What began as a season of promise has descended into one of the darkest chapters in recent memory for the Red Sox. At the center of the storm stands their manager, Alex Cora, whose leadership is drawing fire from a frustrated fan base. From a roster decimated by injuries to a string of baffling decisions, Cora’s mismanagement has become impossible to ignore. Now, after a less-than-reassuring vote of confidence from Craig Breslow, the whispers have grown louder: a change may be coming. Names for a potential replacement are already swirling, and one of the most interesting names is the father of the shortstop from Boston’s fiercest rival.

After Breslow’s recent media interaction, rumors have been running wild. Although there is no direct confirmation that Cora’s job is at risk, the Red Sox President of Baseball Operations seemed rather uncertain when asked about the issue. “I think at this point we have to question everything we’re doing—even I’m questioning the job I’m doing. We’re all in this together. I think the solution will come from the group we have. But I think we have to put everything on the table,” he told MLB.com’s Ian Brown. Judging from this, a change is inevitable, and if the opportunity ever arises, Yankees star George Lombard Jr.‘s father might be a top candidate.

According to FanSided’s Mariana Moreno, it wouldn’t be surprising to see George Lombard Sr.’s name on the list of candidates. Lombard has been coaching in MLB since 2016 and is currently the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. And guess what? He has always been vocal about his desire to become a manager in the Major Leagues. So, if the team decides to part ways with the Puerto Rican manager, Lombard could be in line to take over next season. After all, he might be the perfect candidate.

Lombard Sr. has had an eventful Major League career. After retirement, he didn’t leave baseball, it remained a part of him. Before joining the Tigers, he served as the first base coach for the Dodgers from 2015 to 2020. Yes, coincidentally, that’s the same period when they made it to three World Series and ended up winning one too. And to top it off? His passion for baseball clearly played a big part in getting Lombard Jr. to pick up the bat, too. All of this makes the elder Lombard a strong contender for the job. And with the Red Sox sliding fast, the chances of this move actually happening can’t be ruled out.

Even though Breslow expressed support for Cora, it came with a ‘but still’ clause. “We have a lot of confidence in Alex’s ability to lead this group… That doesn’t mean that we don’t have conversations every day about what we might be missing or what more we can do.” That’s not the kind of response that extinguishes a flame, instead, it fuels it. But more than anyone, Cora himself knows the gravity of the situation, and he isn’t shying away from it.

Alex Cora speaks out amid mounting pressure

Just a few months after signing a three-year extension with the team, manager Alex Cora is already facing demands to be fired. And fans can’t exactly be blamed for this, as the team has been beyond disappointing this season. Naturally, the easiest person to blame is the manager. In his current form, it’s hard to believe this is the same skipper who led the team to a championship in 2018, especially in his very first year. With speculation about potential replacements in the air, Cora finally addressed the ongoing tension.

“I have been here since 2018. I know how it works,” he told The Boston Globe earlier this week.“It’s not early,” he said, admitting that fans’ calls for change are justified. And he is well aware of the team’s miserable state. “We know we live in an environment where strikeouts are part of it. But when you strike out is what matters. It has happened a lot. You saw what the Brewers did. They put the ball in play, and things took place. That is something that we have talked about for a while, but we have not been able to execute”, he added. Yup, it’s clear as day, the Red Sox have simply forgotten how to play the game.

They’re sitting fourth in the AL East with a 29–32 record, and it’s no surprise given how rough the season’s been, full of injuries, late-inning collapses, and some questionable decisions from the manager. Well, a lot of it. Remember how fans reacted when Kristian Campbell was denied a debut at first base? They blamed Cora. His handling of the whole Rafael Devers situation hasn’t helped either. Now, as they get ready to take on the Angels, the pressure to deliver is real, and maybe, it’s weighing heaviest on the manager.