Alex Cora is helping the Red Sox reverse a historic trend

Shortstop Marcus Semien is late with the tag as Mookie Betts steals second base in May, 2018.Amid the plaudits the 2018 Red Sox have received, one particular accomplishment has gone somewhat overlooked. And, in the context of the team’s long history, it’s one of the striking achievements of Alex Cora’s first year as manager.

The Red Sox have been an offensive juggernaut this season, but along with the hitting has been an uptick in stolen bases. Cora’s aggressive approach has helped keep Boston among Major League Baseball’s leaders in stolen bases.

For the Red Sox, that’s saying something.

While it’s become less pronounced in the last decade, a largely uninterrupted Red Sox legacy has been a…