Updating a previous item, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that Alex Cora intends to play in MLB this season.

Reports from Puerto Rico indicated that Cora was ready to call it a career, but it turns out that he was merely announcing his retirement from winter ball play. The 36-year-old batted infielder just .224/.287/.276 over 172 plate appearances with the Nationals last season, so we wouldn't be surprised if a lack of interest ultimately pushes him into the coaching profession.


(rotoworld.com)

Former Nationals utility infielder Alex Cora played winter ball and was the Captain of the Caguas Criollos of Puerto Rico. After the Criollos final game of the season tonight, he announced his retirement from baseball.

Alex Cora, 36, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 1996 draft. Cora has played all over the infield for seven MLB teams: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Indians, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers and Nationals Maybe he’ll follow in his big brother Joey’s footsteps and coach.

From the Criollos de Caguas Facebook Page:

MENSAJE DE NUESTRO CAPITAN ALEX CORA ANUNCIANDO SU RETIRO: Gracias a todos ustedes por el apoyo que me dieron por 16 temporadas. Gozamos y sufrimos, ganamos y perdimos pero de corazón les digo que ser Criollo es lo mejor que hay. Hoy cierro un capítulo de mi carrera y del fondo de mi corazón les digo que lo hago con la frente en alto porque soy y siempre seré Criollo de pura cepa! Gracias a todos.
(Translated by Bing):

MESSAGE from our captain ALEX CORA announcing his retirement: thank you all for the support they gave me for 16 seasons. We enjoy and we suffer, we won and we lost but heart I can tell you that being Creole is the best there is. Now close a chapter in my career and in the bottom of my heart I say that I do with the high front because I am and always will be pure strain Creole! Thank you all.


(districtsportspages.com)

On the list of current players who could manage in the major leagues, Nationals utility infielder Alex Cora’s name would be right near or at the top. Teams inquired this offseason about his interest in managing, and General Manager Mike Rizzo has said he would be interested in Cora as a coach once his playing days finish.

But that will have wait. Cora said today that after his 14th season, he will keep playing in 2012 and beyond.

“I’ll be playing” next year, Cora said. “I’m only 36. Whenever people talk about the future, you better hold it, because I’m going to be playing until I don’t feel I can play well. I feel like I can contribute and help teams out. In my mind, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rizzo signed Cora to a minor league contract this winter, in part, to help mentor middle infielders Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa, which unfolded just as Rizzo hoped. He was also the rare utility infielder who batted left-handed.

On the field, Cora helped replace third baseman Ryan Zimmerman when he went on the disabled list for two months. He’s hitting .212/.282/.258 over 155 at-bats and has started only four games since the all-star break. Cora has primarily served as a pinch-hitter in the latter portion of the season, a role for which he is miscast. He’s 5 for 31 as a pinch-hitter this season.

“I know my job,” Cora said. “When the third baseman got hurt for a long period of time, I think I did my job. If you want to judge me for whatever numbers, I’m not a pinch-hitter. Obviously, that’s not my strength. Offense has never been my strength. When he got hurt, me and Jerry did a great job. We kept the team afloat. That’s what you have to do. The other two kids, they played great. They were healthy the whole year.”

The Nationals made it a priority to give Desmond and Espinosa as much playing time as they could, not only because they were their best option but also to give them more experience with the grind of the season. Even spot starts dried up for Cora, leading Manager Davey Johnson to actually apologize to Cora, he said.

“In the second half, it was a lot less,” Cora said. “He talked to me and explained to me. The focus kind of changed at one point in the season. I had no problem with that. He grabbed me and told me. He kind of like apologized about the way he was using me. You still got to show up and do your work and help the kids out. Hopefully, I helped them out.”



(washingtonpost.com)

WASHINGTON -- Third baseman Alex Cora left Washington's game against the Phillies on Wednesday after the fourth inning with stomach issues.
He was 0-for-1 with a walk before giving way to Jerry Hairston Jr.

Cora committed an error in the second inning, when he could not handle a Carlos Ruiz ground ball that led to Philadelphia's only run in a 2-1 Washington win.

"Alex was really under the weather," said manager Jim Riggleman. "If Alex Cora doesn't catch a ball then it doesn't get caught -- he's that good over there."

Cora also had a collision with Phillies slugger Ryan Howard in the second inning, when Cora went to apply the tag to Howard on his slide into second on a double. Howard's helmet hit Cora in the neck, and Cora appeared shaken up though he remained in the game until exiting two innings later.

Hairston had an injury scare of his own in the fifth, when he raced Wilson Valdez to third base for a force out. Hairston stepped on the bag as Valdez slid into it, and their feet tangled up, sending Hairston to the ground. Hairston remained in the game.



(mlb.com)

Alex Cora started at shortstop for the Nationals again on Wednesday. Ian Desmond was placed on the paternity leave list after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child Tuesday, so Cora will fill in for now.



Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.



(fantasysp.com)

NEW YORK -- Two stools were positioned against the railing just to the home-plate side of the visitors' dugout at Citi Field late Saturday afternoon, probably to be used by a television crew for interviews. As the Mets took batting practice, though, one of the stools was occupied by a man with a Nationals uniform, a Mets past and a promising future. Someday Alex Cora will be interviewed, just not yet.

Opposing managers occasionally take a pregame seat in the same area for the purposes of surveillance. They can monitor BP and try to pick up something about a player's swing or a limp, some weakness or flaw that can be exploited.

On this day, Cora was the monitor. He was in position to kibitz with former Mets mates and to see what he could see about them. It was high-tech espionage, but you never know.

Wayne Hagin, the Mets' announcer, happened by, renewed his acquaintance with Cora and said, "When he was managing, Roger Craig once told me never to stand in front of the manager when he's here, and since you're going to be a manager, I'll keep moving."

Hagin and a majority of folks in the game are sure Cora someday will assume the position of manager. When he's done serving as a middle infield understudy and tutor, Cora will move a few feet to the his left and to the top step of some dugout and probably do some team proud as a rookie skipper. He comes equipped for the job now, though the club that eventually will employ him undoubtedly will insist he serve an apprenticeship in the Minor Leagues.

The Mets became confident Cora was equipped when he spent the better part of the 2009 and '10 seasons on their roster. The Nationals have seen the potential, too. Indeed, Mike Rizzo, their GM, said this about that Saturday: "Alex still has a lot left in his tank as a player. But he has my number, and when he's done playing, he can make a call. It will be well-received."

For now, Cora is well-received as the team sage, a role he filled more than adequately for the Mets when others were unwilling or unequipped to do so.

"He and [Matt] Stairs run the place," Rizzo said.

It's called veteran presence.

"For a long time, I wanted him on my team," the general manager, in his third year as the man with two uppercase letters as his job title, said of Cora. "A left-handed bat who can play second, short and third, and almost as important, we have the two kids -- [Ian] Desmond at short and [Danny] Espinosa [at second] who can learn from him. We couldn't choose a better guy to mentor them.

"He had them both out on the half field [a full infield with a miniature outfield] every morning in Spring Training before anyone else got there. I didn't know about it for weeks. He does things like that. I think it comes natural to him to be a teacher."

Extra preparation never hurts. Cora has been preparing to manage for 35 years. Even last August, when the Mets released him, was preparation. A manager should know his players are experiencing. He should know what being released is.

"It's not enjoyable," he said. "But I can check that off the list now."

Before he signed with the Nationals, Cora was approached about managing -- in the Minor Leagues -- over the winter. The assignment with a team he preferred not to identity would have been Class A. He declined, telling the interested party, "I can still help your big league team."

And he could have managed in winter ball, but he opted to play with his hometown team, Caguas in Puerto Rico, after his older brother Joey advised him that managing in winter ball would change how big league clubs viewed him.

"You'll never play again," big brother Joey told him.

Joey Cora is the White Sox third-base coach, and he also is regarded as managerial material. He managed Caguas, and Alex played for him.
"He'd kind of take a day off once in a while," the younger Cora said, "and I'd manage."

The sage quality showed itself as Cora sat on the stool.

"The good teams get better as the season goes on," he said. "Look at the NBA, the Lakers won, what, 10 of 11 after the All-Star game? They've lost a few in a row now, but they made their statement. Look at Charlie Manuel's record in September with the Phillies. You need to get better as the season goes on. We will."

He sounded like a manager already.

Managers need to be tactful at times. So Cora practiced tact Saturday. Left unsaid or at least unexplored as he sat on the stool was how the Mets have fared late in recent seasons. He abided by "If you can say something nice about someone ... " and noted how much the absence of Carlos Beltran undermined the Mets.

He thinks like a manager, too.

Davey Johnson is one of Rizzo's advisors. The former Mets manager has been at Citi Field to witness the three-game series. Johnson was a second baseman and managed Cora with the Dodgers in 1999 and '00, when Cora was a plebe.

"I put him at shortstop and moved [incumbent shortstop Mark] Grudzielanek to second," Johnson said. "When he was still playing second, I noticed he was peaking [at the runner approaching first] while he was preparing to make the catch and transfer on double plays. I explained to why that wasn't a good thing to do.

"I heard him tell Espinosa the same thing 11 years later. That impressed me a lot. He learned and remembered."

Manager need good memories, too.



(mlb.com)

Former Los Angeles Dodger Alex Cora has sold his Pinecrest, Fla., home for $1,815,000.

The house features marble and bamboo floors, three en-suite bedrooms and a master suite with a balcony overlooking the backyard swimming pool and spa. The 5,770-square-foot house, built in 2006, has six bedrooms and 61/2 bathrooms including the maid's quarters.

Cora, 35, made his major league debut in 1998 for the Dodgers, and he played second base and shortstop during his seven years with the team. He has since played for the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers.

Cora, currently on the Washington Nationals, bought the property in early 2008 for $1.9 million.

Corey Schwartz of Re/Max Advance Realty was the listing agent.



(latimes.com)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Nationals are close to naming Alex Cora one of their backup infielders for the start of the regular season, according to a baseball source. Cora, who signed a Minor League deal with the team, is having a great spring, having gone 7-for-17 (.412) with an RBI entering play on Tuesday.

But it is more than Cora's numbers that have impressed the Nationals. He has become one of the leaders in the clubhouse. For example, he is often spotted trying to help Nyjer Morgan with his bunting and giving the center fielder words of encouragement.

With Cora most likely on the roster, the Nationals may try to move infielder Alberto Gonzalez, who could be traded or designated for assignment because he is out of Minor League options. Manager Jim Riggleman often raves about the glove work of Gonzalez, who has been a reliable bench player the past few seasons even though he would prefer to play every day.

(mlb.com)

VIERA, Fla. -- The Nationals were doing bunting drills Thursday and the most interesting scene was watching center fielder Nyjer Morgan taking lessons from infielder Alex Cora, who told Morgan not to try to surprise the opponent with a bunt. The most important part is putting the ball in the right place for a hit.

"Everybody knows Nyjer is going to bunt. For him, I think placement is very important, [more] than hiding the bunt," Cora said.

Cora learned the art of bunting when he was with the Dodgers. He said he became an experienced bunter by listening to Dodgers Spring Training instructor Maury Wills.

"I came up through the Dodger organization, and we had the best teacher of them all," Cora said. "You can use Maury's knowledge and spread it around. For Nyjer, it will benefit him. I've seen him play the last two years in the National League. I played against him, and I can see his strengths and his weaknesses. I'm here. That's what you do as a teammate."

How did Morgan feel about getting bunting tips on Thursday? Morgan wishes he had Cora as a coach earlier in his career.

"Cora has been in the game a long time," Morgan said. "He understands what it takes to be a successful bunter. By listening to him, I understand what Maury Wills taught him. Alex passed it on to me a little bit. I'm glad Alex has that background to help out my game."

Morgan is hoping the tips from Cora can help him get on base often. Last year, Morgan had hit .253 and had an on-base percentage of .319.



(mlb.com)

The Nationals have signed Alex Cora to a minor league deal, an industry source has confirmed. The news was first reported by Peter Gammons of MLB Network.

Adding Cora could give the Nationals the backup infielder they were searching for after parting ways with Willie Harris following last season. The team was looking for another option that could play second base in case Danny Espinosa struggles in his rookie season.

Cora turned 35 in October, and there seems little doubt his best days are behind him. He hit .210/.266/.278 last season in 82 games with the Mets and Rangers, and hasn't posted an OPS above .700 since 2008 with the Red Sox. Still, he gives the Nationals a versatile infielder, and another player who has won a World Series ring - that's been a consistent theme behind Mike Rizzo's additions the last two years.

And of course, Cora's deal with the Nationals adds another Scott Boras client to their fold, including the third one they've signed this offseason. They have him, Espinosa, Ivan Rodriguez, Rick Ankiel, Alberto Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jesus Flores and Jayson Werth. Cora, Ankiel and Werth have joined the team this offseason.



(masnsports.com)

The Texas Rangers purchased the contract of infielder Esteban German from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Monday's game against the Blue Jays. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated infielder Alex Cora for assignment.

Cora began the season with the New York Mets before being released and becoming a free agent. The 13-year veteran signed a minor league deal with Texas on Aug. 18 and was promoted to the majors on Aug. 24. He played in four games, batting .286 with no homers and no RBIs.



(dallasnews.com)

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers called up second baseman Alex Cora from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated infielder Joaquin Arias for assignment on Tuesday.

Cora, who was released by the Mets on Aug. 11, joined the Rangers for Tuesday's game against the Twins. The Rangers have 10 days to trade Arias, release him or get him through outright waivers.

Arias was hitting .276 in 50 games for Texas this season while twice going on the disabled list. But the Rangers, with both Ian Kinsler and Cristian Guzman on the DL, had lost all confidence in him as a viable option in the infield. Andres Blanco has taken over as the Rangers' regular second baseman while Kinsler and Guzman are out.

"The general thought going down the stretch is there is some value of having another guy who is playoff-tested and has a little more experience," Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said.

Cora has played in all or parts of 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Dodgers, Indians, Red Sox and Mets. He has played in 13 postseason games, including two for the Red Sox in the 2007 World Series against the Rockies. He was hitting .207 for the Mets when they released him.

The Rangers signed him to a Triple-A Oklahoma City contract last week, and he was 4-for-22 in six games before being recalled on Tuesday.
Arias was one of two players acquired from the Yankees in 2004 for shortstop Alex Rodriguez. He was once considered a premier defensive player, but he injured his shoulder three years ago in Spring Training and never fully regained his arm strength.



(mlb.com)

Alex Cora's home run in the top of the ninth inning helped the Oklahoma City RedHawks edge the Round Rock Express 5-4 on Monday night in Pacific Coast League baseball at Dell Diamond. Pedro Strop notched his 12th save in the bottom of the ninth inning. Strop allowed a single, but he struck out two.



(newsok.com)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Veteran Alex Cora and the Rangers agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract as the American League West leaders made yet another move to help their infield depth.

The move came a day after Joaquin Arias committed two fielding blunders in the eighth inning that fueled a four-run rally for Tampa Bay en route to a 6-4 victory.

Cora, who was released by the New York Mets and became a free agent last week, is expected to join Triple-A Oklahoma City today. With Ian Kinsler and Cristian Guzman on the disabled list and faith dwindling in Arias, Cora could join the Rangers within a week.

"Our guys have liked Cora for some time," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's sure-handed, has been there in the past and has an impeccable reputation as a teammate."

Cora is a 13-year veteran who was hitting .207 in 169 at-bats when the Mets cut him loose. He has made the postseason four times and won a World Series ring in 2007 with Boston.

The Rangers could add him to the 40-man and 25-man rosters by simply parting ways with Arias, who misplayed a popup in the eighth inning and tried to turn a double play on a slow ground ball with speedy runners.

Outs on those two plays would have resulted in a scoreless inning and a potential victory for left-hander Cliff Lee.\



(dallasnews.com)

What's wrong with the Mets?

Alex Cora, who was released by the Mets last week, said he knows the reasons behind the team's second-half swoon.

"When the team gets on a roll they get very high and emotional, but when they go bad they get very low," Cora said in an interview Tuesday on WFAN.

"I think winning teams try to find that middle part where you are consistent. Like you win today, but you turn the page and you do it again tomorrow. Or you lose today and go after it real hard the next day. Until they find that point where they lose and can put it behind them, they will be inconsistent."

Inconsistency has been the operative word for the Mets, who have not won back-to-back games since June 22-23 against the Tigers. The Mets have faded to 8 ½ games behind the Braves in the NL East thanks to their struggles, which were emphasized during the team’s 2-9 west coast trip that started the second half.

"We just didn’t hit," Cora said. "You can tell it was hard for us to show up and push it. It’s not that we quit, but it was very hard to find that level of consistency that winning teams have."

Cora was released by the Mets on Friday to make room for youngster Ruben Tejada, who has taken over as the starting second baseman over Luis Castillo. Cora does not blame the Mets for his move.

"Let’s be honest, I’m hitting .207 and in sports you have to perform," Cora said. "When you hit .207 ... they obviously expected a little bit more and that comes with the territory. And they also wanted to see the young kids perform."



(nypost.com)

Former Mets 2b Alex Cora had this to say on XM Radio with Jim Bowden:

Alex Cora told us that if they are building for 2013 or 2014…they should just come out and say it and then do it.

I realize Cora was a respected voice in the Mets locker room and I am one of the first proponents of how veteran leadership is necessary on a winning ballclub. However, it’s at the point where the cost of Cora’s leadership ($2 million dollar vesting option) and the stunted development of a kid (Ruben Tejada) made his dismissal necessary. Keeping Cora around would be lying to the fan base by sending the message they believe they are in a pennant race. We all know the reality of the situation.

The Mets have held onto players for “leadership” too long in the past. A perfect example of diminished cost of leadership would be Julio Franco. There is no doubt Franco was an important voice for the 2006 Mets team. I still point to how he facilitated the “Beltran vs. the fans” curtain call the first week of that season as a turning point. Franco was also a productive bench player that year. He hit over .300 with runners in scoring position and had 15 pinch hits. The following year he was an automatic out, yet Willie Randolph continued to rely on him late in ballgames. His veteran leadership at that point wasn’t worth the on the field detriment that he had become. Eventually the Mets realized this and cut bait mid season.

I disagree with Cora’s assessment of a “youth movement” as well. Earlier today I talked about how the Yankees have sprinkled in kids the last few years and could possibly add more in 2011. The Yankees have never had a youth movement, but have been able to incorporate a Brett Gardner, Phil Hughes, David Robertson, and Joba Chamberlain into the mix over the past three seasons. In many ways the Mets are trying to do something similar with the additions of Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Josh Thole, and Angel Pagan.

Does subtracting Rod Barajas and Alex Cora from the mix affect chemistry? Absolutely, but the upside is only a few games because those players are not the future of the organization. Perhaps they could blame the manager for not being in the race- I suspect a competent manager would have this team about a half dozen games better- but the fact remains that we all believed this year was one of transition in the spring. I pegged them for 85 wins in and believe that’s where they ultimately will wind up.

There doesn’t have to be a “youth movement” or “veteran movement” on this team. What they need to do is give the right players an opportunity to contribute to the 25 man roster. Some will succeed, some will fail, but in the end they will wind up with supporting members that are productive and inexpensive. If they lack “leadership” during the process that is something they can address when the time is right. The Mets putting out a talented roster will do more for the fans than any empty statement.

The Mets need to focus on the talent on the field right now and worry about leadership after the fact. Right now they have a leadership void in the manager’s office that Alex Cora, Rod Barajas, Julio Franco, or even Derek Jeter can’t solve.

Click here to order Alex Cora’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nybaseballdigest.com)

PHOENIX -- Alex Cora is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

The veteran utilityman, miffed by the laughter inside the Mets' clubhouse after last night's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, fired venom in the direction of Mike Pelfrey and reporters who were joking at the pitcher's locker.

Cora spouted an expletive in Spanish and raised his voice in the direction of Pelfrey and reporters as hede parted the clubhouse at Chase Field.

"A little respect, please!" Cora snapped. "They stuck it up our [butts]."

Jason Bay was not in the room at the time of the outburst, but later heard about it.

"We need something," Bay said. "You know what I mean?"

At least someone on the team is showing emotion, proving the Mets aren't a total collection of corpses.

Manager Jerry Manuel's lineup, whole for the second time this season with the additions of Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Luis Castillo, continues to sputter.

Start with Bay, who is worthy of a seat on the bench after his latest no-show performance. Bay went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double play on a night rookie Barry Enright made the Mets look silly.

The righty, making his fourth career start, allowed one run on five hits over eight innings. Over the two games with their starting lineup intact, the Mets have scored four runs total. Good thing the D'backs (36-58) are among the laughingstocks of baseball or it could really be ugly for the Mets.

It left R.A. Dickey (6-4) to suffer a third straight defeat in which he pitched reasonably well. The knuckleballer allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings as the Mets, who lost for the fifth time in six games to start the second half, fell 6½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East.
"I believe this lineup can get it done -- I really do," Manuel said.

Nobody in the lineup is killing the Mets more than Bay, who is batting .189 (10-for-53) in July with only two extra-base hits. His last homer came on June 28, making it 60 at-bats since he last went deep. The Mets have moved him to sixth in the batting order with Beltran's return, but he might be better off going from left field to left out.

The Mets didn't score until eighth, when Josh Thole hit his first major league homer. But Enright (2-2) got back on track and finished the inning. Angel Pagan homered leading off the ninth against D'backs closer Juan Gutierrez, but the righty then retired David Wright, Beltran and Ike Davis to earn the save.

Dickey has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his three straight losses. The Mets have scored three runs combined in those three starts.

"It just really thought tonight was an outing where we fought tooth and nail," Dickey said. "We gave our guys a chance to win."

Enright allowed two hits and a walk in the first inning and then didn't allow another base runner until Reyes singled leading off the sixth.
The D'backs rattled Dickey in the fourth, scoring twice to grab a 3-0 lead. Chris Snyder walked with two outs before Gerardo Parra launched an RBI triple over Beltran's head. The pitcher Enright then singled home Parra.

Beltran appeared to get a bad jump on Parra's ball, but said his surgically repaired right knee wasn't a factor.

"As soon as he hit it, I thought I was going to be able to make it," Beltran said. "It just kept going and went over my head."



(nypost.com)

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Alex Cora needs to appear in just 32 more games between now and the end of the season to guarantee his $2 million option for next season. By the way, Luis Castillo will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie this weekend. …castillo will probably not be back.



(fantasysp.com)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The two men who shaped Mets infielder Alex Cora share the same name and the same blood. They are his father, Jose Manuel Cora, and his older brother, Jose Manuel Cora.

In Caguas, Puerto Rico, the town where Alex grew up, the first man was called “Macuco.” In professional baseball, the second man is called “Joey.”

Alex Cora’s father indoctrinated him into the game. “That was my passion,” Alex said. “That’s all I talked. That’s all I did.”

His brother, now the bench coach for the Chicago White Sox, provided a blueprint for Alex with his own 11-season career in the major leagues. “Obviously,” Joey said, “he can draw on the experiences that I had to make the right decisions.”

Neither will be in San Juan tonight as Cora and the Mets open a three-game series with the Florida Marlins. But their spirit, their lessons, will be inside of the 34-year-old utility man. As his skills wane — his batting average dipped to .229 after an 0-for-3 afternoon on Saturday — Cora retains value for his team on the field and in the clubhouse. The Mets sport an infield featuring a quartet of 20-somethings. Cora provides guidance.

Inside the dugout, he often consults with infield coach Chip Hale to make sure rookies Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada are positioned properly, reading signals correctly, holding runners effectively. Sometimes he sneaks away to the clubhouse video room to rewind the game tape and check on the kids. There is talk that, in time, he will follow in his brother’s footsteps again.

“He’s definitely going to manage in his future,” Hale said. “He’ll be a coach. He’ll coach, manage, whatever he wants. He’s got a wealth of knowledge.”

Those roots were planted in the mountain town of Caguas. Cora’s father, Jose Manuel, founded the Little League team there, about 30 minutes away from San Juan. He traveled the Puerto Rican winter ball circuit as a broadcaster and writer, cataloging the exploits of a league which featured stateside stars like Don Mattingly, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken. Alex often went with him, crawling the bleachers and napping in the press box.

“When they talk about us, they’re like ‘Those are Macuco’s kids,’ ” Cora said. “It’s not Joey. It’s not Alex. People keep talking about him.”

When Alex was 13, Jose Manuel died. Their father, Alex remembered, taught Joey how to switch-hit when he was in his mid-teens. Alex never got the chance. His career, he insisted last week, “would have been a lot better if he was around.”

In the aftermath of his father’s death, Alex followed Joey’s example. Joey, now 45, left Puerto Rico for Vanderbilt and become a first-round pick in 1985. Eight years later, when Alex graduated high school, Detroit drafted him. He declined signing and enrolled at the University of Miami. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the third round of the 1996 draft.

Fifteen years later, he is still here. Never an All-Star, he posted an adjusted OPS score above the league average just once (a 119 mark for the Dodgers in 2002). Since 2006, he has hit five home runs.

Yet he remains. His true value, Cora said, appears on winning squads. There, he can subjugate his ego and aid those around him. He tutored Boston teammate Dustin Pedroia for much of 2007, a season that culminated in a World Series victory.

As Alex bounced from Los Angeles to Cleveland to Boston to Citi Field, Joey climbed the coaching ranks. He managed minor-league affiliates of the Mets and the Montreal Expos. In 2004, Joey joined Ozzie Guillen’s staff in Chicago. He estimates he and his brother call each other four to five times a week.

Last week, their interests dovetailed. The Mets faced a pair of A.L. Central teams. The White Sox hosted Atlanta. They traded scouting reports. “That’s the way it works,” Joey said.

Sometimes Alex picks his brother’s brain about life after his playing career ends. Joey hears the talk about Alex one day becoming a coach. So does Alex. He believes he can still play. But he knows what lies ahead.

“I’m learning each day,” Alex Cora said. “And although my mind is here to win a championship and help this team to win games, every day I learn something new. I think that’s going to help me in the future.”

Andy McCullough may be reached at amccullough@starledger.com

MANAGEMENT MATERIAL?

A few current and former players of Puerto Rican descent may be in line for managing positions down the road:
Edwin Ramirez: Interim manager of Marlins; first Puerto Rican to ever manage in MLB history; signed by Yankees in 1980.
Alex Cora: Mets infielder; tutored Dustin Pedroia in Boston; known to soak in information.
Joey Cora: Older brother of Alex; former All-Star in Seattle; now Ozzie Guillen’s understudy with White Sox.
Mike Lowell: Starred at third base for both Marlins and Red Sox; widely respected within the game.
Jose Molina: Catcher for Blue Jays; personal catcher to A.J. Burnett in 2009; known for exceptional game-calling.



(nj.com)

Although beloved Puerto Rican slugger Carlos Beltran won't be able to make the trip to the
tiny island east of the Dominican Republic with his teammates, the three-game series between the Marlins and Mets is going to be a special homecoming for a handful of players and Puerto Rico, itself.

Alex Cora, Angel Pagan, Jesus Feliciano and Pedro Feliciano are all natives of the baseball-crazed island and their return home couldn't be more special.

"This is a great opportunity to represent Puerto Rico and the Mets organization," Pagan told MLB.com. "I'm looking forward to it. The people in Puerto Rico are looking forward to it. It's going to be great for our country."

Although some players were able to take part in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic played there, just three mets -- Jose Reyes, David Wright and Pedro Feliciano -- were members of the 2004 team that played the Expos in San Juan.

"All Puerto Rican people are waiting for this," Jesus Feliciano explained. "They're going to be real excited. We've got a lot of Latin players in this ballclub, plus we have big stars like David Wright, so people have been waiting for this for a long time.

"It's something that you cannot even explain," Feliciano added. "It's real great. I had the chance to play in the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico and it was awesome. I can't imagine wearing a big league uniform and playing in front of your friends, your family and your country."

For Cora, a 34-year-old veteran journeyman, his trip through the big leagues has come full circle.

"Not everybody can say that they played in their country in front of their fans," Cora said. "It's a dream come true."



(nesn.com)

It was a hit, as David Wright said, that changed the game. It gave the Mets a surge. It deflated the Yankees.

In the bottom of the second inning last night, Jason Bay would eventually hit his second home run of the season, and later in the night, Bay would add his third. First, however, Alex Cora delivered an enormous hit to put the game's first two runs on the board. The backup infielder smacked a two-out two-run single off CC Sabathia in the second inning, part of the Mets' big four-run frame and part of their 6-4 Subway Series victory at Citi Field.

"Big momentum changer," Wright said.



(nypost.com)

PORT ST. LUCIE — Veteran infielder Alex Cora will be the first one to admit if the statistical analysis theories are a basis for determining roles within a team, he probably is not the guy the New York Mets are looking for as an everyday shortstop.

But with Jose Reyes likely out for the start of the season because of an overactive thyroid, Cora still believes he is the right candidate for the job.

Manager Jerry Manuel agrees — in the short term. He said Thursday that Cora is the first choice to replace Reyes, then in the next breath added that is assuming his star shortstop returns before the summer months hit. Cora has more confidence in his abilities.

“There’s a few questions, I guess, defensively,” Cora said. “People are talking about age and that I’ve slowed down defensively. There is some statistical analysis out there that says I am losing my range. I will just try to work on a few things, but if that’s something I can improve, I will just keep working on it.

“It’s one of those things where if you believe in it, I guess I am not the right guy because the stats say so, but if you see me play everyday, I still think I can do it. Let’s put it this way: I have been in the big leagues for 12 years and it’s not because I hit .300.”

The 34-year-old hit .251 with 18 RBI and one home run in 82 games last season — his first with the Mets. The club liked Cora, who owns a .246 career batting average, enough to re-sign him for $2 million during the offseason, despite the fact he was coming off two surgeries to repair ligaments in both thumbs — an injury Cora played through for almost two months last year.

When news about Reyes’ health surfaced last week, general manager Omar Minaya spoke highly of 20-year-old prospect Ruben Tejada as a possibility to replace Reyes. However, Manuel said Thursday it is still to be determined whether Tejada, who has never played above Double-A, is ready to make the jump to the majors. Should the Mets include him on the opening day roster, Tejada would need to be brought along slowly, Manuel indicated.

“If you happen to take a young player you’d have to find the right spots you think the guy would have a chance to have success and after that comes confidence and after that you let him go,” Manuel said.

“I haven’t seen enough (of Tejada),” Manuel added. “I think when you get down to that last week when the pitchers are kind of on top of their game, the position players are close to being ready, that will probably give us a better feel as to whether this will benefit us one way or the other.”

Tejada, who played with the St. Lucie Mets in 2008, signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama in July 2006 and spent last season in Binghamton as the youngest position player at that level.

He batted .289 with five homers, 46 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

Regarded as the organization’s best defensive infielder, Tejada is an “interesting player” to Manuel, and the manager said he would still consider him an option to make the team.

“He has some tremendous instincts to play,” Manuel said. “I like him a lot.”

For now, Manuel is still hoping Reyes, who is expected to be out another 1-7 weeks, returns in time to be ready for the start of the season, though that window is quickly closing with just over two weeks left in spring training.

“I am still holding out,” Manuel said. “I am still believing he will show up here in parking lot No. 7 any day.”



(tcpalm.com)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jerry Manuel hasn't seen enough of infield prospect Ruben Tejada to know if he's ready for the majors. But the Mets manager knows this: If Tejada does make the Opening Day roster, he would start the season on the bench, not starting in place of Jose Reyes.

If, as expected, Reyes begins the season on the disabled list, Manuel said Thursday that Alex Cora would start at shortstop. There had been some speculation after the news of Reyes' thyroid condition last week that Tejada could start at shortstop, but Manuel said that will not be the case.

"Cora would be the guy at this time," Manuel said.

Manuel compared Tejada's situation to that of much-hyped pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia. If Mejia makes the team out of camp, Manuel said he would not be the Mets' setup man. Instead, he would start in more of a low-pressure bullpen role.



(nj.com)

I've been adamant about starting the season with Jenrry Mejia in Binghamton and Ike Davis in Buffalo, and I'm sticking to it.

You can throw Fernando Martinez into that category too.

Even if they continue to be the three most exciting players in camp.

But when it comes to promoting Ruben Tejada to fill in for Jose Reyes while he recovers from his thyroid condition, I'm willing to look the other way for a month.

The situation at shortstop is different.

Look, it would be cruel and inhumane to subject sinker-ball pitcher Mike Pelfrey (not to mention the rest of the staff) to the utterly rangeless double-play combo of Alex Cora and Luis Castillo.

There's got to be some type of correlation between angst over a grounder up the middle and the fact that Big Pelf started feverishly licking himself on the mound after Jose Reyes went down last year.

Tejada is 20... he hit .289 despite being a pup in Double-A last season. It's impressive. Still, offensively, he's going to be in over his head at the big-league level. That's OK.

His real game -- his defense and his speed on the base paths -- are big-league ready right now now and won't be damaged by a month or so at the Show.

So give me the kid for six weeks until Reyes gets back.

Then he goes back to the farm so we can find out if he's the second baseman of the future, the utility infielder of the future, something more or something less.



(blog.slive.com)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Although fewer games remain on the Mets' Spring Training schedule than when Jose Reyes was preparing to make his return to active duty, the camp, without Reyes, now features more competition. Manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya like to see competition for assignments, even when it doesn't exist. But Reyes' absence and the possibility that he will not play for weeks has created a legitimate competition between veteran Alex Cora and non-roster Ruben Tejada.

One of them will be primarily in charge of keeping the shortstop position warm for Reyes, though it's likely each will play a part.

The competition starts at that top. Shortly after the announcement Thursday that Reyes' thyroid problem will render him inactive from two to eight weeks, Minaya said Cora would probably would be the primary understudy. And without saying the words, Manuel gave every indication the 20-year-old rookie with no Triple-A experience is likely to play most of the shortstop innings until Reyes' return. Hence the sense of competition.

Unmentioned in the conversation was Anderson Hernandez, out of options -- and seemingly out of a job with the Mets when the season begins. And importing another candidate to compete seems unlikely. But Minaya said the club needed no extra outfielder when Carlos Beltran underwent surgery on his knee in January. Shortly thereafter, he traded Brian Stokes for Gary Matthews Jr.

"It's early enough that Omar and Jerry can make some decisions who we're going to go with in the lineup," Cora said Thursday. "It's early enough that we can play for [the assignment]. "I'm not Jose Reyes. But if it's the worst-case scenario, whatever it is, it's early enough that we can plan for it."

Cora, 34 and coming off a season undermined by injuries to both thumbs, is quite confident. And Tejada, in simple terms, is prepared for the challenge.

"It's baseball," Tejada said. "I am ready."

"There's a lot of talk -- 'He's 34, getting old, with no tools,'" Cora said. "I think I was playing good baseball before I got hurt. And then everybody knew about one hand, but I knew about both hands."

Cora batted .251 with 18 RBIs and one home run in 82 games (271 at-bats) last season, his first with the Mets. His contributions went well beyond on-field performance, though. He filled a vacuum at shortstop, but also in the clubhouse. He evolved into a team conscience and spokesman. The club thought enough of Cora to re-sign him for $2 million.

Manuel expressed confidence that Cora could handle the regular assignment.

"I would say [early in the season], that's very feasible that [Cora] could play," Manuel said, also noting the summer months would be an issue, but there is no indication Reyes' absence would extend into the summer.

The manager praised the younger candidate, as managers are wont to do.

"He has tremendous instincts. I like him a lot. I think it's an option," Manuel said.

"The good thing is Tejada is playing pretty well," Minaya said. "Jerry's playing him."

But how long will that last? For now, Manuel needs to see more of Tejada, who batted .289 with 46 RBIs and five home runs in 488 at-bats with the Mets' Double-A Binghamton affiliate last season. The manager already knows Cora. Manuel acknowledged Thursday he had have to see how Cora's and Tejada's skills would fit in the batting order. But with Reyes' and Beltran's offense missing, the Mets won't be well-equipped to carry the rookie's bat.



(mlb.com)

There is no Carlos Beltran. And now there is no Jose Reyes, either.

The Mets said Thursday that Reyes, their former All-Star shortstop, has a case of hyperthyroidism. He must refrain from physical activity for the next two to eight weeks. Minaya told reporters that "it doesn't look good right now" for Reyes to be ready for Opening Day.

Reyes played only 36 games last year because of a serious hamstring injury. Now this.

It's to the point now where, regardless of allegiances, you feel badly for the Mets. They simply can't get their team on the field.

Beltran was on the disabled list last year. He will open this year on the DL, too.

Reyes was on the disabled list last year. He will probably open this year on the DL, too.

Instead of Reyes and Beltran, who is recovering from knee surgery, the Mets will probably have Alex Cora and Angel Pagan in their Opening Day lineup.



(foxnews.com)

The New York Post reports that Mets SS Alex Cora, who had surgeries for torn ligaments in both thumbs this offseason, will try to slide feet first in 2010.




(fantasysp.com)

Alex Cora hadn't played since Dec. 9th when he left a winter league game with what was translated as an aggravated back. Tonight Cora returned and played 3B, going 0-3. At least in returning we know that his back is ok, there hasn't been a report since the initial injury and with him not playing it was becoming concerning that it might be something more serious, that could effect his season.



(metfever.blogspot.com)