As Game 1 of the World Series approaches, Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, who is a special assistant to Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski, answered questions on a wide range of topics, from his role with the club to his relationship with manager Alex Cora.
MLB.com: This is your first year with the Red Sox. Talk about how much fun you are having.
Tony La Russa: It's been an incredible season to watch [the Red Sox]. It started in Spring Training -- all throughout the season and the postseason. … It's been entertaining. It's been educational. But in the end, it all comes down to trying to put guys in position to play well and win. The success [the Red Sox] have had has been a wonderful experience. I totally enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the entire team. It's an upstairs team and there's a downstairs [team], but they are all part of the same team. I really enjoy the people and how they handle their responsibilities, the commitment they make to contribute. Each one is contributing to a piece of the greater puzzle. You have that downstairs [on the field]. I really enjoyed how hard they work, how well they work, how much they respect each other.
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MLB.com: What did you enjoy as far as being upstairs with Dombrowski?
La Russa: This front office respects the efforts of the people downstairs, and the guy that leads it is Dave. I've known Dave for years. … I don't like to disrespect anybody. I'm not going to say he is the best, but there is nobody better than he is. He is the best out there because of the whole combination of what he does. He relates to people. He comes across as "everybody is important." I'm talking about everybody. He is good every day with them. When it's time to get to work, he is really positive, but in an effective way. He holds people accountable. He is working harder than anybody, and that's always impressive, when a leader does that.
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MLB.com: You came from the D-backs. Since joining the Red Sox, what's the biggest thing you have learned about being in their front office?
La Russa: Coming to Boston, the Red Sox have a good balance of respecting the new information [analytics] to the traditional ways that you prepare a team. There's respect for scouting. I'm talking about people scouts. There is a great respect for player development, how important it is that you have the right talent and you teach them how to play. The Red Sox are really good at balancing.
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MLB.com: How good is this Red Sox team?
La Russa: They play the whole game. They play a defensive game in the infield and the outfield. They pay attention to running the bases. They pay attention to quality at-bats. They play the scoreboard. Yes, they take healthy swings, but when they get to two strikes, they are really working at putting the ball in play. You can tell by their strikeout total, which is on the low side. I look at the way they played big games, how they showed up. They have a real mental toughness, physical toughness to match their talent.
MLB.com: How impressive is Alex Cora?
La Russa: When you are raised in the Latin American countries like the Molinas and the Coras, they have been around baseball -- the teaching of it and the playing of it -- since they were kids. So when Alex entered the pros, he was a good player. In Puerto Rico, he was the general manager of the Puerto Rico national baseball team. So he has family and experience. He really had a solid career. He played on a championship team with the Red Sox and was on a playoff team with the Dodgers. Alex understands what it takes to get to October. And then you take who he is personally, along with his past experiences, he is very intelligent. He has a high baseball IQ. I think one of the key things is that he relates to players. He connects with them.

MLB.com: I was watching MLB Tonight last week, and it was said that you often talk to Cora. Is that true? Do you give him advice?
La Russa: This is really important: The great majority of what's going on with the Red Sox downstairs has to be credited to the guys around them every day -- all the time. What I am is another guy upstairs. My responsibility is to be available. If somebody asks a question, I give them my opinion. Most importantly -- and I give Dave a lot of credit -- he set up and recommended Alex, and [Alex] and I have a confidential relationship. I might write down some impressions of what I noticed that I thought might be helpful. I've communicated with Alex. … I think there were some contributions I made, but they pale in comparison to the guys downstairs in the fight, in uniform, every day, all the time.
MLB.com: How impressed were you with the way Cora handled his bullpen during the postseason? The experts said the bullpen was a weakness, but it turned out to be a strength.
La Russa: I think what [pitching coach] Dana LeVangie, [bullpen coach] Craig Bjornson and Alex created was confidence in the rotation and the bullpen. When people say they didn't have enough bullpen, well, [the staff] knew differently. They have done an excellent job all year. It was just the latest chapter. In the end, the manager has to the pull the trigger … and Alex did it. He did it all year.
MLB.com: You have a bunch of MVPs on the Red Sox. Who has impressed you the most?
La Russa: I'm an old manager, so I would answer it this way: If you want to win 100 games, you have to have a complete roster, because there will be some extra games where your bench [will come through]. Your bullpen can't be [just] your closer; you must have guys that get you to your closer. You have the long man that keeps you in the game. So my answer to your question is, when you win 108 games and you have the playoffs that they've had, then you have to have a complete roster. As great as Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are, the great thing about this club is the depth and the contributions that they have received from the roster.