The clock isn’t working for the Red Sox. With each passing series, each loss felt like a message from the baseball gods: This isn’t your year. A promising season and a promising roster had turned into a desperate fight for survival. First, Triston Casas’s injury, then Alex Bregman’s collapse, devastated their offense. But in the middle of it, Alex Cora has come up with a sense of relief.

May 23. Bregman hurt himself while sprinting to first base against the Orioles. The next day, he was put on the 10-day injured list. This injury was comparable to a quad strain he had in 2021 that kept him out of action for almost 10 weeks while he was with the Houston Astros. But recent news might give Red Sox fans a little bit of optimism.

Alex Cora provided a peek at A-Breg’s injury. “Just going through a progression compared to when he got hurt before with Houston. He feels a lot better.” Well, the struggles of the Red Sox are out in the open, and one of them was missing a good hitter at the 3B. Now, hopefully, with Bregman’s return, there will be one thing less to worry about.

But the main question is, when exactly is he returning? To which Alex Cora said, “He has his date on his mind. We just have to keep working. Obviously we don’t want to rush, and we have to be very diligent with it. But he’s feeling great.” 

Bregman was a key player for the Red Sox until he got hurt. He had a .299 batting average, a .385 on-base percentage, a .553 slugging percentage, and a .938 OPS. He had also hit 11 home runs, 17 doubles, and driven in 35 runs in 51 games. Without Bregman, the Red Sox have been playing worse and are now in fourth place in the AL East (30-35).

First, there was the loss against the Brewers, then the Angels, and now the Yankees in the series opener. All these losses have made things difficult for the clubhouse, especially for Alex Cora.

The slump has ignited many, and all they asked for was the manager’s resignation. But does the front office think the same?

‘Alex Cora is not the issue’ in Boston’s struggles

The questions are being raised, and Alex Cora’s every move is being watched. And the whispers to fire him are picking up the pace. But it’s not gonna happen. And it’s not us who’s saying so; we are just echoing the voice from the management.

Kevin Millar, a former first baseman for the Boston Red Sox and the 2004 World Series champion, has defended manager Alex Cora. While people are wondering about Cora’s future with the Red Sox, Millar thinks the manager shouldn’t be the only one to blame.

On the Play Tessie podcast, Millar showed his faith. “Alex Cora getting heat is ridiculous. He’s a dude. Guys love playing for him. He just signed an extension. It’s (on) us. If I hand an 0-2 curveball and give up a three-run home run, that’s not on Alex Cora.” Millar’s words not only show how important it is for players to be responsible in challenging circumstances. But also carries a faith in Cora’s managerial abilities.

The Red Sox have had many problems this season. Injuries to essential players like Alex Bregman and Triston Casas. The squad is in a questionable position, and the offense is a major one there. But Cora has been dedicated to leading the team through tough times, even though things have gone wrong.

Millar’s backing is a reminder that baseball success requires everyone to work together. The Red Sox are trying to turn their season around. Yes, the manager is important, but in the end, it’s the players who have to do their jobs on the field. The Red Sox still have time this season to regroup and make a push for the playoffs.

With Bregman’s progression and coming back, can Fenway Park witness those cheers again?