'08 Outlook for Alex Cora

Time to move on to the bench players:

'07 Season: Cora hit .246 in 83 games for the Red Sox filling in for Lugo and Pedroia. He was a fan favorite early in the season when Lugo waas struggling, he hit .278 for the first half. Cora struggled the second half by batting under the Mendoza line and played less and less. He was not on the post-season roster.

'08 Outlook: Cora is a good bench player who fits in well with the Red Sox. He can play either 2nd or short and has good defensive skills. He does not have a lot of power but can heat up quickly when he gets the AB's. Cora will continue to be the choice for Francona when he wants to give Lugo or Pedroia a rest. He should get less playing time this year unless there is a major injury to an infielder, look for him to play around 75 games and hit .250. Overall, Cora is a solid player to turn to when in need.