How Alex Cora Assessed Current State Of Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees reconvene for another three-game series starting Friday night. Even if it remains one of baseball’s fiercest rivalries, observers may wonder if the matchup has lost some sizzle from the feud’s glory days.
While the American League East adversaries see each other plenty throughout the regular season, the Red Sox and Yankees have clashed just twice in the playoffs since Boston’s historic ALCS comeback in 2004. Alex Cora believes those battles are key to rejuvenating the rivalry to its peak.
Cora discussed the current tenor of the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry before their upcoming series, per The Athletic’s Chad Jennings and Brendan Kuty.
“Is it the same? Nah,” Cora said. “It’s the same in October. I mean, that’s the reality of it. Regardless if we’re battling for first place or whatever, in October, it’s different.”
Cora joined the Red Sox as a player at the height of the rivalry in 2005. Boston and New York had just competed for the AL crown in consecutive postseasons during classic seven-game encounters.
As a manager, Cora led the Red Sox to a 2018 ALDS triumph over the Yankees en route to a World Series title. In 2021, they won a winner-take-all Wild Card game against the Bronx Bombers.
Aaron Boone is also well-versed in the Red Sox/Yankees feud. His infamous home run sent Boston home in 2003, but he’s yet to witness a similar watershed moment as a skipper.
While the rivalry remains meaningful to him, Boone acknowledged that it’s not quite the same as during his playing days.
“It always feels big to me, and I know it does to our guys, too,” Boone said. “But is it as intense as it was in ‘03 in a snapshot? ‘03 was as hot as ever.”
A successful series against New York would help Boston’s chances of returning to the playoffs and potentially igniting the feud with another October showdown. At 34-36, the Red Sox will first look to inch closer to .500 when Garrett Crochet takes the mound Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET.