joey said to his little brother. Trivia (6) Second Baseman for the San Diego Padres (1987 and 1989-1990), Chicago White Sox (1991-1994), Seattle Mariners (1995-1998) and Cleveland Indians (1998). Alex was incredibly bright, Joey thought, incredibly stubborn, and school was a bore for him. After his father passed away, his sister reminded him of family trips that she joined, because he was sick. One more out. Not long before his 13th birthday, Alex played a volleyball match, and right after it was over, he was picked up and taken to the hospital. And all of a sudden that is not there," Iris Cora said. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) ... MORE NEWS: Over 1 Million Massachusetts Residents Now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID … He oversaw the Brewers from 2011-15, beating out Joey Cora (Alex's brother) and Bobby Valentine to get the job. "He went back and took ownership of his life. The Cora brothers talked briefly about the idea of Joey joining the coaching staff in Boston, but Joey told his brother that he was happy in his role as the third-base coach for the Pirates, his family settled in Pittsburgh. "He's amazing. Instead, Alex packed his three suitcases and bought a one-way ticket to San Juan. As a manager, Cora won back-to-back World Series, the first with the Astros as their bench coach in 2017 and the second as the manager of the Red Sox in 2018. He recalled how he had gotten to the visitors clubhouse in Kansas City early to get breakfast, seize the best seat and watch Alex. Listen, ESPN's Buster Olney leads the discussion of the latest news and notes around baseball with the game's top analysts. Alex got a ring first as a player for the '07 Red Sox, and then as bench coach for the Astros just last season. After the visit, Alex went to bed that night, and at 4 a.m., a neighbor knocked on the Coras' door. They wouldn't scrap like siblings of similar ages. Hinch holds the championship trophy after Game 7 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alex Cora would go on to star at Miami and was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round in 1996. "A father who took care of you, who was interested in the things that you were interested in. Very smart guy, very smart individual who has a passion not only for baseball but his family. Cora's out of a job, yes, but Manfred will likely drop a stronger hammer on him at some point soon. Astros' Hinch fired after MLB punishes Houston for stealing signs. Then, in late October, the Bucs shuffled their coaching staff and brought him on as their new third-base coach and infield instructor. (Pittsburgh Pirates). "I still look up to him," Alex Cora said. Joey Cora is coming off a stint as manager for the Pirates' Double-A affiliate in Altoona. For one, the Red Sox manager wasn't able to see one of the most important people in his life, his older brother, Joey. He thought he was a man at that time, but he wasn't even close; he was learning to be a man. PHILADELPHIA. "He wasn't afraid," Joey recalled. Joey just worked, like their father, strong and serious about each purpose, learning English, attacking academics, setting university records in baseball and improving -- always improving. Always Monday. Joey, now in his fifth season with the Pirates, makes his home in Pittsburgh with his family. One last swing. "Kids that age, when they're told to do something, they'll do it. If Joey felt anxiety about living in a place or going to a college with which he was unfamiliar, with all those around him speaking a language he didn't speak fluently, he never dwelled on that. This spring, Joey Cora was in Bradenton, Florida, at the Pirates' spring training site, answering questions about that last day of the 1996 College World Series. $0.99 shipping. He was trying to get me ready for my role, and when he left, I was ready.". For some reason, in those hours after Alex returned to Caguas, the usually consistent and predictable Joey called home on a Thursday. 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