Notebook: On analytics, filling the pitching coach vacancy, the pressures of Boston and more

Alex Cora credited his past season as bench coach with the world champion Houston Astros as an invaluable experience for his personal growth and aiding his preparation to become the new manager of the Red Sox.

When asked Monday at his introductory press conference what lesson proved most valuable, Cora didn’t hesitate.

“The connection between the analytic department, the coaches, and the players,’’ said Cora. “I always thought it was like (us and them). It’s not that way with (the Astros). I don’t know if other organizations do it, but that’s the way I would like the Red Sox to connect.

“When you talk about analytics, players get scared. But when you tell them it’s information, they embrace it. We’re going to find ways to get people out easier, we’re going to find ways to attack pitchers better and bullpens better. We’re going to be better because of that.’’

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There’s one vacancy remaining on the Red Sox coaching staff, but it’s a big one: pitching coach.

The Sox have filled all the others, but while a number of experienced pitching coaches have rotated throughout the sport in a game of musical chairs – including Mike Maddux, Chris Bosio, Dave Eiland and Jim Hickey – the Sox are still searching.

“We have a lot of names that we’ve discussed,’’ said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “I can’t tell you we’re close to anybody. In fact, we had an interest in a couple of guys who went other places, for various reasons. I’d have to say we’re going to have more conversations (this week) during organizational meetings.’’

Asked if the Sox might have someone by the start of the GM Meetings next week in Orlando, Dombrowski was unsure.

“I’m hopeful, but I don’t know. It would be great,’’ he said. “We don’t want to rush into anything. We have a lot of names that we’ve gone through. We need to sit down and have a face-to-face conversation.’’

“This is a talented pitching staff, we know that,’’ said Cora. “We’ll work together. We’ll choose the right one and whoever it is is going to be a good one.’’

The Sox will add a quality control coach to their staff, which is something that’s becoming increasingly common in the game.

“That’s something Alex believes in a great deal,’’ said Dombrowski. “It will be someone who takes the analytics that we have and combines it with the video that we use and the advance scouting reports and helps combine the report. They used that in Houston and he feels very strongly about, so that’s a person we’re going to add.’’

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Playing or managing in the Boston market is not for everyone, admittedly. Some don’t like the pressure or scrutiny. But Cora is far from intimidated.

“Boston, for a lot of people is a challenge,’’ he said. “But for me, it’s not. I understand they live baseball 24-7. But you know what? I come from a country where we live baseball 24-7. In my family, for breakfast, we talk baseball. For lunch, we talk baseball, and for dinner, too.

Of course, it helps that Cora spent parts of four seasons playing here.

“I think it’s very important that I already lived the Red Sox Nation experience,’’ he admitted. “I understand that people want to talk about this team. Is that an obstacle? Is that pressure? I don’t see it that way. I see it as an opportunity.

“I played here. This is home for me. I played for the Dodgers for five and a half years, but to come here and win a championship and be part of this atmosphere was amazing. My kids love it here. When the Red Sox called, I was like, ‘Wow, this might happen.’ There’s something about this place that pushes you. There are no off-days at Fenway Park. If you need something to push you that day, look around – the fans will push you to be the best.’’

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Cora was asked about his offensive philosophy, and more specifically, what he can do to help the Sox improve in the power department.

“Offensively, everybody loves the homers," he said. “We get it. But I think the key for an offense is to have a consistent approach – hunting pitches that you can do damage with. The first pitch, or a 2-0 pitch. Sometimes the first pitch available is the one that you can do damage with, so we’re going to have guys ready to damage early in the count. Be ready to hit and if it’s not what you wanted, just take it.’’

Cora comes to the job without any previous major league managerial experience, but doesn’t believe that will be a hindrance.

“I get it. I understand experience is important,’’ he said. “In the situation I was in as a baseball player, I was a utility guy and I was managed by a lot of good ones – Davey Johnson, Jim Tracy, Tito Francona, and Jerry Manuel. And when you’re a utility guy, you have to pay attention to the game. You really do. I learned a lot from those managers. I learned a lot this year from A.J. Hinch.

“I don’t think experience is going to be an obstacle for me. I think I’m prepared and I’m surrounded by people from top to bottom that have experience – Dave, Tony La Russa, (bench coach) Ron Roenicke. These guys, they’ve been around. And they’re going to help me out.

"It’s not about just me. It’s about the staff around me and the people around me. I’m going to be fine. And I’m going to have a blast doing it, too."

Dombrowksi said when he fired John Farrell that he would prefer a manager with experience, but he’s not worried about Cora.

“In the past,’’ said Dombrowski, “when we talked about gaining experience to manager, we would say, 'Go to winter ball and manage for a couple of years.’ Well, Alex has done that. It may not be the same as the big leagues by any means, but he had the experience of calling the shots during a game. He was with the WBC. He was a bench coach to a very well-thought-of manager.

“When you sit down with Alex, it was apparent with his intellect and feel for the game that not managing at the major league level was not a factor for us.’’