I would guess Varitek is their heir apparent to Cora should either he or ownership decide to move on.
Agreed.
Why not? Based on the interactions I've seen between them they appear to be at least online friends/acquaintances.
I have always liked Varitek, but I do wonder: if his contributions are so helpful, then why do the Sox seem to make the same mistakes over and over? I am referring to at-bat approaches, base-running, pitch selections, a whole lot of stuff that doesn't seem to change no matter how many notes Varitek takes. I would like to know exactly what he is doing, how it contributes to wins, and whether or not there is some "system" he is trying to implement.
I think it's more of the general approach. His strategy seems to be "be aggressive" at the plate... which seems to be prone to all or nothing results with turns into a streaky team that can't get out of a downward spiral. I personally don't think he adjusts well or adapts to the situation. Same with bullpen management. It seems to me that he approaches every game against every opposing team with the same mentality. He's got a theory and he's sticking to it. That can work but, again, I feel it lends itself to huge blowout games and then lots of low scoring games. Spread across a season it looks good but the distribution isn't good.
I get very skeptical when a managerial/head coach choice just happens to be a beloved former player. If it's an established guy who has multiple options and you can use the team connection to help lure him home, great. But if no other team would even consider him, that means "beloved former player" is his main qualification. I say this as a Georgetown fan who watched year 5 of the Patrick Ewing era result in an 0-19 Big East record.
Maybe. According to this, the Mariners did offer him their job. Still, it just feels like a PR move.
Oh this makes me so happy to see this, I nearly forgot about it. This was such an amazing series, it had a little of everything.
Cora managed the most successful team in Sox history. Bloom has managed to put together one playoff team. I think 23 is big for both of them.
I can't help but see some parallels to the Nets' situation, where they passed over the less famous guy who'd been grinding out experience in favor of a beloved famous guy. I'm sure the Sox know that the fan response to Varitek would be positive, just like I know that serving my kids donuts and bacon for breakfast will go over well. Also, at the risk of going there, I'm not super up for another white guy manager in a sport that is increasingly Latino, partly because of the historic bias problem but also because the team's future probably rests more with guys like Devers, Bello, Rafaela... isn't Alex Cora -- a World Champion manager, mind you -- a good bet to understand and properly connect with and command the respect of these guys? Even with the non-Latino guys. He seems like he's been broadly supported to this point, which is more than you can say for several of his non-Tito predecessors.
I don't see their fates as the same. Bloom is implementing a long term plan overhauling the entire organization that isn't likely to bear fruit in 2023 (but 2024 maybe). Cora is judged on whether he managed whatever Bloom gave him well enough to keep the job. Frankly I would be horrified if the team gave either of them a one year ultimatum. GMs don't grow on trees, and Cora can only work with what the GM gives him.
Couldn't say it better myself .Cora's lack of adaptability is his biggest weakness.
One year ultimatums are generally fanciful fabrications of the media and fans, not something competent and patient team owners do. So yeah, you're right, it's unlikely there's a "hot seat" situation for either of them in 2023.
You don’t think they exist? Obviously management would never say that or admit to it post facto…. But they’re quite real.
Isn’t that sort of what Cora was? He was often rumored to be a managerial candidate but was never offered a job until the Sox did?
Did I say they don't exist? I said competent and patient team owners don't do ultimatums. I find current ownership quite competent and patient.
I guess I disagree. There’s always a point that even the most competent manager will watch how the team performs with some additional eyes and ears over the coach.
Bloom might outlast Cora. Jason Varitek might be the new manager in 2024 if Red Sox don't make the playoffs. John Henry and Tom Werner both in their 70s now. I bet they both want one more winner. Remember , average life expectancy for a male is 75. I am sure both will beat that as they super rich. Still when you are in your seventies your goals change.
I don't think you are far out there with this. Being bilingual in today's game is huge. Also, I loved Tek and thought he deserved the captainship. I do, however, remember some talk about him not being ingratiating to rookies and younger players and even one instance of a player being quoted about an unhappy clubhouse saying something to the effect of "Why don't you ask the captain?" I don't love that for today's modern athlete and with all the pressures that come with today's game.
This also applies to Cora before he was hired, of course. Not to the same degree but he was clearly a protegé of Tito while he was on those teams as a utility player and "learning from him" while he was in the dugout.
I don’t want to sidetrack the thread, but the bolded is not correct.
To say that "beloved former player" applies to Cora to a lesser degree than Varitek is quite the understatement.
Agreed. Talk of getting one more championship before the owner dies arguably applies to every owner in team sports regardless of age. The notion of desperation and hence motivation specifically due to age should be reserved for the guys who haven't won one at all. Like the way the Tigers behaved during the last decade or so of Mike Ilitch's life. And frankly, I'd rather not see the Sox go overboard or get impatient chasing one more title for Mr. Henry and/or Mr. Werner if the result after they're gone is what we've seen from the Tigers since 2017 when Mr. Ilitch died (.393 winning percentage).
I didn't think Manny Ramirez was ever interested in managing. But for actual comps Tek as a manager may be closer to Butch Hobson. Or even Ted Williams. Which would be a disaster.
I don’t know if I’m necessarily pro-Varitek… but he was a notorious preparer and had notes on every hitter’s strength and weakness. I assume someone like that would embrace any advantage
With that roster? If he goes to Seattle he may very well never come back. Their window is WIDE open.
