Cora! Cora! <i>Cora?</i>

Before Tuesday's demi-classic took flight, I was slightly amused to read of the significant impact one of the Mets' off-season acquisitions was having on the team. No, not Mr. Perfect, Francisco Rodriguez, but erstwhile afterthought Alex Cora. Yessir, Ben Shpigel wrote in the Times, Alex Cora has been quite the addition and a heckuva teammate. He's exactly what the Mets were missing, as evidenced by his determination to play in the face of the torn ligaments plaguing his right thumb: Cora’s thumb has become a symbol for a team that, at various times, has been criticized for a lack of gumption. General Manager Omar Minaya said he signed Cora as much for his swagger and baseball acumen as for his middle-infield talents, and Cora’s toughness will be tested in the difficult week ahead [...] manager Jerry Manuel said he would need Cora’s patience, solid defense and cerebral approach every day. I'm all for off-day happy horseshit articles like this in the course of a season. In t...