Episode #18
EP 18: Joey Cora on Playoff Baseball, Ozzie Guillen & Managing Under Pressure
Joey Cora returns to Sacred Grounds for Episode 18 with Robby and Uncle Paulie. The Vanderbilt Baseball Hall of Famer, 1997 MLB All-Star, former Pirates coach, White Sox World Series champion, and longtime third base coach breaks down how he watches playoff baseball after a life inside the game. Joey talks about what managers and coaches see that fans may miss, why playoff pressure changes decision-making, and how the best managers stay aggressive without worrying about the postgame criticism. The conversation also dives into pitching usage in short playoff series, the difference between a one-game Wild Card and a true series, what a long layoff can do to teams with a bye, and why third base coaching is one of the toughest split-second jobs in baseball. Joey also shares stories from the 2005 White Sox playoff run, including Ozzie Guillen's fearless decision to bring in El Duque with the bases loaded in Boston, plus the lesson that stuck with Joey forever: don't try to be a hero, just be a player. From playoff strategy to World Series picks, Michael Jordan memories, umpire tech debates, and the evolution of today's game, this episode is a deep baseball conversation with one of the best storytellers in the game.

