Red Sox: Ron Roenicke wants to return for 2021, but should he?

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke has his sights set on 2021

During his most recent visit to WEEI’s “OMF,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke shed some light on his mindset as the season is winding down. As we all know, he was promoted after then-manager Alex Cora and the team went their separate ways. At the time Roenicke had just one year left on his current deal and was promoted to being the full-time manager.

Now that we’ve got just two weeks left in the 2020 season, it’s time to start thinking about the future. NESN’s Alexandra Francisco captured the current manager’s thoughts on his future and Roenicke didn’t hold back on his feelings. He was asked if he wanted to manage again next year despite being a free agent and possibly close to retirement.

"“Even as crazy and as tough as this season has been, yes. I definitely do. It’s something that I wanted to do. I was gone for a while after I managed Milwaukee, so it wasn’t something I was like, ‘I have to do this again.’ But I wanted to do it again. The challenge of it is what I enjoy so much. Just being able to help guys in all different areas.”"

Obviously retaining his job with the Red Sox would be the easiest move for Roenicke and probably the easiest move for Boston as well. There have been mixed feelings on the possible return of Alex Cora from both the organization and fans. With Roenicke being a holdover from the old regime, I’m not sure that Chaim Bloom won’t want to bring in his own guy to manage. It seems as if the two have a solid relationship though and considering the state of affairs of this team, there was only so much the skipper could do.

Roenicke has a wealth of experience and is an asset either as a manager or on a coaching staff. It’s pretty clear that he wants to still be the top man on the coaching staff so I don’t see him going back down the totem pole. He was asked about a possible Cora return and how that would affect his decision making beyond this year. Just like the previous answer he didn’t hold back and was fully transparent.

"“I don’t know, I haven’t really thought that far,” Roenicke said. “With Alex, it’s different because I like him, I respect him, he’s a good manager and he brought me over when I knew I could help him out. With somebody else, probably, it would be different.”"

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It’s pretty clear that he has a ton of respect for AC and would be willing to work with him again even if it means he won’t be managing. I’m one of those that are in the camp to bring back Cora and I’ve got no shame in that feeling. We witnessed the greatest Red Sox season ever under Cora’s leadership while also seeing them miss the playoffs in a major disappointment in 2019. So to have him back for 2021 when the team is going to be going through a massive transition, I think it would be the path to the most success.

I also like Roenicke but even taking the odd circumstances that have been 2020, he’s made some seriously questionable decisions. Whether it be shuffling the lineup on a nightly basis or placing guys in positions they aren’t the most familiar with, I’ve had to scratch my head a few times. The biggest strike against him is his inability to pull a pitcher before they make a turn for the worse. Too often he has let guys stay in there just to give up the game and blow the hard work of the starter and offense.

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I appreciate Ron being reinvigorated by this season to want to manage again but I’m not sure I want him leading the Red Sox in 2021. There have been just too many times where I’ve had to question his choices and my blood pressure can’t take that two seasons in a row. Even with the disappointment that was 2019, I didn’t find myself questioning Cora as often as I have Roenicke. I hope he’s able to continue doing what he loves and I’d be thrilled if he stayed in Boston as the bench coach.

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