Red Sox's Alex Cora Compliments Marcelo Mayer Amid Roster Battle
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Alex Cora has shown some tough love to Marcelo Mayer this spring, but the Boston Red Sox manager commended his young player on Friday.
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Mayer reached base in all four plate appearances during a 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The infielder's two hits and two walks followed Thursday's less impressive hitless performance in the Grapefruit League.
Cora praised Mayer's quick turnaround, per MassLive's Christopher Smith.
"I was just telling him yesterday he had his worst game at the plate, and today he had his best," Cora said. "And that’s the beauty of this game. Every day you’re going to have a chance to keep going and redeem yourself."
Cora would have liked to see better execution on one defensive play from Mayer, who's focusing on second base after spending most of his rookie season at third. He's still pleased with the 23-year-old's performance.
“Today, the walks, the line drive the other way, he played good defense," Cora said. "I believe we still have to turn that double play, the one (Cedric) Mullins, a little bit more urgency, but that’s something we’ll correct. But overall, a good day for him."
On the other hand, Cora said he spoke to Mayer after the left-hander went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Thursday. He also missed a golden RBI opportunity by popping up with nobody out and a runner on third base.
“We asked him to move the guy over. He had a pop-up," Cora said. "It wasn’t a good day for him offensively. He talked about it."
Mayer seems to be a top candidate to open the season as Boston's starting second baseman, at least against right-handed pitchers. However, Cora has repeated all spring that the former first-round pick isn't even guaranteed a roster spot.
After Friday's bounce-bounce game, Mayer is batting .273/.407/.409 in 27 plate appearances this spring. He'll look to keep earning more positive reviews from Cora to make the Opening Day roster.
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