The Red Sox did Major League Baseball’s version of a news dump when they announced the return of the Alex Cora as manager just as soon as media organizations declared the winner of the United States presidential elections over the weekend. The intent was clear: They wanted as little fanfare — and, yes, backlash — as possible to accompany their rehiring of a supposedly disgraced figure. And it would have been a savvy move save for two things. First, their plan to bring him back had long been the subject of speculation. Second, it’s not as if he’ll be living down his role in not one, but two cheating scandals involving two organizations through two consecutive years anytime soon.
Indeed, the black mark on Cora wasn’t wiped away by the Red Sox’s attempt to escape controversy. As the central figure in the Astros’ elaborate scheme to break the rules en route to claiming the Commissioner’s Cup in 2017, he will continue to face intense scrutiny for the foreseeable future. Never mind that he has already served his suspension, or that then-manager A.J. Hinch is likewise back in the Big Show as the Tigers’ skipper. Heading into the 2021 season, he and his charges should expect to be deluged with uncomfortable questions regarding the roles he played in the Machiavellian attempts at success.
On the flipside, it’s a testament to Cora’s effectiveness in the hot seat that the Red Sox, under new general manager Chaim Bloom, deemed him the most qualified to take it anew. While they did interview quite a number of candidates for the position, the impression was that they couldn’t stop casting their moist eyes on him. For all his missteps, he did lead the Crimson Hose to the championship in 2018, during which time he developed a reputation for being a player’s manager. And it certainly didn’t hurt that he knew his way around members of the media as well.
Make no mistake. The second-guessing won’t be ending for a while. That said, the Red Sox have clearly decided that they can take the heat for the devil they know. And hindsight shows that they telegraphed their intentions; they were, for instance, profuse in their praise of Cora when they reluctantly fired him early this year. Which isn’t to say his return assures that the winning will, too. To the contrary, he’s likely to find the going on the field at least as tough as of it. Unlike the ready-made roster he shepherded to the title in his first go-round, he’ll be presiding over one that’s best described as being rebuilt.
In short, Cora gets his crack at redemption under trying circumstances. But who’s he to haggle for a better opportunity? Even in a sport where stranger things have happened, he can’t but look at his comeback as a blessing. And, perhaps, he’ll be thankful enough moving forward to understand the difference between winning and winning with honor.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
