Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora missed Monday’s victory over the visiting New York Mets to attend his daughter Camila’s graduation at Boston College, which one local sports radio host considered a ‘kind of preposterous’ excuse.
‘They were, I believe, done by noon, which means you can have a nice big party in the middle of the day,’ Mike Felger of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub said. ‘Just cab down the street and manage the game.’
A schedule of events on BC’s website appears to contradict Felger’s claim. While the academic procession was set to start at 9:05am at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, individual school diplomas were not distributed until the main ceremony, which was scheduled to begin sometime between 12pm and 12:30.
But Felger’s criticism had less to do with Monday’s game, which Boston won with bench coach Ramón Vázquez at the helm. Rather, he claimed it set a bad example to players.
‘It’s just the tone you set and the example you set for the team,’ Felger said. ‘It’s not like they need him there to make the pitching change or lay down the bunt. It’s the leadership and optics of the whole thing. It’s a very easy chance for him to say, ‘Nothing’s more important than tonight’s game.’
Cora poses for a picture with daughter Camila during the 2019 All-Star game in Cleveland
Red Sox manager Alex Cora (L) shouts at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook (R) Tuesday
Speaking before Tuesday’s win over the Mets, Cora did not seem bothered by Fleger’s criticism in the least.
‘She wanted me to be with her,’ Cora said. ‘It was her day so this was secondary. We’re in this world for a purpose, and for me, it’s to raise her and try to do the best we can.
‘Obviously, it wasn’t perfect but right now, it’s perfect. Everybody contributed. For her, she was very anxious having the whole family in town. Like we told her, anything for her. To be able to listen to her, how she thought about the whole day, the whole week and the whole four-year experience, there was a lot of emotions.
‘It’s a day,’ he added. ‘I wasn’t going to miss it. The whole day. There’s coaches that take three days for that. It just so happened we’re here in Boston so I took one.’
Team reporters knew about Cora’s decision ahead of time after the manager recently discussed his excitement to see Camila graduate. Cora went on to comment on his daughter’s growth since 2018, when she celebrated the team’s World Series win with her father at the end of his first season on the job.
‘It went fast, it went really fast,’ Cora said. ‘For a girl from divorced parents, her mom did an amazing job, staying the course while I was playing and coaching and doing my ESPN thing. … She’s actually a reflection of her. I appreciate everything she’s done for her and for us.’
‘Now, she’s not a little girl,’ he said. ‘She’s a woman. She had fun with it. She’s a great student and the future’s bright for her.’
Cora’s Red Sox have been hovering around .500 for the better part of the season. The team now travels to Baltimore for a four-game set with the division-rival Orioles.
