Yes, the Red Sox are dysfunctional – but Alex Cora did this to himself

TL;DR

Alex Cora's return to the Red Sox has been marred by dysfunction, stemming from his past suspension related to the Astros' cheating scandal. Despite a strong reputation, Cora faces challenges in rebuilding the team's success.

Key points

Alex Cora was suspended for his role in the Astros' cheating scandal.
Cora returned to the Red Sox in November 2020.
His reputation was initially strong after winning a World Series.
The Red Sox have been described as dysfunctional since his return.

Boston Red SoxHouston AstrosLos Angeles DodgersMookie Betts

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

By all accounts, Alex Cora is a good manager as far as these things go. Dan is correct in that you really can’t predict or even properly judge a manager’s contributions except in obvious outlier situations, but the buzz around Cora has always been positive. His strongest claim to fame is winning a World Series with one of greatest teams of all time, credit for which can go whichever way one is inclined. Did the manager inspire or ride the team to greatness?

Cora landed on the positive side of that unknowable gulf, having come out of the 2018 season with an incredible reputation that persists to this day even if it doesn’t necessarily stand up to scrutiny. Unfortunately, that was followed by a yearlong suspension by MLB for his role in the Astros’ cheating fuckery, leading him to being fired by the Sox, which honestly was probably a blessing given that the “season” he ended up missing was 2020, which was a fake idea (the playoffs were good tho). But let’s assume for purposes of this column it wasn’t and say getting fired for cheating was generally bad for his career.

So when Cora returned as the Red Sox manager in November 2020, several months and a “full” MLB season later during which the Mookie Betts-led Dodgers won it all, it was understandable from both sides. The Sox had been terrible and Cora needed to rebuild his reputation. But the last time Cora had suited up for the Sox, Betts was on the team. Cora knew the environment into which he was walking. He was returning to Dysfunction Junction.

Fast-forward to second Instagram post following his shock dismissal on Saturday, a reel of Mookie Betts talking about the business of baseball in . I wasn’t moved. He came back into the fold with eyes wide open with respect to John Henry and Sam Kennedy — a Massachusetts Milhouse crossed with Walnut St. Wormtongue — and has been kicked to the curb like so many before him, including Betts and . He didn’t appear to be too upset or surprised about it in the post, that’s for sure:

Q&A

What led to Alex Cora's suspension from MLB?

Alex Cora was suspended from MLB due to his involvement in the Houston Astros' cheating scandal.

How did Alex Cora's reputation change after his suspension?

Cora's reputation took a hit after his suspension, but he returned to the Red Sox in 2020 to rebuild it.

What challenges does Alex Cora face as Red Sox manager?

Cora faces the challenge of managing a dysfunctional team while trying to restore its competitive edge.

What was the Red Sox's performance prior to Cora's return?

Before Cora's return, the Red Sox had been performing poorly, which contributed to the need for his leadership.