Dustin Pedroia. (Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Manager Alex Cora's Red Sox just wrapped up a baseball-leading 22-and-9 exhibition season. Obviously the first-year skipper's exited to have family and friends in attendance when Boston opens a four-game series in Tampa tomorrow.
Unfortunately Alex's brother Joey won't be around. He's a member of the Pirates' coaching staff.
"Looking forward for Thursday, it's gonna be a great day," Cora said. "My family's coming, everybody. It's going to be a fun day for us. The fact that Joey can't make it, that's going to be hard for us, but on a personal note, I know he's going to be there for us. And as far as the team, we're ready."
Alex Cora's Ready For First Season Managing Red Sox
Cora's never managed in the big leagues, but you wouldn't know it with the success his club's had this spring.
Dustin Pedroia's the Sox' de facto captain. How's he liking life under Cora's watch?
"It's been a blast hearing what his thoughts are on how to approach the game, and everybody's view on how we're going to try to win every game we play," Pedroia said. "We'll be prepared, we're going to have fun. Our goals don't change, we're still going to win the World Series."
Pedroia's recovering from knee surgery and won't be available the first several weeks of the season, but he said it's not too difficult waiting out his return.
"It's not going to be hard, because I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I know what's coming," he said. "My job right now is to do all I can to help us with anything not on the field. I gotta try to do the best I can at that, help guys in any way I can, and make us better."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports