The Boston Red Sox replaced Alex Cora with Ron Roenicke, and one of the team's best players believes it will be a smooth transition for the new manager.
Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez was asked Monday about Roenicke's new role, and he explained why the team's next manager is a really good fit for the job.
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"Ron managed before, he understands it," Martinez told reporters. "He was a big piece of Alex's decisions. He understood Alex. Alex always used him, always leaned on him. He knows us, and we trust him. He's a familiar face. He knows the personalities in the clubhouse, and he knows how to handle everyone. I think it's like the perfect fit."
Roenicke was hired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers before the 2011 season. The Brewers lost to the rival St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 National League Championship Series but didn't reach the postseason for the rest of Roenicke's tenure in Milwaukee. He was fired after a poor start in 2015.
The Red Sox hired him in 2017 to be the team's bench coach after Cora was brought in as manager. Roenicke served as a veteran voice for Cora to lean on, and the partnership helped the Red Sox win a franchise record 108 regular season games and the World Series in 2018.
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Boston was wise to promote Roenicke to manager following Cora's sudden departure in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston Astros. He has relationships with the players, he knows the pressures of the job, and the players clearly respect him.