Cora speaks about sign-stealing scandal
Painted by some as the mastermind of the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme during the 2017 season, former bench coach Alex Cora denied that the trash-can banging system was a “twoman show,” specifically questioning the only public statement of former Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow.
“Out of this whole process, if there is one thing that I completely reject and disagree with is people within the Astros organization singling me out, particularly Jeff Luhnow, as if I were the sole mastermind,” Cora told ESPN on Thursday in his first interview since being fired as manager by the Boston Red Sox.
“The commissioner’s report sort of explained, in its own way, what happened. But the (Astros’ players) have spoken up and refuted any allegations that I was solely responsible.”
In January’s nine-page report detailing the Astros’ scheme, commissioner Rob Manfred said Cora “arranged for a video room technician to install a monitor displaying the center field camera feed immediately outside of the Astros’ dugout.” Staff members watched that feed and banged on trash cans to signal hitters the incoming pitch.
Cora, who left Houston for Boston after the 2017 season, was mentioned 11 times in Manfred’s report. The Red Sox “parted ways” with Cora two days after the firings of Luhnow and Astros manager A.J. Hinch.
Luhnow has not commented publicly since his dismissal. In a statement released Jan. 13, the former GM proclaimed “I am not a cheater” and assigned blame to “lower-level employees working with the bench coach.” Cora was the only staff member Luhnow mentioned specifically in the statement.
Cora and veteran designated hitter Carlos Beltran were profiled as ringleaders of the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme — allegations many Astros players denied in February. Manfred mentioned Beltran by name in his report, one that called the scheme “player-driven.” Beltran resigned from the New York Mets in January before ever managing a game.
“If there is one thing I am absolutely sure of, it is that it was not a two-man show,” Cora told ESPN. “We all did it. And let me be very clear that I am not denying my responsibility because we were all responsible.”
Cora’s 2018 Red Sox team was investigated for signstealing, too, but the league cleared him of any wrongdoing. His punishment — a one-year ban from baseball — was tied solely to his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme.
“I deserve my suspension, and I’m paying the price for my actions,” Cora said. “And I am not proud of what happened. We made a mistake as a group, the entire (Astros) team. What happened was something that, if you ask anyone involved, no one is proud of it. We’re all at fault. Everybody. We’re all responsible. Everyone who was part of the team from around midMay until the end of the season, we are all responsible.”