Bobby Cox doing one of his best managing jobs ever
Bobby Cox's team has gone 29-10 since May 10, despite Kenshin Kawakami. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Eric Hinske has played for eight managers in his nine major league seasons, and he has determined that Bobby Cox stands out from the others in at least one way.
“He’s kind of like a mob boss,” Hinske said on Sunday. “Everybody brings him stuff – chairs, coffee, water. Then he makes the decision. He’s like our own Tony Soprano.”
Nice analogy. Especially on Father’s Day. The Braves even provided the appropriate musical score before the game against Kansas City: The “Godfather” theme played over the public address system at Turner Field.
Hopefully, Kenshin Kawakami was listening, because he might be close to waking up with a horse’s head in his bed.
Cox can’t fix Kawakami. The Braves’ manager will have to focus on simpler tasks, like world peace and planting a vegetable garden on Neptune. But aside of being subjected to the disastrous $23 million import that is his 0-9 starting pitcher, is there anything Cox is not doing right this season?
This is his last season as manager. It also has to rank as one of his best. The Braves won again Sunday, 8-5. They swept the Royals and in fact haven’t lost a series since early May (10-0-3 since). They are 29-10 since May 10, a stretch that began a day after a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia (a Kawakami loss; who knew?).
The Braves (like Troy Glaus) have hit the dirt often. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
The Braves are doing all of this despite the fact that for most of the season their big boppers aren’t bopping. They have long been a team associated with great starting pitcher, solid defense and an offense that sits back and waits for the home run, but now they’re playing small ball. Cox is manufacturing runs. He is doing the things his misguided critics have long slammed him for not doing. Hit-and-runs. Sacrifices. Squeeze bunts? Check that: Two successful squeeze plays in the span of a week.
The Braves even stole three bases Sunday, including the fourth of the season by Chipper Jones, who also had two doubles, two walks, three RBIs, two runs scored and afterward committed to playing through 2017. (Kidding.)
They’re not among the leaders in stolen bases (now with 35). But they are No. 1 in walks (317) and No. 2 in sacrifice hits (38).
“This has been different from any team I’ve been on,” Brian McCann said.
Cox, Hinske said, “has been amazing. He does it all in stride, with a poker face. We were all jacked up in Minnesota [last Saturday]. He hit and run to get the guy to third and then he squeeze bunts. He’s just standing there with a straight face. I’m like, ‘Yeah! Good job! That was awesome.’ He just kind of smirked.”
Now, there are two theories about this:
♦ The popular theory: Cox is determined to go out with a bang. Therefore, he is managing like he hasn’t since the early 1990s.
♦ The logical theory: Cox is managing differently because he has the players to do so.
“We’ve got base runners,” he said. “That means a lot. We’ve been leading or tied in games, which also helps. It’s all situations. The situation you’re in, who the hitter is, who the pitcher is. You can’t just do things all the time. If it backfires then you could be out of the ballgame completely.”
So it’s nothing orchestrated in his last season?
“Nah.”
The Go-Go Braves. Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
As Tim Hudson noted the other day, the Braves have taken on “a different personality.” They’re now playing “dirtball games. … It seemed a little bit passive and not a real aggressive type of baseball [in recent years].”
Teams are a reflection of their manager. If the Braves are scrapping more now, it’s not merely the additions to the roster but the tone and direction set by the manager.
“This year is his best,” bullpen coach and former player Eddie Perez said. “He’s doing little things I’ve never seen before. Some of the guys who’ve been here the last few years are saying, ‘My God, we’ve already got two squeeze plays.’”
Hitting coach Terry Pendleton, another former player, said of Cox: “He’s doing what he always does – managing guys to the best of their abilities. If [people] feel like he’s pulling more strings, maybe it because he’s got more strings to pull on.”
After 29 years as a manager, it turns out he knows what he’s doing.
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157 comments Add your comment
jesse james
June 20th, 2010
9:12 pm
Bend Over – You are right. This section is for comments. I responded to your comments and defended the people at question. You are entitled to you opinion (even though it isn’t much). Say what you want to say. Go Braves and I hope Prado is on the AllStar team and the Braves win it all and send Bobby out like he deserves to go out. I am sorry Bend Over if I offended you. With all your money I am sure you can get over it.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Whatever it is that’s given them this edge and the confidence to go out and win games like these that they’ve let slip away in years past and put them where they are, I just don’t see it as having a lot to do with Bobby Cox.
It’s the same old Bobby. Other than the occasional sucide squeeze call, of which we’ve seen two recently, he’s not doing anything differently. It’s like he was in the playoffs. It’s not like he ever said, “gee, things didn’t go so well for us last time, maybe we’ll try something different.” No. That’s not Bobby Cox.
There’s always great coaches out there that project that quiet calm and stoicism of a field general who’s always plotting and planning. Maybe that’s a bunch of BS but if you win championships like Lombardi and Bear Bryant or John Wooden or whoever, well, it applies. Bobby is an easy target for criticism because that never seems to be the case, that he’s ahead of the game, and it plays out in the results he’s gotten when it’s mattered most. He looks like he’s just sitting there with nothing going on and for a lot of years they Braves have played pretty uninspired baseball.
But hey, tip your cap to him. You’d have to think he’d be the front runner for manager of the year but something tells me it has a little more to do with Jason Heyward, Martin Prado, Troy Glaus, Hinske, Infante, Conrad, Tommy, Huddy and the bullpen.
But don’t forget those squeeze plays.
BartBuzz
June 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Jeff,
Nice article. Bobby showed me something today by removing KK early. Do you see KK in the bull[en when JJ returns. Bobby has to leave Kris Medlen in the rotation.
jesse james
June 20th, 2010
9:15 pm
Over the years it seems that Bobby and the players are like family members. My father-in-law was bed ridden until he died and that is one thing that he looked to each day, the Braves broadcast. The Braves will always be like family. For all the complainers, you will never be pleased.
bearcatjacket
June 20th, 2010
9:17 pm
I was at the Saturday night game. What a blast. But I wonder about Escobar…he almost single-handedly gave it away. If it hadn’t been for Heyward’s base running, it’d be a loss. But maybe that’s a ‘team’ at work? Picking each other up? Still, when you have one player giving the other team 3 extra outs in a game, it makes it a lot more challenging.
jesse james
June 20th, 2010
9:20 pm
bearcatjacket – I agree. I just don’t know about Escobar sometimes. He just looks like he is not having fun. I do know one thing, he has a cannon for an arm and he is a special talent. I can’t believe he doesn’t have a homerun by now.
eric the elder
June 20th, 2010
9:25 pm
Jeff, I’m afraid you have me a little confused. You say that this season ranks among Bobby’s best, and Eddie Perez agrees. To support your view, you say, “He is doing the things his misguided critics have long slammed him for not doing.”
Uh, wait. If the things he is doing are good, then how are his critics “misguided” for wishing he had been doing them before?
Ubaldo Jimenez
June 20th, 2010
9:26 pm
Anyone who gets legitimately mad from a blog probably shouldn’t be allowed to use a computer
Fred
June 20th, 2010
9:28 pm
Any manager who continues to start the worst pitcher in baseball in Kawakami is not a hall of fame manager. The media here allows this to happen. The braves paid all this money for this guy from Japan who continues to use an interpreter after 2 years and not learn the English language. Send him back to Japan and bring up a minor leaguer that gives us a chance to win.
Miller Huggins
June 20th, 2010
9:31 pm
I hope the Braves get to the World Series. So the Yankees can show Bobby who his daddy is, as they did twice. Anybody remember 1996 and 1999?
retired on the lake
June 20th, 2010
9:34 pm
Smoltz began the 1991 season with a 2–11 record. Get dr jack llwellyn or what ever his name is and get KK an appointment. KK stays in the lineup till after the All Star break.
retired on the lake
June 20th, 2010
9:36 pm
still sore about 1996 can’t even think about 1999 but revenge would be sweet!
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
9:38 pm
Chop Chop
June 20th, 2010
6:41 pm
Jeff, the fact of the matter is that the Braves have to do something with this run. As you well know, the critics are harder on Bobby in the postseason than at any other time. This team is certainly good enough to be in the playoffs. All the kids in the bullpen are pitching well. The team is hitting. Aside from Kawakami, the team is getting dominant starting pitching. A nine-game losing streak is the only thing keeping this team from having the best record in baseball.
As amazing as all of this is, it won’t mean a damn thing unless the Braves do the job when it matters the most. This team has made the playoffs fifteen times in my life (I’m 30), so just getting there isn’t enough. I’m spoiled and know it, but that doesn’t mean the standards get lowered because the team missed the playoffs for a few seasons. It’s time to get back on top and bring a World Series title home to Atlanta.
Bravo Chop Chop. I’m right there with you but for once I am willing to lower my standards. I think the most we can hope for is to win the division. I honestly think even if we lose in the playoffs you could still consider this a very successful season just as long as we win the division.
I cannot say that’s the case with any season between 2000 and ‘05 in spite of how many games we won because if you’re that good you should have won more than one effing playoff series out of seven.
But if nothing else, I just want them to win the division to show what a bunch of f***ing frauds the Phillies are. You cannot call yourself one of the all time great teams when you win 93 games. The most they’ve won in their three year run as division champions was last year: 93. They averaged 91 from ‘07 to ‘09. Give me a f***ing break. All they are are bunch of homerun hitters who can be shut down with any kind of quality pitching.
I mean, stop me before I get ahead of myself but it would be pretty sweet to knock them off.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:39 pm
Bob Horner — Thanks
Reid Adair
June 20th, 2010
9:40 pm
Bobby Cox is getting the most out of some serious question marks Frank Wren provided as part of the roster.
As soon as Cox can get Kenshin Kawakami out of the rotation, that will make things better.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:41 pm
CJDawg — I think Fredi Gonzalez, with an outside chance of Pendleton if the team makes the playoffs and has a strong October.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:43 pm
BartBuzz — Getting KK out of there early was noteworthy.
JSS
June 20th, 2010
9:44 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Somebody said I’m the Blogging “Five-0!” Ha ha, why I sure have come a long way from “Bennie the Beaver” and the “No Talent Hack” daily references… I love it when people don’t know our history! Happy Father’s Day!!!
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:44 pm
Eric the Elder — Because he didn’t have the players to do the things before. There was a misconception before he didn’t know how to manage this way, or maybe didn’t want to.
Ghost of Moose Granger
June 20th, 2010
9:45 pm
Uh, wait. If the things he is doing are good, then how are his critics “misguided” for wishing he had been doing them before?
Darn…you beat me to it Eric. So, yeah. What he said.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:45 pm
Retired on the lake — I know John Smoltz. Kenshin Kawakami is not John Smoltz.
Ghost of Moose Granger
June 20th, 2010
9:46 pm
I’m one step behind everybody tonight. I agree with you Jeff, but you have to admit you didn’t really justify it well in the article.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:48 pm
JSS — Thanks for the memories. (Not).
Happy Father’s Day.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
Ghost of Moose Granger — I think the Braves’ play justifies my point just fine.
Ghost of Moose Granger
June 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
or maybe you did and didn’t read it very well the first time. I’m going to bed now.
Kentavo
June 20th, 2010
10:03 pm
Also recently, Booby has had a short leash on many of the relievers, such as pulling Moylan the other night when he couldn’t get the third out right away; This is not something he has done in the last few years. Ordinarily he would have waited until Moylan allowed runs to score, but this time ol’ Boob went out there and got him, and the next guy didn’t allow any runs. He’s definitely being more aggressive, and I like it. Even today, although he sat McCann and Esco, he didn’t field the B team on a Sunday day game where the team had already locked up the series. That shows something too.
JSS
June 20th, 2010
10:11 pm
Like I said, “they don’t know our history” hope those flashbacks didn’t create any trauma! Hey, we’re in a better place, at least it ain’t the 54th Parallel of blogging like the “good old days!” Enjoy the Bobby Cox love-in… I’ll always have Bobby on the shores of Lake Ontario in 1992 to keep the fire in my belly!
Ph.D.
June 20th, 2010
10:12 pm
Jeff, it’s easy to stomp on someone when their down; cut it out. I could rip on your writing style but I refrain. The Braves are winning, and no need to fan the flames for the masses, or practice a holier than thou journalistic sensationalism.
eric the elder
June 20th, 2010
10:24 pm
Eric the Elder — Because he didn’t have the players to do the things before.
Jeff, I won’t beat a dead horse, but how are today’s players so different from players of the past that he couldn’t do things then that he is doing now? I understand what you are saying, but I’m skeptical.
jesse james
June 20th, 2010
10:32 pm
What is amazing is other than wins and losses look at Kawakami stats and see how they are so similar to Derek Lowes. Lowe has pitched 13 more innings and has allowed 7 more earned runs than Kawakami.
Cobby Box
June 20th, 2010
10:32 pm
Bobby Cox is Jesus in Baseball cleats
UGA owns you tasty bees..
June 20th, 2010
10:34 pm
I for one have to admit to bashing Glaus a little bit during the first few weeks, but as his performance has recently (and consistently) shown, I stand corrected. Now, maybe the same will be for the other two Braves that I don’t believe should start, no matter how much money we have thrown at them for their potential/previous achievements, Kawakami, and McLouth. KK hangs the curve and the change to the WRONG hitters (consistently) and McLouth couldn’t hit the ball off the tee at this point. Nate is a good fielder, who has looked obviously skittish since all the assorted injuries, but if you can’t hit MLB pitching , someone who can should be playing in your place. It wasn’t his fault with the possible concussion, ill give him that, as anyone who watched that game could tell that Jason was determined to play CF that night, the collision being the 3rd time he’d been playing over there. When Jurjjens is healthy, demote 23 million dollar KK to the bullpen, Play ANYONE ELSE in CF (i’d agree with Conrad) and for the respect of the game of baseball, send Moylan to AAA before he loads the bases again. Venters has the potential to compliment a healthy Saito at set-up man, and lets send Wagner off with a career high saves, and a mother-lovin World Series ring. Go Braves
Austin
June 20th, 2010
10:38 pm
Why are people not impressed with the Braves?! Why do they still doubt us? Someone earlier said that we shouldn’t be all happy because we swept the Royals, and that means nothing. I don’t know if they saw the earlier two series where we won 2 of 3 from both the Twins and the Rays. We have the best record in the NL!
anotherbrave
June 20th, 2010
10:45 pm
Jeff, Thanks for a very funny and informative column. Cudos to Frank Wren for bringing in some key additions, and to Bobby for doing a great job managing. This has been a fun year so far!
Sid
June 20th, 2010
10:46 pm
“He is doing the things his misguided critics have long slammed him for not doing.”……..?? Is this kind of like a double entendre, maybe an attempt to intersect your ego with the learned managerial talent that Cox perpetuates. Bobby Cox has been doing the same thing for years, he isn’t managing any differently…!! Going out with a bang………….c’mon Jeff, cheap shot………!!! Squeeze play, 2 in one week………?? You make it sound like it’s his first…….!! Popular theory……….?? PLEASE, don’t even try to speak for all of us. Bobby Cox is a players manager……….I miss him already.
Taylor Hanson
June 20th, 2010
11:29 pm
Long posts suck.
wawel78
June 20th, 2010
11:33 pm
I’ll admit – I’m a huge Cox basher, ever since the horrible Leibrandt insertion. However, he is doing his best managing that I can remember. I don’t like it but he will probably put McLouth back in the lineup.
I am tired of the KK bashing. He has been a solid 4 or 5 starter, he’s just not getting the wins. I am amazed at how many bash him and leave Lowe alone. Maybe he wasn’t worth 24 mill, but I’ll tell you this – I would take 2 of him for a total of $16 mill over what Lowe.
PlusSizeModel
June 20th, 2010
11:45 pm
“He is doing the things his misguided critics have long slammed him for not doing.”
Right, and they’re winning. If this is the case, how were his critics “misguided”?
Matt the Brave
June 20th, 2010
11:47 pm
I think that you’re absolutely right on a couple of points. First of all, this is by far the best bench that the Braves have had in years. We have major versatility in players. This was best shown when we had Brandon Hicks come in to play SS, then move over to 2nd with Prado moved to 1B. This is also apparent with Infante.
Second point is that pulling Kawakami in the 3rd isn’t a good sign for him. I don’t think they’ll just drop him, but I’m not exactly sure if he’ll not be traded in the next week or so.
Schultzie, do you think that the Braves will make any trades by the deadline? I’m not sure if we really should…
Bill
June 20th, 2010
11:59 pm
Its about time ! I will agree Bobby has been a different Mgr this year and the Players have played with more desire than before. As for TP “@*@” I have nothing good to say. Hire Fredi when Bobby is gone.
Boatdoc
June 21st, 2010
12:00 am
Wawel – The Leibrandt “relief” was probably the first time I remember consciously thinking “oh no…. Bobby that is NOT the move to make”.
Interesting that Leibrandt’s salary ($1.8 mil) was more than Glavine, Smoltz and Steve Avery combined that year ($1.16 mil).
I no longer suffer delusions that my baseball insight is superior to the Hall of Fame Manager.
PMC
June 21st, 2010
12:19 am
Well done Jeff, Anyone in that position is going to have some calls they’d like back.
That said, Bobby Cox has proven that he can win with virtually any kind of team if they can get enough quality pitching.
Give this man halfway decent players and good pitching he will find a way to put them in positions to succede.
PMC
June 21st, 2010
12:21 am
The things they are doing and trying this year is what makes National League baseball freaking awesome.
Honestly this is refreshing.
PMC
June 21st, 2010
12:23 am
They’ve always had baserunners the last 3 years, they just couldn’t get them in. Seeing these squeeze bunts just marvelous.
rekingball
June 21st, 2010
12:33 am
What does Leibrandt’s salary have to do with Cox putting him in against Puckett, in 91?
rekingball
June 21st, 2010
12:39 am
ChopChop and Mitchell……you both concur that you are spoiled when it comes to the Braves winning.
I have to agree with you.
You should have been around from 1966 to 1990. They finish over .500 only seven times during that period.
Ed Norton
June 21st, 2010
12:43 am
DIDN’T HAVE THE PLAYERS TO DO WHAT HE WANTED TO BEFORE?! Are you including the several years he had a Hall of Fame pitching staff and won ONE World Series? When presented with a team of comparable talent, your hero always finds a way to lose. But I can see how that constant stream of “C’mon Kid” and “Take ball four” makes him a brilliant strategist in your eyes.
Baldemar Huerta
June 21st, 2010
1:02 am
Good riddance won’t come fast enough. Booby should have been gone 4 years ago.
Ron
June 21st, 2010
1:04 am
“Bobby Cox is Jesus in Baseball cleats” Now if we could just nail him to a cross, have him rise from the dead and not return, that would be wonderful.
hoho
June 21st, 2010
1:47 am
well that should get some folks riled up RON- zing!