World Series-Bound With Puerto Rico On Their Minds

By César Augusto Márquez

It was quite the week, ending with the Houston Astros overcoming a 3-2 deficit in the ALCS to reach the World Series for the second time in their history and bench coach Álex Cora being named the new manager of the Boston Red Sox. Normally, the appointment of a manager doesn’t overshadow the start of the World Series. But Cora joins an exclusive club, becoming, with the White Sox’s Rick Rentería, the only Latino pilots working in Major League Baseball.

Celebrating alongside the Astros and Cora were the Dodgers, who eliminated the defending champion Chicago Cubs in the NLCS in five games. Meanwhile, Yadier Molina flew home to Puerto Rico, arriving with much-needed relief aid. And a new batch of big leaguers reported to their winter league teams.

It’s been quite a year for Cora, who began 2017 as general manager of the Caguas Criollos, winning the Puerto Rican winter league in January and then the Caribbean Series in February. A month later, Cora served as GM of #LosNuestros, putting together a squad that went undefeated in the World Baseball Classic until losing to Team USA in the finals.

Cora is only the third Puerto Rican ever to lead a major league team — after Sandy Alomar Jr., the Indians’ interim manager for six games in 2010, and Edwin Rodríguez, who managed the Marlins for 163 games from 2010 to 2011. Cora, who turned 42 last week, is a former shortstop who began his career with the Dodgers and played four seasons for the Red Sox from 2005 to 2008. According to La Vida Baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cora is the 18th Latino manager in MLB history.While the Red Sox announced the hiring on Sunday, they won’t be able to introduce Cora at Fenway Park until after the World Series.

Twin Delights

Did we mention that Cora is enjoying a most wonderful year? We forgot to add; he and his wife had twins three months ago, increasing their brood from two to four. Congratulations to the whole family.

Like the Astros’ Carlos Correa and the Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández, Cora has worked the last month and half of the season with a heavy heart, worried about family and friends after Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico. When the Astros clinched the AL pennant, Cora sent a message home and promised to go back and help after completing “unfinished business.”

Kiké el Bambino

Hernández, who played seven different positions this season, did something few others have ever done: hit three home runs in a clinching game in the playoffs. By smacking three dingers and knocking in seven runs at Wrigley Field in Game 5, he sent his Dodgers to the World Series for the first time since 1988. Hernández celebrated on and off the field, posting one of his triumphant laps on Instagram.

The tongue wag made famous by the Dodgers’ mercurial but powerful outfielder Yasiel Puig seems to have caught on with his teammates, as this IG snap of Puig, Kenley Jansen (left) and Cody Bellinger (right) shows.

Mami never liked us sticking out our tongues, but if it raises money for charity, who are we to complain? Here’s a t-shirt that you may like, supporting the Yasiel Puig Wild Horse Children’s Foundation. Legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully saddled Puig with the nickname early on in his career with the team, partly because of his wild dashes around the bases.

Los Astros

The Astros’ celebrated their AL pennant with a Latin tinge, since so many of their stars are from Latin America, including Cuba’s Yulieski “Yuli” Gurriel, Venezuela’s Marwin González and José Altuve and Puerto Rico’s Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltrán. Beltrán took advantage of his foundation and charitable connections to raise money and join Astros team owner Jim Crane in sending planes and supplies to the island.

Molina, the Cardinals’ catcher who was born in Bayamón and raised in the neighboring town of Vega Alta, visited the mountainous area of Utuado, bringing supplies to those in isolated areas while helping rebuild. There are still at least a million people without drinkable water and about 80 percent of the island is still without electricity. Molina also has been fundraising through his Fundación 4, which he founded with his wife Wanda in 2010.

Despite the ‘L,’ still grateful

Catcher Gary Sánchez said thanks to Yankees fans after the season ended for the team with a 4-0 loss in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who finished the postseason strong, also showed his gratitude to fans.

Winter League hot shots

Reds infielder José Peraza made his debut in the Venezuelan Winter League. The 23-year-old from Barinas, Venezuela, hit a triple in his first game with Navegantes del Magallanes (Magellan Navigators).

In the Dominican Republic, Fernando Tatis Jr. notched his first home run in the winter league. The son of the former major league third baseman plays for the Estrellas Orientales (Eastern Stars) in San Pedro de Macorís.

Celebrating the Mexican Babe Ruth

Every October 21, the Mexican Pacific League celebrates Héctor Espino Day. Espino, a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, is considered the all-time minor league home run king. He hit 484 home runs, all but three in Mexico, while amassing 13 batting titles and six MVP awards.

Featured Image: Carlos Correa Instagram