MLB Awards: The Race for American League Manager of the Year

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics signals the bullpen to make a pitching change against the Seattle Mariners in the top of the second inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 1, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – AUGUST 26: Manager Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox gives an on-field interview during the third inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 26, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Alex Cora-Boston Red Sox

Alex Cora has done an excellent job in his first year as the manager of the Red Sox. How excellent, you ask? Well, Boston currently has a 95-44 record. The next closest team is the New York Yankees, and even they are 8.5 games back of their rivals.

Cora’s excellence isn’t exactly a surprise, as he was the bench coach for the now-champion Astros under A.J Hinch.

Boston isn’t always an easy crowd, but Cora seems to manage it just fine. Even in the midst of the release of Hanley Ramirez and Chris Sale‘s injuries, Cora is standing tall in that dugout. It’s surely not uncommon to win Manager of the Year in your first year. Dave Roberts won the award after the 2016 season, his first with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cora’s record with Boston speaks for itself, but a voice that can be even louder in October. Should the Red Sox go on to with the World Series, or even just the AL Pennant, it’ll be hard to see why Cora isn’t a serious Manager of the Year contender during MLB awards voting.

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