We're joined right now by a man that is a world champion player, a
world champion manager, but his roots are right here at Dodgers Stadium. He
and Adrian Beltray made their major league debuts the same season back in nineteen ninety
eight, and that is the one and only Alex Cora. Alex, it
was great to see you in Boston last year, but it's even more special
to have you back at Dodger Stadium. It is it is in a more
relaxing environment instead of October, right Like I wasn't able to enjoy Dodger Stadium
in seventeen and eighteen now because of you know, every game counts and you
know they're in their situation. We're in the same spot. But to be
able to say hi to people, look around and you know, enjoyed this
beautiful facility is awesome. What's the biggest takeaway from your years with the Dodgers
to make you who you are now? One of the most respected managers in
baseball? I keep telling people that, and it's a lot different now in
player development. I still remember when I got to Vera Beach after I signed
to our mini camp. I think we were two days away from sending people
to Great Falls, Montana or Yakimai. I think it is right, and
then people stayed there and in Verro the Dodger way was real. From the
way you dress, the way you act, the way you perform, it
was second to none. And I'm the person that I am because of that.
You know, they really helped me understand what professional baseball was all about
or what it's all about. Uh. Yeah, I had a good idea
because Joey, you know, he was an established big leader. But so
being taught the right way was was amazing. I don't know if you heard.
Like a month and a half ago, we had a meeting with veterans.
One of them was Kenley and we felt like the young players, we're
getting sloppy dressing up right for for road trips and uh, you know,
Kenley was telling me stories about the way they treated him and the things that
they did to him just to be a big leaguer. Chase Anderson, who
has a lot of experience, we talk about it, and we came to
the conclusion that on uh day day games, getaway days, we're gonna wear
sports coach and we started doing it, and uh, it reminds me of
you know, San anton and Texas. You know, uh, collar shirt
sports coach, slacks on the road, and uh it's not that that makes
you a better Big leaguer or a better player, but I think it gives
the profession the professionalism that it deserves, you know, And uh that's something
that I wouldn't I wouldn't trade for anything. You know, the Dodger way
was right. The Doutch way was the right right way to doing it.
And I'm proud of you know, consider myself, you know, uh homegrown
Dodger player, You consider yourself because you are. Alex Cora is our guest,
and your former teammate, Adrian Beltray is going into the Hall of Fame.
He's being inducted tomorrow. Can you believe it? Number one? And
number two? Did you see this career arc happening when you guys were teammates
all the way from ninety eight to four. I didn't see it in the
beginning, but you know, after his last season here, he went to
Seattle, right, wasn't great. Then he came to Boston and something clicked
there. Right, I think the spotlight you know, was shining on him,
and he put a great season Obviously it didn't work out business business wise,
and I know there's a lot of people in the organization in the city
that regret that. But then in Texas he became the leader that he is
right and just the way he goes about his business if you look at his
career, and this is something I keep talking to people about Raffi Devers right
when Beltray was here in ninety eight, ninety nine, whatever, the thing
that he had was upside offensively and he was posting. He posts right.
He played same thing with Raffi. Defensively, Belly became one of the best
defenders ever at third base, but early on it wasn't great. I think
he made like twenty nine errors. He averaged like twenty five errors his first
three seasons, just like Raffi, right, like erratic, making bad decisions,
and he decided to find structure in his defensive work. I do believe
that we help him out. You know, his stories on myself and Robin
probably one of the best defensive infielders in the history of the Dodgers. And
there was this sense of pride, you know, not in a bad way,
because sometimes we fuse pride with being selfish, with belly. He was
pride about posting every day, playing hard every day, winning every day,
and being a Dodger the right way. And I mean, the guy is
amazing. I was joking with Mike Fiori today this morning. He looks better
than what he looked when he got called up in nineteen ninety eight. He
looks younger and stronger. I don't know how that happens, and I'm very
proud of him. We learn a lot from him. I know he learned
a lot about from the people around him, from Eric Carros to Sean green
who I think was the one that gave him the keys to unlock the offensive
potential because they started playing games in VP right the opposite field Homers, remember,
Yeah. And there was a lot of money involved too, he and
Luduca and Greeney. But I think it helped him to become the hitter that
he became. And I'm very proud of him. Man. So I guess
Alex Korra is not surprised that Sean Green text me from Cooperstown he is going
to be there. Not surprise was Greenie was kind of like the guy that
basically took us under his wing. You know, he came from Toronto.
Yeah, we had other mentors, you know, Kevin Brown and Jeff Shaw,
every Carrs but Greene. At that point we were playing every day,
although Belly started playing every day in nineteen ninety eight. But like his tourists
on myself, we became everyday big leaguers. And you know, he helped
us a lot offensively, he help us a lot with the mental side of
the game. And I'm not surprised that he's in Cooperstown. I wish I
was there. You know. Actually I never asked for permission. I should
have. But coincidence that I'm here in Dodger Stadium when Belly is getting into
the Hall of Fame probably not is the way that this game works. And
He's gonna be a fun day tomorrow, not only for the Dodger you know,
fans and the organization, but for us. I know, you guys
never made it to the World Series, but maybe I'm biased. You guys
had such a special group and such a tight knip friendship and brotherhood. Can
you just describe what those teams were like, especially in O four, it
felt like it was you against the world. It was maybe more, But
I still remember that day in San Diego, you know, the last day
of the trade, the deadline, and it wasn't a good feeling at all.
It was probably the worst feeling of that season. Understanding that we probably
got better in a way, right We brought in some good players. One
of them got hurt right away, which I think it made the difference in
October, Brad Penny. But we brought in Steve Finley, who was amazing
for the group click right away. Jason Worth became an everyday player. Milton
took it to another level. Brad main was awesome. But uh, you
know, trading uh Moda Luduca and Dave Roberts was was was tough for the
group. I don't know what would have happen, you know, uh in
the last two months of the season and in October, but it was a
closed group, not only on the field but off the field. You know.
I still have you know, memories of going to Gania's house and hanging
out. The strength and conditioning coaches were amazing with us. Uh. It
was kind of like the first time that we actually you know, uh got
involved with you know, using all the tools that were provided by the organization
to to be better, right, Uh, take a look at tendencies and
pictures and defensive alignments and all that stuff. It was really good. I
still remember the last out. Uh, with all the respect to Trace,
I hated shaking hands with the Cardinals after the game, but uh it is
what it is. And uh, you know, too bad we got to
split up. I think that team was on, uh on the rise to
to become probably a force in then A West. But obviously, you know,
decisions were made and uh it didn't happen. But very proud to be
part of those teams, you know. And uh I see I see Jim,
you know, Trace and swim training when he goes down and visit U
Chad uh his son who's a Triple A manager in Worcester, and we talk
a little bit, you know about what if or you know, what we
did right and where we struggle. But uh it's always cool to talk to
uh Trace. He's actually in coopers On too. He has too you know,
he has Helton and he has belly, so he's a He's a great
great day for Jim, Alex Cora, thanks a lot for the time.
I wonder if the run was a little bit more arduous this morning after last
night's finish, it will be tomorrow, and telling you that we took the
day off today. Five years he running in Pasadena, Uh joking, as
the first time I was running besides Basao, Colorado. But it was beautiful,
it was nice.