McAdam: Bench coach Ron Roenicke impressed by Alex Cora's rookie season in dugout

MINNEAPOLIS -- When the Red Sox were putting together a coaching staff last fall, it was important that they find an experienced bench coach to help guide new manager Alex Cora, who, other than winter ball, had never before managed.

Ron Roenicke was the choice, having managed four-plus years in the big leagues and another five seasons as a bench coach. Better still, Roenicke once managed Cora in the minor leagues when Cora was a young infielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system, so the two had a history together.

The hope was that Roenicke could help guide Cora through in-game strategy -- the part of the job that can overwhelm someone who hadn't had to make real-time decisions before. Now, having been at Cora's side for almost half a season -- the Sox played Game No. 75 Wednesday night at Target Field -- Roenicke marvels at how well Cora has made the adjustment.

As a managerial candidate, Cora's primary appeal was his ability to communicate -- in two languages -- and build relationships with players. But still, the Sox needed someone to help him navigate the in-game learning curve. Enter, Roenicke, who stands -- or sits -- next to Cora every game, for all nine innings, and has a unique perspective of the rookie manager as he goes through him initiation period.

"I had Alex as a player,'' said Roenicke, "and he was one of the smartest players I had. So I knew how smart he was going to be and I knew he was going to have a good feel. He's always been a great communicator -- people like him and he has a good feel for people. So I knew he was going to pick up (managing) fast, but he's really been impressive. He's exceeded my expectations.

"What I'm most impressed by is that when something's about to happen and I'm going to him and I'm going to ask him what he wants to do (in terms of strategy) and I'm thinking of something....he turns around and says what I'm thinking. And that's impressive.''

That's because a bench coach's primary assignment is to present scenarios or offer suggestions about what to do later in the inning, or an inning or two away. But Cora's already thinking ahead himself.

"I know how much thinking you have to do,'' said Roenicke, "and your order of thinking has to be right for you to have the freedom to think about some other things that are going to happen. I was with (longtime Angels manager) Mike Scioscia for all those years and Mike is so locked into what he's doing and he's been doing it for so long, you really can't tell (Scioscia) him anything new; you may tell him something that, if you explain it right, it makes more sense to him.

"Just three nights ago (in Seattle), Mitch Moreland was going to hit, and I'm thinking, 'OK, we're down and we should pinch-run for him here.' So I went up and told (Blake Swihart) to be ready and I walked up to Alex and before I could say anything, he said 'Get Blake ready.' I think that (awareness) is pretty darn rare for a new manager. And I know that he's also thinking about our bullpen and who we're going to bring in and he's having those discussions with Dana (LeVangie, pitching coach), and still, he's turning to me and saying, 'Get Blake ready.' That impresses me.''

As expected, Cora has shown himself to be an expert communicator with his players.

"If you watch before the game and watch him sit on the bench and all of a sudden, he'll have players that sit by him on the bench,'' noted Roenicke. "That doesn't happen. That just doesn't happen. I mean, you may have one guy (sitting next to a manager with other teams), but this is daily. They flock to him, which is a really good thing.

"I know you need to have that separation (between a manager and his players), but it's really good when you can be a teacher and guys like you enough that they bring things to you. And that's what I see going on.''

Those relationships have helped earn Cora a matter of trust with his players and allows him to be forthright and at times, deliver news they don't want to hear.

"He's very honest and he's honest about himself,'' said Roenicke. "I think by being honest, they accept what he has to tell them. He's not being mean to somebody — he's just telling it like it is — which is a strong quality to have as a manager. You need to be that way. But he's also very decisive, which usually comes with experience. When you're young and decisive, that's a good quality.''

Of course, there's no substitute for experience and Cora will benefit from this season, just as he did in spending last season as A.J. Hinch's bench coach.

"The more different things you come across, the more problems you have to solve, the more different environments you're around, the better,'' Roenicke said.

But for a beginner, Cora is getting high marks from the man brought in to serve as his mentor.