Say what you will about Alex Cora, but you can't call him a hypocrite.
Since serving a year-long suspension for his role in the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, the Boston Red Sox manager has held himself accountable. On Wednesday, he made it clear that will continue to be the case.
Tomase: No debate what has kept Sox afloat in June
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE Cora appeared on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio and addressed baseball's latest controversial issue: pitchers and foreign substances. Host Chris Russo asked Cora how he'd approach checking opposing pitchers for "sticky stuff," and the Sox skipper gave a candid answer.
"I've got a job to do, I've got to manage the Red Sox. I've got to take care of my players. I've got to do everything possible for us to win ballgames," Cora said. "But I told them already that for me, it'll be very uncomfortable to check on somebody after what I went through, after what I did. Somebody's gonna say, 'So you're checking on him, and you were part of 2017?' So, it's uncomfortable. ...
"I'll try to stay away from it. If it's something too obvious and the guys want me to check, I'll do it, but I don't feel comfortable doing it."
It's easy to understand why Cora would be hesitant to call out another team for cheating. The Astros and those who were involved in their scandal four years ago continue to be ridiculed to this day. It would be bad optics for Cora to claim the moral high ground given what he was involved in with Houston.
Boston Red Sox
Find the latest Boston Red Sox news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago was the first player to be disciplined after getting ejected for using a foreign substance. The southpaw received a 10-game suspension that he is appealing.