It would seemingly be impossible to fall as fast as Alex Cora has.
Sixteen months ago, he had just finished leading the Red Sox to a franchise-record 108 wins during the season, then oversaw a powerhouse team in October which steamrolled three very worthy opponents to win a World Series -- all in his first year as a major league manager.
It was a remarkable debut and Cora had the look and feel of someone who was on his way to becoming one of the game's most celebrated managers. Cora had charisma, a quiet confidence and the ability to communicate with everyone in the game.
The Red Sox were so enamored by the job he had done that they immediately restructured his contract to give him a significant raise and added another guaranteed year to his deal.
After going through three managers between 2011 and 2017, the Sox had every reason to believe that they had found someone who would give them stability and guide the franchise for the long-term.
Then, as if disappearing through a trap door, Cora was fired Tuesday night,
a day after Major League Baseball implicated him in their investigation of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal from the 2017 season. Cora had served as the bench coach for that championship club and MLB's investigation found him to be the main architect of a sign-stealing program that involved center field cameras, a monitor in the dugout and the practice of banging on trash cans to signal pitches to the Houston hitters.
Cora wasn't disciplined as part of the Houston investigation, but commissioner Rob Manfred made it known Cora would be dealt with once MLB concluded its investigation of the Red Sox' methods in 2018, when the team used video replay room monitors to decode opponents signs, then relayed them from the dugout to baserunners.
It was widely assumed that Cora's punishment would be more significant than the one-year suspension given to Houston manager A.J. Hinch.
Given that, Red Sox ownership met with Cora on Tuesday and "collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward.'' The team termed it "a mutual decision,'' in its news release.
A baseball source indicated that MLB will continue its investigation of the Red Sox and that Cora is not immune from further disciplinary action in the wake of his dismissal.
The move comes one day shy of four weeks from the date Red Sox pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training, and leaves them without a manager at a time when hiring someone from outside the organization will prove highly problematic. With other teams having already assembled staffs for the upcoming season, few -- if any -- will want their own spring training disrupted by granting permission for interviews, to saying nothing of possibly trying to replace any lost personnel.
The status of Cora's coaching staff was unknown Tuesday night. It's possible that some were involved with the 2018 sign-stealing and could face discipline. The organization might also want a clean break with anyone associated with Cora, even if they aren't implicated.
Cora seemed like the perfect hire when the Sox introduced him shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 World Series. Bilingual, media-savvy from his time spent at ESPN, familiar with the pressures of the Boston market and welcoming of analytics, he looked like the prototype of the perfect modern manager.
In his first season, he seemed to push the right button every time. He incorporated analytics, but was unafraid at times to trust his instincts. In the American League Division Series against the Yankees, he filled his lineup card with hitters who had struggled mightily against New York starter Luis Severino, and watched as nearly every one broke out with big contributions.
He was capable of having "tough conversations'' with players, including the decision to DFA Hanley Ramirez two months into the season. But his ability to be both honest and fair with his players quickly won over the clubhouse.
His second season didn't go nearly as well. Cora failed to get enough work for his starting pitchers last spring, then saw them struggle for the first two months of the season, putting the team in a hole from which it never recovered. He steadfastly refused to name a replacement for closer Craig Kimbrel, then oversaw a bullpen in which roles weren't clearly established in the first half of the season.
Throughout the season, Cora frequently lamented that the Sox had been "consistently inconsistent,'' but held out hope that a hot streak was coming in August or September to vault the team into the playoffs, giving them a chance to defend their title. It never came.
As a journeyman player and utility infielder, Cora gained a reputation for being a heady, instinctive player, adept at old-school skills like detecting signs and pitchers tipping pitches.
But while those tactics were legal, Cora made a grave misstep when he began to incorporate technology (cameras, monitors) in trying to gain a competitive advantage on the field. His methods helped the Astros win a title and the Sox a year later, but it came at a deep, personal cost.
Call it hubris or arrogance, but Cora crossed an ethical line in his zest for more information.
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The Red Sox today issued the following statement on behalf of Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, CEO Sam Kennedy, and Alex Cora:
“Today we met to discuss the Commissioner’s report related to the Houston Astros investigation. Given the findings and the Commissioner’s ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward and we mutually agreed to part ways.”
Henry, Werner, and Kennedy added:
“This is a sad day for us. Alex is a special person and a beloved member of the Red Sox. We are grateful for his impact on our franchise. We will miss his passion, his energy and his significant contributions to the communities of New England and Puerto Rico.”
Cora added:
“I want to thank John, Tom, Sam, the players, our coaching staff and the entire Red Sox organization. I especially want to thank my family for their love and support.
“We agreed today that parting ways was the best thing for the organization. I do not want to be a distraction to the Red Sox as they move forward. My two years as manager were the best years of my life. It was an honor to manage these teams and help bring a World Series Championship back to Boston. I will forever be indebted to the organization and the fans who supported me as a player, a manager and in my efforts to help Puerto Rico. This is a special place. There is nothing like it in all of baseball, and I will miss it dearly.”