BOSTON - Why can't the Boston Red Sox be more like the New England Patriots?

You've heard it before. In fact, if you're honest, you've probably said it before. Of course, you forget about guaranteed contracts and the game's obsession with statistics, which end the discussion immediately.

The inference is most Patriots players care more about winning than, say, getting a paycheck. Of course, that is not true, but you get the message. Patriots players take orders from Bill Belichick and they seem to follow them to a T.

But these first-place Red Sox are more like the Patriots than you think.

Exhibit A: Alex Cora.

If Red Sox manager Terry Francona had penciled in Cora's name into last night's lineup - second base and batting ninth - nobody would have blinked an eye. In fact, he probably would have been applauded.

Entering last night's stinging 5-4, 10-inning loss to Oakland, Cora had nine hits thus far in 2007, one less hit than the Sox' starting second baseman, Dustin Pedroia. The issue is after last night Pedroia has well more than twice as many at bats (58 to 25).

Add in the fact that Cora is on a roll, relatively speaking. He is coming off probably the most productive road trip of his career. Cora had the keys hits, both home runs, in two of the Sox wins - the first game in Baltimore and the big finale against the Yankees on Sunday.

But here he was yesterday, at 4:16 p.m., fighting for extra time in the cage before the big shots.

"I have a role here and I accept that role," said Cora, a native of Puerto Rico where he still resides in the offseason. "I have a job to do. The season is still young. I'll just wait for (Francona) to call my name."

The Red Sox are winning, so Pedroia's batting average (.172) and Cora's seat on the bench isn't an issue. Pedroia's defensive play against the Yankees in the thrilling 7-6 win at Fenway Sunday night, when he dove toward second base to snare a potential two-run single off the bat of Josh Phelps, quieted the naysayers for now.

So what was Cora doing while the starters were taking batting practice yesterday? He was standing out at second base next to his "competition," Pedroia, swapping stories and chuckles.

"That's why Alex is here," said Francona. "He obviously has helped us in a few areas, but he gets it. He understands what we want to do here ... And that's whatever it takes to win."

Cora's recent pummeling of the baseball is not an epiphany for the 31-year-old. He was a five-year starter with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing shortstop and second base, which included a respectable 10-homer, 47-RBI effort the season before coming to Boston.

This past offseason, though, upon advice from his agent Scott Boras and after he signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Sox, he decided to take care of his body like never before.

"Don't get me wrong. It wasn't like I didn't have any pop," said Cora. "But Scott said, 'If you want to sign another few contracts like this, you have to get better legs under you.' He was right."

Cora experienced the legs problem that Boras referred to. When he replaced an injured Alex Gonzalez for two-plus weeks last season, he realized he was not the player he needed to be.

"It wasn't that my numbers were horrible," said Cora. "It was just very tiring. I struggled physically and mentally. I don't want that to ever happen again. You have to be ready when your name is called. And I'm ready ... whether it's to play defense in the eighth inning, pinch run or just move a runner over to second base."

Cora does admit accepting a lesser role in Boston is not the same thing as accepting it in another locale.

"I played most of my career in Los Angeles, and those fans were great. But there is so much there that people care more about, like the Lakers, even Hollywood," said Cora. "Fans here are into baseball so much. If you move a runner over to third, with no outs, the fans here cheer you. They understand."

Cora is quick to add that he is not alone when it comes to "understanding" his role. He says Eric Hinske, who filled in for the ill J.D. Drew (viral symptoms) last night, and Doug Mirabelli are starters-turned-role-players, too.

"The three of us talk a lot," he says. "We know the situation we are in. We also like to win."

Which brings us back to the Patriots and players who "get it."

In fact, Cora distinctly recalls seeing New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick as a guest of Francona in the Red Sox dugout during spring training.

"I didn't say anything to him," said Cora, before breaking into a smile. "But I drank his Kool-Aid."

Yes, he gets it.

Bill Burt is executive sports editor of Eagle-Tribune Publishing. E-mail him at bburt@eagletribune.com.