BOSTON -- Alex Cora is the first manager of color in Red Sox history, and he’s promised to use that platform as warranted since his November 2017 hiring.
Wednesday was one of those days. Cora spent a portion of his daily pregame briefing addressing the ongoing protests in his native Puerto Rico. He joined those calling for the resignation of Gov. Ricardo Rossello.
Close to 900 pages of profane and homophobic messages between Rossello and his top aides were published last weekend by the Center for Investigative Journalism. Two of Rossello’s former cabinet members have stepped down and two others have been arrested by the FBI on corruption charges. Allegations include fraud charges involving more than $15 million in government funds.
“I always said that I’m the manager of the Red Sox – that’s my main goal,” Cora said. “When I get here, I’m the manager of the Red Sox. But there’s other stuff that comes with the territory. I’m a minority, I’m from Puerto Rico and I represent them.”
Several island natives throughout baseball have weighed in on the issues at hand, including Carlos Correa, Yadier Molina and Kiké Henrandez. Demonstrations were planned in the capital city of San Juan starting Wednesday evening, with protestors marching on government buildings. Cora was among those keeping a close watch.
“I’m the manager of the Boston Red Sox and I should stay most of the time baseball-wise,” Cora said. “But I know who I represent, and I’ll say it. We’re asking for (Rossello) to step down and we hope to move forward. Hopefully that happens in the upcoming hours or tomorrow.”
It’s not the first time Cora has waded into political waters. He was critical of the government response after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September 2017. Cora also declined to visit the White House with Boston in May while they were hosted as World Series champions by President Donald Trump.
“Sometimes it’s uncomfortable,” Cora said. “A few months ago was tough. But at the same time, at this moment, it’s the right thing to do. I have to voice my opinion. I’m with my people back home.”
Weather permitting
Mother Nature might have other ideas, but Nathan Eovaldi (right elbow) is expected to begin his rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Eovaldi is scheduled to throw one inning with the PawSox, and that might be all he needs before being activated on the upcoming road trip to Baltimore and Tampa Bay. Arthroscopic surgery and ensuing right biceps tendinitis have kept Eovaldi out of action since April 17.
“That’s the plan,” Cora said. “We’ll see where we go after that. If everything goes well then, most likely, he’ll join us over the weekend.”
Eovaldi will be used in a bullpen role when he returns. Just eight of his 160 career appearances have come in relief, and four of those took place as a 21-year-old rookie with the Dodgers in 2011. NESN’s Tom Caron reported Eovaldi will be used as Boston’s closer, something Cora has yet to confirm.
“Whenever that window comes up, just pitch,” Cora said.
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Heath Hembree has been medically cleared following a difficult outing Tuesday.
The right-hander didn’t retire any of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning of a 10-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Hembree’s average fastball velocity was just 91.8 mph, down considerably from the 94.2 mph he averaged against the Rangers on June 10. That was his last appearance prior to hitting the injured list with what was diagnosed as a right elbow extensor strain.
“I know velocity is down,” Cora said. “The one thing I always said about Heath is it’s about location. Yesterday he wasn’t able to get the fastball up and he paid the price.”
Per FanGraphs.com, Hembree’s average fastball velocity for the season is down from 94.5 mph in 2018 to 93.9 mph this season. But it’s his slider usage that should draw the most attention – Hembree is throwing it just 15.1 percent of the time in 2019. That’s less than half of the 34 percent he threw it last season and almost a third of the career-high 38 percent he threw it in 2017.
“I think the whole league knows fastball usage is up,” Cora said. “He has one of those special fastballs (with a high spin rate), especially when it’s up in the zone.”