Should the Red Sox Bring Back Alex Cora as Manager?

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I'm also a don't care, though I have a slight lean toward Cora because I have a perception that may totally be false that he seemed to be able to relate well to Devers, and I think Devers will be important next year.

But I really have no idea if that's true anyway, and so whatever Bloom decides is best for the team.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I guess here’s my question: if Bloom has a candidate in mind, what was stopping him from interviewing and hiring that person back in January when Cora resigned? Would a team really deny them permission to interview somebody?

Yes. Matt Quatraro was one of the first names brought up in January as a potential replacement for Cora, and was just as quickly dismissed because it was believed that Bloom wasn't going to raid his former employer's staff. At least not immediately after leaving. Quatraro could be a prime target now.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I was surprised to see the word "Devers" mentioned just once in this thread, by @DJnVa in the 28th post.

At the risk of attributing my own emotional point of view toward others, it sure as shit seemed like Devers really responded to Cora. [The Chipotle gift certificates... works every time...]

I like Cora. I think he's a good man. He did deliver results. Would love him to manage the Red Sox again.

 

[Rovin Romine]

I voted no. The man's an affable cheater. Had enough of those.

 

[InstaFace]

Given the moves he's already made, I'm pretty sure that Bloom isn't going to simply "go along" with a request to bring back Cora. If he's back, it's because he'll be Bloom's choice. He'd also be mine. (And yes, I've reversed myself from last offseason, when I could never see that happening.)

Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds!

I want him back because he was an A+ manager while here, and I see no reasonable way to upgrade on what he'd bring to the table. Unless the scandal lessened the respect players have for him, I see him as a strong contender. But then again, we're not in the interview room, and maybe there are some dynamite other candidates out there whose light has been hidden under a bushel. Chaim would know, I wouldn't, but from where I sit I'd much rather have him than the other retreads out there.

 

[rymflaherty]

I abstained from voting, because I’m not sure “I don’t care” is a fair representation...
But My first thought would be to find someone else, but if there isn’t a candidate that blows them away and Cora is interested and is deemed the best candidate, I’d be fine with that.

So there’s some “don’t care” in there...but more so it’s putting trust in Bloom, especially since Cora’s past few years have been defined by such extremes, my feelings can really teeter back and forth.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

Yes, in great part because Some Other Guy is likely to be worse.

This is an underrated point. At least with Cora you know exactly what you're getting. You know you're not getting a bad manager.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I voted a very passive "yes". I mean, yeah.... he's a good manager, so it's worth considering him along with others and I trust Bloom's choice will be good. Cora obviously would have a leg up on the other applicants to the position however.... he knows the layout, knows some of the players and has coached them to a World Series.

 

[snowmanny]

Yes, in great part because Some Other Guy is likely to be worse.

A comfortable majority of the managers hired by the Red Sox during my lifetime were not very good. Cora seemed good.

Now maybe and maybe even very likely Bloom is better at picking managers than O'Connell and Gorman, But still, I'd take Cora over door number three.

 

[TonyPenaNeverJuiced]

I voted yes. Came down to this: if Cora never gets suspended, but 2020 goes down exactly the same way, do I want him fired this winter? No. I'm maybe a little less jazzed on the skip, but I'm not calling for his head before 2021.

 

[chrisfont9]

I said no, because he would be an unnecessary target during a re-build. I get that he served his punishment, but it's a big assumption that opponents and press from other cities would take that approach during every series. Also, why would he want this team? It's not the 2018 team by a large margin. There are enormous holes, and him returning to baseball in a less hyperfocused market with a better team would probably be more appealing, no?

How many times can the press write that story though? Remember when everyone was mad about Chapman getting signed after threatening to kill his wife? People move on from far worse things. To me it's the difference between being a terrible person (a lingering issue) versus having (maybe) done something terrible, which doesn't linger if you say your mea culpas.

 

[amRadio]

I think it's time to give Varitek his chance. I don't place a lot of importance in the manager position, I think Cora is associated with "cheating" forever now. The Astros stink will never wash off and the Sox don't need that. I also think Cora was not entirely an ideal manager on top of it all.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I think it's time to give Varitek his chance. I don't place a lot of importance in the manager position, I think Cora is associated with "cheating" forever now. The Astros stink will never wash off and the Sox don't need that. I also think Cora was not entirely an ideal manager on top of it all.

Curious as to what the Varitek vote is based on?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I think it's time to give Varitek his chance. I don't place a lot of importance in the manager position, I think Cora is associated with "cheating" forever now. The Astros stink will never wash off and the Sox don't need that. I also think Cora was not entirely an ideal manager on top of it all.

This assumes that Tek wants his chance. While he has certainly had more of a presence in the dugout/clubhouse the last couple seasons, is there any indication that he wants to manage? Or maybe more accurately, wants to manage yet? I seem to recall him having kids he wasn't keen on being away from for too long at a go. At least I think that's why he hasn't been a candidate for previous openings.

 

[InstaFace]

A comfortable majority of the managers hired by the Red Sox during my lifetime were not very good. Cora seemed good.

Now maybe and maybe even very likely Bloom is better at picking managers than O'Connell and Gorman, But still, I'd take Cora over door number three.

What's Door Number 2?

"For 2021, we are going with an anarcho-syndicalist collective for management. The players will rotate in manager duties every week, supervised by a board of directors that rotates every 3 weeks, who can override a lineup decision with a supermajority but a relief-pitcher change takes only a simple majority..."

 

[Bergs]

If Bloom thinks Cora is the best option, I would be absolutely delighted to have him back. If not, in Chaim I'll trust for now...so long as he doesn't bring John Farrell back or anything.

 

[Earthbound64]

so long as he doesn't bring John Farrell back or anything.

What about Joe Kerrigan?

 

[PaSox]

Bloom came to Boston thinking Cora is the manager. Then he wasn't. I guess if he thinks Cora is the answer he brings him back. I am sure he is doing his due diligence on other candidates that he thinks will be a good fit.

 

[judyb]

This assumes that Tek wants his chance. While he has certainly had more of a presence in the dugout/clubhouse the last couple seasons, is there any indication that he wants to manage? Or maybe more accurately, wants to manage yet? I seem to recall him having kids he wasn't keen on being away from for too long at a go. At least I think that's why he hasn't been a candidate for previous openings.

Not yet he seems right around the age where his kids are likely to be adults soon.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Not yet he seems right around the age where his kids are likely to be adults soon.

His oldest with his current wife is eight.

 

[mauf]

I voted no because I think it’s a mistake to look backward instead of forward, and bringing Cora back feels backward-looking. But I harbor no ill will toward Cora and will welcome him back with open arms if Chaim Bloom (who presumably harbors no nostalgia for a 2018 club he wasn’t associated with) decides he’s the right man for the job.

 

[Bergs]

What about Joe Kerrigan?

That is most definately subsumed in "or anything."

 

[Jimbodandy]

What's Door Number 2?

"For 2021, we are going with an anarcho-syndicalist collective for management. The players will rotate in manager duties every week, supervised by a board of directors that rotates every 3 weeks, who can override a lineup decision with a supermajority but a relief-pitcher change takes only a simple majority..."

We need nighthob's take on that approach, although an anarchist plan seems like an oxymoron.

 

[E5 Yaz]

JoKe v1.0 is locked outside Fenway, trying to get a video on "How to be a GM" to Bloom

 

[DJnVa]

I think it's time to give Varitek his chance. I don't place a lot of importance in the manager position, I think Cora is associated with "cheating" forever now. The Astros stink will never wash off and the Sox don't need that. I also think Cora was not entirely an ideal manager on top of it all.

What would be the actual "harm" to the Sox in that?

What did you not like about how he managed?

 

[Remagellan]

I would gladly welcome Cora back if he's Bloom's choice, but I fear Alex may be managing the Dodgers next year.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Would you take Roberts if Cora isn't available or if the team decides not to bring him back?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I would gladly welcome Cora back if he's Bloom's choice, but I fear Alex may be managing the Dodgers next year.

That would be interesting. If you can't beat'em, join'em (or have them join you)? No one had a more, shall we say, adverse reaction to the Astros and Red Sox cheating allegations, given the Dodgers lost to each team in the World Series. I'd be curious what kind of reaction there'd be in the fanbase if they brought in the one common denominator from those two teams to put the Dodgers over the top.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

Agreed, that would definitely be interesting. Cora did play for LA, and he has won a ring. I could see it. He would have to do a strong mea culpa in the interview, but I could see him pulling it off.

Cora and that talent could def. have a strong chance at winning a ring. Plus i'd assume Mookie would vouch for him BIG time

 

[bosockboy]

View: https://twitter.com/ac13alex/status/1318013441127403521?s=21

 

[JCizzle]

View: https://twitter.com/ac13alex/status/1318013441127403521?s=21

Just as a bit of context, I think that came right after yet another amazing Mookie catch last night...sigh.

 

[amRadio]

Curious as to what the Varitek vote is based on?

This assumes that Tek wants his chance. While he has certainly had more of a presence in the dugout/clubhouse the last couple seasons, is there any indication that he wants to manage? Or maybe more accurately, wants to manage yet? I seem to recall him having kids he wasn't keen on being away from for too long at a go. At least I think that's why he hasn't been a candidate for previous openings.

I am definitely assuming he wants the job, maybe he's said something publicly about his family life that I'm unaware of. I have no information about his personal life or desires, but since he has been working with the club in a coaching capacity for a while I have no reason to think he isn't interested.

He's been in the dugout for a number of years and having had a long career as a player, from the outside, he would seem to have experience that might qualify him for the job. He must understand how various coaching roles come together to get the most out of the 26 players on the roster at this point. Maybe he wouldn't be Bloom's guy, but from the outside if you're looking for an alternative to Cora, Varitek would seem to be a reasonable starting point. I imagine if they're going in a non-Cora direction there will be a lot of names kicked around shortly after the World Series, but at the surface level, he seems to be qualified.

What would be the actual "harm" to the Sox in that?

What did you not like about how he managed?

I typed out a response to everything I didn't like about him as a manager and by time time I was finished, I realized they were mostly inconsequential nit-picks.

As a fan, my opinion is that the Sox shouldn't have any involvement with any player, coach or executive associated with the 2017 Astros. The damage might be done, but I think the "harm" would be Cora becoming a lightning rod for "cheater" type hot-takes from various media types, locally and nationally. It's annoying as a fan, but that's about it as far as tangible harm goes. Maybe he's a much better manager than I give him credit for and should have the job based on his ability to run the team. In general one would hope media trolling won't concern Bloom, so this is mostly my inner baseball fan talking.

Edited for clarity.

 

[teddywingman]

I think one important aspect of being a good manager is the ability to speak Spanish.

 

[jon abbey]

I think one important aspect of being a good manager is the ability to speak Spanish.

I am surprised no one has hired Bam Bam Meulens yet, he is well regarded by all accounts and speaks five languages: English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento and Japanese. He has been a finalist a bunch but never gets the gig.

 

[nighthob]

We need nighthob's take on that approach, although an anarchist plan seems like an oxymoron.

The anarchist approach is to let the players choose their own game manager(s). Or, alternatively, to view the coaching staff as part of the equation.