Alex Cora denies there's a racial divide in Boston's clubhouse ahead of the team's White House visit to celebrate its 2018 World Series championship.
"There's been a lot of talk about what's going on (Thursday) and the clubhouse and we're divided with race and politics," Cora said (via Boston.com). "Those kids went out there and played their hearts out. We know who we are in the clubhouse. I know a lot of people doubt that, but we did what we did last year and canceled the noise. We showed up every day, and we played."
The Red Sox manager, who is a Puerto Rico native, announced earlier this month that he won't visit the White House because he doesn't feel comfortable. Cora emphasized Wednesday that he doesn't want to celebrate in the White House while people in Puerto Rico still need relief after Hurricane Maria killed an estimated 2,975 people there.
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But Cora doesn't want the visit to the White House to be about him or to focus on his home land.
“(Thursday) is a celebration of the Red Sox,” Cora said. “It’s not, ‘Let’s make a deal for Puerto Rico,’ you know what I mean?”
Despite all the talk about the team's White House visit, Cora reiterated that his team is united when it comes to baseball — no matter what the players' political beliefs are.
"For everybody that's talking about us and the situation and crushing us throughout the week — they played extra innings, didn't give in, and they're celebrating Heath (Hembree) because of his first save and celebrating Jackie (Bradley Jr.), and we go," Cora said in reference to Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Orioles. "There's a group going home. There's a group going to the White House. Friday, we get back to playing baseball."
Cora explained that he's "very aware" of the pulse in the clubhouse and has checked in with the players to ensure they are all on the same page mentally.
“Obviously, you don’t read everything, you don’t hear everything, but you have an idea what’s going on," Cora said. "I talk to certain guys in the clubhouse, ‘Hey. Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, we decided that this is the way we’re going to do it.
"The organization gave us the chance to decide if we go, if we don’t go. I think we’re doing the right thing. Nobody has to be ashamed or pressured not to go or to go. ... Everything is fine to be honest with you.”