RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 25: Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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The Boston Red Sox looked destined for another disappointing season just a few weeks into 2026. After entering the year with postseason aspirations, the club stumbled to a 10-17 start, prompting one of the most surprising managerial changes in recent franchise history when former World Series champion Alex Cora was dismissed alongside several members of his coaching staff.
At the time, the move appeared to signal that Boston's season might already be slipping away. Instead, the Red Sox have engineered one of baseball's most remarkable midseason turnarounds, putting themselves squarely back into the American League playoff race.
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Even after leaving the organization, Cora apparently never lost confidence in the roster he helped build.
"On June 30, when the Red Sox were 37-47, I got this unsolicited text from Alex Cora: 'Get hot for 10 days,’” Dan Shaughnessy reported for The Boston Globe . “‘They need more than that but this is their window. Nationals, Angels, White Sox, Mets. With the way they pitch they can get close to .500 by the end of this stretch.' The Sox lost to the Nationals the day after the text was sent, then ripped off 15 in a row, sweeping the Angels, White Sox, and Mets. Now there's a man who knows his team."
The remarkable prediction has taken on added significance as Boston has surged back into contention and a buyer’s intentions at the trade deadline, without the revered manager who believed the turnaround was coming.
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After dismissing Cora and his staff, the Red Sox have surged back into playoff contention with the trade deadline looming.
"Ahead of Friday's slate of games, the Red Sox sit in third place in the AL East, seven games behind the Rays, and hold the second wild-card berth in the American League,” Julian McWilliams noted for CBS Sports .
Chad Tracy was promoted from Triple-A Worcester to serve as interim manager after the Red Sox concluded the club needed a new direction following a disappointing opening month. At the time, the decision suggested the organization believed significant changes were necessary to salvage the season. Instead, the roster has responded by becoming one of baseball's hottest teams, validating Cora's belief that the talent was capable of putting together an extended run.
Whether Boston can sustain its momentum into October remains to be seen, but Cora's unsolicited prediction indicated no hard feelings, at least for the roster, after his release.
Though Cora reportedly turned down an offer to take over the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this season, he’s widely expected to return to the major leagues next season.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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