N.Y. Mets: All Eyes Are On Alex Cora

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Terry Collins Ends Mets Career With 551-583 Record; 

Second Most Wins By Mets Manager Behind Davey Johnson

New York Mets: Front Office Will Interview Highly Recommended Alex Cora For Vacant Managers Position.

With the Astros in town to face the Yankees in the ALCS, it's being reported Houston bench coach Alex Cora will interview on Tuesday to potentially fill the New York Mets managerial vacancy.

It's also being reported Alex Cora has already interviewed for the vacant Red Sox position.  The former infielder has strong ties with Boston as a member of the 2007 championship team.

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1996 draft, Cora spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians for the 2005 season, and was then traded to the Boston Red Sox midway through the season, where he continued playing through the 2008 season.

Like the Red Sox, Alex Cora is no stranger to the Mets.  He was a well respected, influential player in the Mets clubhouse during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and was already being touted in baseball circles as a future coach/manager in the making.

He played his 14th and final MLB season as a 35-year old in 2011 with the Washington Nationals.

Since Cora's retirement, his widely recognized baseball acumen had long been sought after by major league baseball clubs.  His main priority during the years immediately following his retirement, however, lay in being close to home and raising his daughter.

Alex still remained active in baseball as an analyst for ESPN, and as general manager of his home town Criollos de Caguas of Puerto Rico's Liga Profesional de Beisbol Roberto Clemente.  

While still active, Cora, an eminently proud native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, played in three straight Serie Final for los Criollos from 2009-10 through 2011-12, and helped lead them to a league championship in 2010-11.  After retiring later that year, he accepted the position of general manager upon the resignation of Frankie Higginbotham.  With Cora at the helm, Caguas went on to win another league title (2012-13) in a rematch series against los Indios de Mayaguez.

Last winter, los Criollos de Caguas won their second championship in the last five years under Cora.

Alex and los Criollos de Caguas moved on to Culiacan, Mexico, for the 2017 Serie del Caribe, or, the Winter Leagues World Series, if you will.  It marked his second attempt at winning a Caribbean title as general manager of Team Puerto Rico.  This time, Cora and Puerto Rico did emerge victorious to capture the Caribbean Leagues crown.

As general manager of Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Alex Cora's bid at the trifecta ended against Team USA.

He has nevertheless since continued riding a personal wave of success into the ALCS as bench coach of the Houston Astros.

Many believe working along side Astros manager AJ Hinch has added the finishing touch to Alex Cora's resume.  To quote a line from NJ.com, the Mets are looking for someone younger ... and willing to adapt to new technology.  

That's exactly the type of experience he's presently gaining with Houston.

Is he the right man for the Mets?

Yes, without a doubt.  For all the reasons being discussed throughout media and print.

His baseball journey has taken him from the innocent fields of his native Caguas, where him and his brother Joey Cora both played as kids, to the University of Miami, then through several of MLB's largest markets.  

After Los Angles, he went on to play under the glaring lights of New York City.  He understands the role media plays here, and how intense the scrutiny can be.  The same can be said regarding his experience in Boston.  The media there is just as relentless, ruthless, and combative; sometimes even more so.  He nevertheless earned the media's respect and was embraced by them in both towns as the voice of reason.

Cora is completely bilingual, which also eliminates any potential miscommunication with Latin players.  That being said, he is known to be a uniquely well spoken communicator with all players.

Above all else, he is the best, and most appealing available candidate in my opinion.

After Cora, Gardenhire is second on my list.  He has the most managerial experience among the field of candidates, and was fairly successful during his years with Minnesota.

Kevin Long, is said to be the only person to have interviewed for the job so far.  He is not a top consideration of mine.  Nor is Joe McEwing, or Mickey Callaway.  Manny Acta is a blast from the past that I might be agreeable to.

For whatever reason, there seems to no longer be interest in the services of Robin Ventura and Brad Ausmus.  In turn, I have zero interest in Bob Geren and Chip Hale, but will admit to having a mild curiosity with Sandy Alomar Jr.

Joe Girardi's contract with the Yankees expires after the post-season, but I do not think the Yankees and him will part ways.  I also personally think Joe is wound up just a bit too tightly, and that him crossing boroughs wouldn't go over very well.

Cora is the best man for the Mets, but seems to be a better fit in Boston.

I hope that's just the Mets pessimism in me speaking out loud.