HOUSTON -- Walking into Minute Maid Park for the American League Championship Series is a familiar scene for Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Just three years ago he was in this very stadium celebrating an AL pennant in what was his first year as Boston’s skipper.

Based on everything that has transpired since then, though, three years seems more like an eternity.

In 2018, Cora’s managerial legacy was booming as he went on to become just the fifth rookie manager in Major League history to win a World Series. Of course, what followed has been well-documented over the past few years. The Astros were found to be involved in a sign-stealing scandal that occurred in 2017. Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach that year, later was suspended for the entirety of the 2020 campaign.

Though Cora has already been back to Houston since all that happened, his mixture of emotions remained upon his arrival to Minute Maid Park for Thursday’s media day in advance of tonight’s ALCS opener.

“It feels weird because I was part of it,” Cora said. “I made a mistake and paid the consequences. I'm still paying the consequences. For me, it’s a little bit hard. But it's what we did. We put ourselves in this situation.

“Like I said, I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I'm living it.”

Re-hired by the Red Sox last November, Cora knew the scrutiny that would follow his return. All he could do is hold himself accountable, which he’s done throughout the season as questions about his involvement in the 2017 ordeal have continuously been fired his way. On the field, he’s continued to win.

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The Red Sox are once again firing on all cylinders under Cora’s guidance, now just four wins away from another trip to the World Series. Much of that success can be attributed to his masterful strategizing, particularly in the playoffs. Entering Friday’s game, Cora’s 15-4 postseason record is the top winning percentage (.789) of any manager with at least 15 postseason contests under their belt.

“I still have the passion of the game,” Cora said. “I learned a lot the last 24 months about me and my family and the people that surround me. They've been amazing. They've been there on the ups and the downs, and I appreciate that. It wasn't easy coming in, obviously, but I love this game.

“I know that on a daily basis I'm going to give my best, and I'm still enjoying it regardless of how it looks. It's been a roller coaster on the field and off the field this season, but we are where we are. We're right there.”

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Getting back to the Fall Classic would be quite the redemption story for Cora. But standing in his way is a supremely talented Astros club full of players with whom he still shares a close bond, none stronger than his connection to fellow countryman Carlos Correa.

The origin of the relationship between Cora and Correa predates their time with Houston in 2017. In fact, it goes back over a decade to when Correa was still a teenager at Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

“He’s like a father to me,” Correa said of Cora. “More than a friend. He’s taught me a lot about this game.

Asked what has impressed him about Cora over the years, Correa said, “Just the information. Knowledge is power in this game. If you give your players the right information and what to look for, they’re going to go out there and perform. That’s what he does very well.”

For Cora, watching Correa brings him a great deal of pride. On Thursday morning, he texted Correa’s father, Carlos Sr., with praise for the player his son has grown into.

“This is what we envisioned [for him] a few years ago,” Cora said. “The leader. There's a lot of conviction behind him. He is very firm on what he believes, and he is a great player. You don’t go first overall in the Draft because you’re lucky. It’s because you're good and people expect you to be great, and that's what he is. He is a great player."

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Of course, those compliments will be thrown out the window come Friday night. That line of communication will come to an end, at least temporarily.

“We’re gonna keep our distance for a little bit and focus on this series,” Correa said. “After that, we’ll talk again.”

“In about 12 hours, it's over,” Cora said. “We disconnect. I love the fact that they're performing. But this is business.”

It’s clear that Cora is having fun again. He can’t change anything about the past. All he can do is look to the future as he pushes toward building his legacy. It continues with this ALCS, with a Red Sox group in which he maintains a great deal of confidence.

“I'm enjoying this,” Cora said. “I am enjoying the group. I think we are clicking at the right time. Those guys are having a blast. This is what it's all about.

“There's going to be four teams for a chance to play in the World Series. It doesn't matter how you get here. It's just a matter of what you do from here on, and we're prepared for it.”