Cora refuses to write off Red Sox: 'We're still hungry'
Time is running out for the Boston Red Sox, but try convincing manager Alex Cora his team can't contend for a playoff berth.
The defending World Series champions entered Friday's series opener against the New York Yankees sitting 6 1/2 games back of the American League's second wild-card spot. With 22 games remaining in the 2019 season, Boston has just a 3% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
Despite those figures, Cora remains optimistic his team can qualify for the postseason.
"Like I told the guys today, I know where we're at, I know the odds are against us, but whatever percent chances we have, we still have a chance to play them in October - as of now," Cora said, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne. "So let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're still hungry."
Unlike last season, when they finished first in the American League East with 108 wins, the Red Sox have struggled to match the consistency of their closest competitors. Boston finished August with a 14-13 record and is 2-2 thus far in September.
"I know we haven't played well, but we're still talented. We're still good," Cora explained. "We've still got two weeks. We can get on a run. Although you guys don't believe me, but I feel that way. I told the guys today, 'Let's do what we have to do this weekend. We've got to win the series. And we know we have to keep winning series, but if we make it and we play that game, I don't think too many people would like to match up with us in a playoff series.'
"And that's a fact, because we're that talented."
Complicating the team's postseason hopes are the absences of ace Chris Sale - who is out for the remainder of the season with elbow inflammation - and left-hander David Price, who has only pitched 4 2/3 innings since the beginning of August due to ongoing wrist issues.
"(The Yankees) are good, Houston is good, Minnesota is good, Cleveland is good, the A's are good. We're good, too," Cora said. "We haven't been consistent, obviously. But as far as talent, we're still one of the best teams in the big leagues. The thing is, we haven't proved it. That's the difference."