Cora helps provide a reliable backup plan

HOUSTON - The Red Sox' bench at the start of 2007: Wily Mo Pena, Eric Hinske, Doug Mirabelli, Alex Cora.

The Sox' bench near the end of June 2008: Brandon Moss, Sean Casey, Kevin Cash, Cora.

"The only constant," Cora said yesterday, "is me."

This was a conversation that initially revolved around Hinske, who has resurrected his career in spectacular fashion for the Tampa Bay Rays, outslugging Manny Ramírez (.534 to .509) while on pace for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs entering play last night.

Last season, as a member of the "I-75's," the name the subs gave themselves in recognition of all the bus trips they took during spring training, Hinske batted .204 in 84 games, with six home runs and 21 RBIs. Rookie of the Year with Toronto in 2002, Hinske went from being paid more than $5 million last season to signing a minor league deal with the Rays that pays him $800,000 this season.

Cora, who became good friends with Hinske last season, has remained in touch with the man he calls "Ski."

"Just a matter of him getting at-bats," Cora said of Hinske's reemergence this season.

"People don't realize how hard this job [being a part-timer] is. When you don't get regular at-bats, instead of stroking the ball, you want to crush the ball, to get the most results right away."

Cora said that even on a night he knows he has had quality at-bats in three of his four plate appearances - working the count, moving runners over, earning the praise of coaches and teammates - if the box score shows 0 for 4, it is still hard to take, especially knowing it may be another week before he plays again.

Cora is batting .275, but is just .139 (5 for 36) in his last 21 games.

"You can take all the extra batting practice in the world to try to maintain your swing, but it's very hard," Cora said. "That's why I always focus on trying to do something to help us win - running the bases, fielding, hitting.

"You don't want the team to lose something because you're playing. Sometimes, you add something, with the energy you bring to the field."

Cora, who came to the Sox July 7, 2005, from the Indians in a trade for Ramon Vazquez, has twice signed with the Sox, even though he knew it meant he would be a part-time player. He is in the last year of a two-year deal paying him $2 million this season.

"I made a decision to sign here and it has paid off," he said. "I'm paid good money to do what I do, and I won here. And I think I gained a lot of respect, not only here but around baseball."

Cora said the composition of this season's bench is much like last season's.

"Mossy is like Wily Mo - he's going to do some damage if he gets the at-bats," Cora said. "Cash has done a great job replacing Dougie, and Sean, while he is nearing the end of his career, has always played every day and has never been in the role, is filling Ski's role.

"When Mikey [Lowell] went down, he jumped in and did exactly what we thought he would do."

Cora said working out every day with Ramírez has helped him keep his edge.

"You are the way you treat yourself, and Manny treats himself as an All-Star," Cora said. "You don't hear negatives about Manny's work ethic. And from Mikey, I've learned how to be consistent. Mike stays level; he doesn't get caught up in the highs and lows."

What he has discovered, Cora said, is that the Sox have become a model for other teams, in terms of their togetherness and shared sense of purpose.

"Guys will ask me about it on the field - people want to be like us," he said. "I've been in baseball 9 1/2 years, and I've never seen this. Offdays, we text each other. A night off on the road, 13 or 14 guys go out to dinner.

"I don't want to say that's an edge we have, but it plays a part. And it comes from the top, from the general manager to the batboys. It's really a big, big family."

David Aardsma's dad, Dave, threw out a ceremonial first pitch, with his son standing on the mound beside him. The elder Aardsma is a senior vice president of sales and marketing with Waste Management in Houston. His son was the closer on the Rice University team that won the College World Series in 2003. Aardsma pitched an inning of relief last night, allowing two earned runs . . . Francona said he has never stepped inside the Yankees clubhouse in Yankee Stadium. As manager of the American League All-Stars in the July 15 All-Star Game, he'll occupy the office belonging to Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "I talked to Girardi," Francona said. "I don't know Joe very well, but I told him if he removes his stuff out of his office I'll be ticked. I'll only be there for about nine hours. I'll throw my bag on the floor, which is what I do anyway. Maybe I'll have [bullpen coach Gary] Tuck, who's his buddy, tell him not to do it."

Francona said that the Sox advised Coco Crisp to return to the team hotel once the games begin during his five-game suspension, which started last night. Crisp can take batting practice, but is barred from team areas - dugout, clubhouse, even the press box - once the game starts . . . Manny Delcarmen was unscored upon in his last 12 appearances (13 2/3 innings) before allowing three runs in the eighth inning last night . . . Mike Timlin threw another scoreless inning, striking out two, in a rehab assignment for Pawtucket last night . . . Dustin Pedroia, who hit line singles in each of his four at-bats before lining out to right in the eighth, has a hit in 7 of 9 at-bats in two games here. He has lifted his average back over .300 (.302) by batting .550 (22 for 40) since June 22.

Gordon Edes can be reached at edes@globe.com.