Cora has put the players in first place during the Red Sox's World Series run
Cora has put the players in first place during the Red Sox's World Series run
When Alex Cora was hired to manage the Red Sox a year ago, he knew he wanted to first establish relationships with his players.
He made him a success as general manager of Puerto Rico at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, again as general manager and manager of the Puerto Rican Winter League and as a bench coach for the Houston Astros during his World Series title run last season.
Cora was taking those lessons with him when he came to spring training to find a talented young team from Boston who needs a new voice after the anticipated postseason departures.
He made a promise to his new team during their first meeting.
"I told them that it did not matter what I was going to strive to be genuine and accessible," Cora said.
Six months later, the 43-year-old player known as "A.C." for its players. He has remade the clubhouse culture of the Red Sox by adopting a player-centered approach that led to a franchise record 108 victories in the regular season.
"I learned that talking to players is not bad, having a relationship with players is not bad," said Cora. "By doing that, you will get the best of them, people may think that crossing that line is not useful, but I see it the other way around, and I experienced it."
He continued in the playoffs with an AL Division Series win over the Yankees and an American League Championship Series win over the Astros that has Boston in the World Series for the first time since 2013.
With four victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cora can become the fifth manager to win the championship in his first season, joining Bob Brenly (Arizona, 2001), Ralph Houk (Yankees, 1961), Eddie Dyer (Cardinals, 1946). ) and Bucky. Harris (Washington Senators, 1924).
While the Red Sox have benefited this season from changes in the list, such as the addition of batter J.D. Martinez, Cora's success is not a surprise to those who have seen the former player embrace the dual challenges of personalities management and daily decisions.
Pitcher David Price struggled to get used to the relentless sports scene in Boston during his first two seasons of the seven-year, $ 217 million contract he signed in 2015.
He found a rhythm this month, breaking his first victory in his career as a starter in the postseason, launching game 5 of ALCS to help the Red Sox move forward. Price credits Cora with being a soothing presence.
"Only his behavior does not change," said Price. "I know it's easy not to change when your team wins 108 games in the regular season, but he has not changed a bit."
They have also connected on a personal level. Cora had twin daughters last season and Price has a 17-month-old son.
"I have two twin girls who do not let him sleep," said Price. "Just for him to do what he has done for us this year has been sweet."
Cora also does not expect players to approach her. Before the start of the regular season, he had a meeting with Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. The theme? Letting them know that it is okay to share their emotions in the field.
"I think people should know who they really are with the way they act in the field," Cora said. "As Mookie and I talk about him smiling, and Jackie, who is very quiet, the other day he hit that double and celebrated it, finally, and that's what this is all about.
Along with his personal touch, Cora has reinforced Boston's analysis department and has assembled a body of coaches that enthusiastically puts them into play. It has been infused with an offensive focus less focused on power punches, a style that fosters an aggressive mentality of punches, a lot of punches and runs and an active grassroots career.
That paid off, and Betts and Martinez became the first MLB teammates to finish first and second in batting average and slugging percentage since 1904.
In addition, being bilingual allowed Cora, born in Puerto Rico, to connect with Spanish-speaking players in Boston on a more personal level. It's a rare luxury in a league that does not have many Latino managers.
It's an atmosphere in which players feel free to come to Cora with their concerns, said infielder Brock Holt.
"I think the confidence that he has in us makes it easier for us to leave and be us and not worry about the results or anything like that, just go out and play the game," he said.
While Cora has used things that worked during her time on the Astros' staff, Houston manager AJ Hinch said that Cora is doing things her way.
"He is all about baseball"Hinch said." It's about the competition and the small advantages within the game, one of the most brilliant baseball intellects I've seen. "
Cora feels humbled by the way her team has responded this season.
"No, we are not perfect," said Cora. "That's the good thing about this team, we think we can keep improving, and we have another series ahead of us."
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Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower
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