BOSTON -- The sure sign for Red Sox manager Alex Cora that things are getting serious in the baseball playoffs: He got a text from Patriots coach Bill Belichick wishing him luck.
"That's like the highlight of the year," Cora gushed before Game 3 of the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay on Sunday. "I got the text from this random area code. That's cool, to be honest with you, for somebody of his status to wish us luck."
Cora said Belichick reached out before Tuesday's wild-card victory over the New York Yankees and texted again after. Although the two have met several times, including when the 2018 World Series champions were honored before a Patriots game, "This is more personal," Cora said.
The genial Red Sox manager said he saw a different side of Belichick than the one the dour coach shows through the media. Cora, who has one World Series ring as a Red Sox player and another as the manager, wondered aloud to reporters whether he might go all Belichickian if he wins a few more.
"I won't promise you," Cora said, "but I don't think I will change."
Boston and Tampa Bay were tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 of the best-of-five ALDS, another matchup between the city that dubbed itself Titletown while winning 12 NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA championships since 2001 and the one that is trying to swipe the nickname. The Rays are the defending AL champs, the Lightning have won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the Buccaneers won last season's Super Bowl.
So has Rays manager Kevin Cash heard from Tom Brady, who led Tampa Bay to the championship after winning six rings in New England?
"No," Cash said. "But if I do, I'm going to ask if I can go on his boat."