On Thursday, the Red Sox will visit West Palm Beach and manager Alex Cora will experience a homecoming.
The Red Sox will be visiting the Houston Astros, the team that Cora helped lead to a World Series title last year as bench coach. Cora looks forward to the reunion with players and coaches that became family, but he wants his new team to take something from the visit as well.
"Just a reminder: Remember what they did to you guys," Cora told reporters in Florida on Wednesday.
The Astros knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs last year with a Game 4 win at Fenway Park. Right-hander Charlie Morton started that game and left with a 2-1 lead in the fifth. He'll be pitching on Thursday vs. Rick Porcello, with the Red Sox bringing a number of regulars.
"I know spring training is not about sending messages, but for them to go over there . . it's Charlie on the mound, too," Cora said. "It's always cool. It's just a reminder. We still have a ways to go, but for some reason on March 1 is when everything starts flowing and it just happens to be the Houston Astros, so that's a good message for that group in there."
While Cora hopes to use the game to motivate his new team, it's also an opportunity to touch base with his old one.
"It will be cool," he said. "It was a special season, a special group. They text me, they call me and they FaceTime me. We connected. I was an amazing run from Day 1 all the way until Nov. 1. The way they went about their business, the way they connected with us as a staff and being able to learn. They wanted more. They want to learn. Whenever you're part of something like that it's something special. They're a group that will always be in my heart."
On Thursday, he'll reconnect with old friends like manager A.J. Hinch and Houston's bevy of young star players like MVP Jose Altuve and World Series MVP George Springer.
"It's a complete team, very athletic, they have a great rotation," Cora said. "They can do it all. It will be cool to go over there. I was joking around with the whole taking the 'A' team, but I think most of those guys, being in front of those guys, it will be good for them.
Added Cora: "For me it's a good time to turn the page, obviously."
