When the Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora, many thought the season was headed for an abysmal finish.
For a couple of months, those people would be right, but suddenly the team is on a 13-game win streak, has a one-game lead in the wild card race and could have their sights set on winning the American League East. The players starting to live up to expectations is a big part of that, but Chad Tracy's role should not be overlooked.
Tracy was put into a tough position, taking over a team with high expectations. He has also had to manage the team without two of its best players, Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet, but he has navigated that well. While the win streak has certainly given fans hope, it has also created some new questions for Craig Breslow and company to answer.
More immediately, the Red Sox will have to determine what they want to do at the deadline. They have gone from sure sellers to buyers in two weeks, and Breslow will have to be smart about who he brings in. He could also decide to let things ride and not make any major additions. However, perhaps the more important question is what the team will do with Tracy after the season.
He managed the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate before the team brought him up to replace Cora. The team is 40-31 under Tracy, and he has made a strong case to remain as the manager after the season. The Red Sox will still conduct a search after the season ends, but Tracy should be a top candidate. He has a relationship with the players already and has proven he can get the job done. If he can take this team on a deep run, then it would make sense for Breslow to keep him around.
Tracy is pushing all the right buttons and managing a roster with no shortage of flaws to its maximum potential. If the Red Sox don't keep him around, another needy team might jump at the chance to get him.