Alex Cora Calls Out Red Sox Critics After 2025 MLB Playoff Berth, 'F--king Bulls--t'

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora had some choice words for those who claimed his team wouldn't make the playoffs this year, noting that no one believed in his squad before the season.

"Let's be honest, nobody thought we were gonna make it to October (when the season started)," Cora said, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.

"Whoever says that, 'Yeah, we were a playoff team,' that's f--king bulls--t, to be honest with you. Nobody thought we were gonna make it to October. It was New York. It was Baltimore, it was Toronto, you know, and we believed we were going to play in October. We set our standards every single day. And we hit our standards."

The Red Sox endured two non-winning seasons (78-84 in 2023; 81-81 in 2024) after last making the playoffs in 2022. Expectations weren't great for Boston this year, but they're currently 88-72 and have safely clinched a wild card spot.

Projections largely had the Red Sox being an above .500 team. Per DraftKings Sportsbook (h/t CBS Sports), Boston had an over/under win total of 86.5, ranked tied for eighth in the league. ESPN had Boston ranked ninth in the league before the season and projected them to finish 84-78. ZiPS projections, via FanGraphs, had Boston at 87-75, good enough for a wild card berth.

So Boston beat the projections by a few wins and can breathe easy regarding their playoff standing in the final weekend.

The Red Sox are in the playoffs largely because of staff ace Garrett Crochet, who arrived in town via trade from the Chicago White Sox last offseason. Crochet is 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA and an MLB-leading 255 strikeouts.

However, other Red Sox pitchers have stepped up this year as well. Boston has a solid 1-2-3 punch atop the rotation in Crochet, Brayan Bello (11-9, 3.35 ERA, 124 K) and Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.41 ERA, 121 K).

Boston also has a tremendous bullpen, which has a 3.45 ERA (best in the American League, second-best in MLB). Closer Aroldis Chapman has also turned back the clock, posting a 1.17 ERA, 32 saves and 85 strikeouts in 67 games.

Injuries have significantly hampered the Red Sox lineup, to the point where only three players (shortstop Trevor Story, outfielder Jarren Duran and outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela) have played 120 or more games. However, this team has shown great depth, with seven players hitting 15 or more home runs and 11 players having an OPS+ of 101 or better, per Baseball-Reference.

We'll find out soon how Boston fares in the playoffs, which will begin for them on Tuesday against a to-be-determined opponent.