"This guy stinks" - Alex Cora reveals Kyle Schwarber's hilarious conversation with J.D Martinez about former Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora recounted a hilarious dressing room conversation involving former players J.D. Martinez and Kyle Schwarber this weekend. The funny anecdote exemplified the widely varying approaches to hitting employed by the two All-Star sluggers when the team was discussing its strategy against Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough before a game.

Alex Cora has been the Boston Red Sox manager since 2018 and led them to a World Series title that year. J.D. Martinez also joined them that season and was an integral part of the Boston lineup for five years. Meanwhile, Schwarber was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Washington Nationals in 2021 before getting shipped to the Red Sox for the final months before reaching free agency.

On Saturday, Cora recalled a team meeting from the 2021 campaign as his teaam prepared to take on Ryan Yarbrough of the Tampa Bay Rays, saying on NESN:

"I still remember the first meeting we had; we were in Tampa when (Schwarber) got traded. He got there the second day, and we were facing the lefty Yarbrough. We were going over the scouting report, (about) the cutter, and this, that, and the angle. He's sitting there with his USA underwear and a cup of coffee. And everybody is talking back and forth, and J.D. is talking about the release and whatever.

"Kyle is like, 'Guys, this guy stinks! Let's go get him!' And (J.D.) was like, 'Yeah.' There was a transition. We needed J.D. Martinez in 2018 to lead the group, but at one point it got too much. It was getting too analytical. Too scientific," he added. "So, we needed (to) kind of even it out, and it was amazing."

Following his short stint in Boston, Kyle Schwarber signed a four-year, $79 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 before representing the New York Mets last season.

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"My job is to prepare every single day to try to win a game": Alex Cora

Alex Cora won the 2018 Word Series in his first season as the Red Sox manager (Image Source: Imagn)

During his NESN interview, Alex Cora discussed some of the challenges he faces in his job regarding coaching players.

Cora highlighted the importance of having veteran players on the team during this age of analytics. He feels the influence the coaching staff can have on the team is limited, so they have to let the players find the solutions.

"I think, overall, it's needed," Cora said. "Sometimes, we'd like something too much on the coaching staff. And I still believe there's a line that needs to separate the players and the coaches.

"My job is to prepare every single day to try to win a game, as far as matchups and all that stuff," he added. "It's hard for me to be in my office, (and) in the cage. It's hard for (hitting coach Peter Fatse) to be with 13 guys at the same time. I think those conversations are huge."

Alex Cora is one of five managers in MLB history to win the World Series in his first season. He's also the only Puerto Rican manager to claim the title.