The historic success of the 2018 Boston Red Sox is due in large part to the work of the team’s President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Last winter, Dombrowski and Co. made a few key moves that have paid dividends to the current state of the club. I’m not even just talking about MVP candidate J.D. Martinez.
The most important acquisition the Sox made last winter came on Oct. 22: signing Alex Cora to a three-year contract to become the 47th manager in Red Sox history.
Cora has been invaluable in his first season as skipper. As the regular season comes to an end, the Sox are fully focused on October. Despite the fact that they are days away from concluding what could be the best season in franchise history, Cora and his squad are devoting no time to reflection or self-congratulation.
That’s what sentimental baseball fans like me are for.
With the Sox’s ticket to the postseason already booked, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate just how much Cora has transformed this team. In more ways than one, he has taken this team to an entirely new level, and while he would not accept anything short of a World Series title, it’s important to put into perspective just how impressive this year has been.
Inside Cora’s office, the walls are covered with snapshots from each of the team’s wins. It was an idea he had at the beginning of the season, and he has kept up with it, even 103 wins later. Beyond just a sweet custom, this routine of Cora’s is emblematic of his managerial style.
Following the mechanical and dry John Farrell, Cora has brought a rejuvenated spirit to the club. He’s younger, bilingual and operates with a completely different attitude. He’s active on social media. He calls out his players when they need to step it up, and he understands the whacky media landscape of Boston sports. Just last week, he spoke out against President Donald Trump after he downplayed the effects and aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Cora’s native Puerto Rico. Farrell would never.
Like any team sport, the manager of a baseball team sets the mood for the entire organization. And in Boston, Cora’s enthusiasm and light-hearted attitude seem to have trickled down to the entire team. The Sox are having fun again. Five years after the Boston Strong Sox were known for their camaraderie and community, this team finally seems like a family again.
“He’s not afraid to talk to you about what you think about in a situation in the game or what you think about anything,” closer Craig Kimbrel said last month. “It’s great. He’s a great manager. He’s been a great friend to a lot of the guys in our clubhouse this year. We’re very lucky to have him on our side.”
Cora’s impact has extended beyond his positive clubhouse presence. He has brought a new energy to the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry. He has connected with the Sox’s younger players in ways Farrell and even Terry Francona were unable to, and he has formed special relationships with the team’s Hispanic players such as Rafael Devers and Eduardo Rodriguez. Plus, as a former Sox infielder himself, he brings a unique understanding to the role: he knows what it’s like to play in Boston.
So 103 wins later, it’s clear that Cora was the perfect fit for the Red Sox. After two consecutive 93-win, division-winning seasons, the Sox were not looking for a roster overhaul. Yes, the addition of Martinez was crucial to the Sox offense, but the bigger need was a culture shift. In just months, Cora has accomplished that and more.
Cora’s immediate domination does come with a warning, however, courtesy of Sox legend Pedro Martinez. While Cora has been “unbelievable,” Pedro said, “I don’t know if people realize how high he’s setting the bar … He’s done something unreal in this city, and I just hope people realize that he’s only human after all.”
Pedro is right. Cora will experience his ups and downs, and Boston fans ought to appreciate just how rare this season has been. But who knows? The success could still just be beginning. There’s got to be some more wall space in that cramped Fenway Park manager’s office.
