Following an ugly 10–17 start to the season for the Boston Red Sox, manager Alex Cora and his staff were dismissed on April 25.
The Red Sox offense has dried up in 2026, ranking 24th in runs per game as of May 1. They also sit 29th in wRC+ and 28th in wOBA.
This is a lineup averaging 0.83 fewer runs per game year-over-year — the worst drop in MLB.
Conspiracy Hour🕵️♂️
There are a few theories as to why the bats have gone cold, and some point to a lost edge tied to the Red Sox's base coaches.
Buster Olney brought this to light earlier this week, suggesting Boston’s dip in run production might be correlated to the recent implementation of coaches’ box rules:
One of the interesting theories about the struggling Red Sox offense in rival front offices is that Boston has been impacted significantly by the enforcement of the coaching boxes. The Red Sox were regarded by some other teams as being extraordinary at ascertaining grips/relaying…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 30, 2026
The theory suggests that prior to 2026, Red Sox coaches were relaying signs to hitters, taking advantage of loose enforcement around the coaches’ box. Reading pitcher grips and passing that information along would provide a meaningful edge.
Baseball, more than any sport, rewards those edges — margins are tight, and anything within the rules gets exploited. With MLB now enforcing coach positioning more strictly, that edge may be gone, and the offensive drop-off reflects it.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Cora's Checkered History🗑️
The timing isn’t exactly shocking. Cora was the bench coach for the Houston Astros during the 2017 trash can scandal, and the Red Sox were also tied to a sign-stealing controversy involving Apple Watches that same year.
Yahoo’s Zach Coe also referenced a 2025 incident between the Los Angeles Angels and Red Sox, where tensions flared involving then first-base coach José David Flores, with sources suggesting sign-stealing concerns.
It adds context when you consider why a left-handed pitcher like Tyler Anderson would be that upset with a first-base coach:
Coaches and players chirping before the game. Everything is going great at Fenway. pic.twitter.com/TAMQZUvjYC
— Section 10 Podcast (@Section10Pod) June 4, 2025
Call it bending the rules or finding an edge, but Cora might be the most creative manager at increasing expected value.
However, like any good bettor, Cora knows those edges aren’t infinite, and he is running out of outs.
