The Hot Button: Do the Braves need a new manager?
He’s the best manager I’ve ever seen. He’s the best manager I’ll ever see. That said …
I’m not sure Bobby Cox is the best manager for what the Braves have become.
They’ve gone from being great over 15 seasons to being not very good the past 3 1/2. There’s still a aura of assurance around Turner Field, a feeling that, “Oh, we’re the Braves and we’ll figure out something,” but the Braves haven’t figured out much since Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur were rookies. No, the manager hasn’t stopped managing, but this sort of team needs more managing than Cox likes to do.
He’s a player’s guy, now and forever. He loves his players and treats them like men. The Braves of the ’90s were indeed men, even those who arrived as rookies. They were serious about the game and serious about winning for this manager. I’m not sure what some of these Braves take seriously.
Who can reach Yunel Escobar? Who can instruct Jeff Francoeur in the art of plate management? Who can break the news that Kelly Johnson has 10 days more to prove he belongs in the bigs? Maybe another manager. It’s not this manager’s style.
And his style, we should never forget, worked in a way no other manager’s — not John McGraw’s, not Walter Alston’s, not Sparky Anderson’s — ever has. Fifteen times running Cox brought a team north from spring training and over 15 full seasons he finished first every time. (This counts his 1985 Toronto Blue Jays but not the 1990 Braves, whom he inherited in June, or the 1994 Braves, who were shut down in August by the strike.) He’s a great manager by every measure, maybe the greatest ever.
Loading ...But not every great manager is great with every team, and the neo-Braves don’t respond to avuncular urgings. Maybe they’re not good enough to respond to anything, but as the Braves get younger it seems more likely they’ll see Cox not as a cinch Hall of Famer but as the guy who doesn’t rip them in print or make them work very hard. They’ll see him as a player’s manager, but they’ll neglect to play for him.
It has gotten too easy to be an Atlanta Brave. With few exceptions, these Braves enjoy the reflection of success without having achieved the success itself. They might respond even less favorably to a manager less gentle, but it’s not as if they’re responding to this one.
Via iPhone — yes, he has an iPhone — from Cincinnati, Cox was asked Thursday morning if he felt he was reaching his players. “What do you mean?” he said.
Do they listen to his message, or are they just not good enough for a message to matter? “No, they listen,” Cox said.
But nothing’s working. When you hold the Reds to four hits and get beat on a three-run homer by the Cincinnati pitcher, something’s not right.
OK, you’re asking: Would I fire Bobby Cox? Absolutely not. He’s one of three reasons — John Schuerholz and starting pitching are the other two — the Braves became the Braves. If he wants to keep trying to restore this team to eminence, I’d afford him that chance. He has earned the benefit of every doubt.
But phrase the question differently — if I were hiring someone to manage these Braves, would I hire Cox? — and my answer might be different. And I say that for his sake. I respect the man too much to see him lose with players who have little sense of what it once meant to be a Brave.
I like Bobby Cox. I don’t like what the Braves have become.
For further reading: The Braves aren’t in the market for a manager and mightn’t be anytime soon. But if they were, here are two men I’d consider.
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386 comments Add your comment
tr
June 18th, 2009
10:55 am
I just don’t see or feel any real sense of urgency, especially against lesser opponents, like the team is just supposed to win. “We’ll get ‘em next time,” sounds great only if they do it!
cursive
June 18th, 2009
10:57 am
Nice way to put it. The game has changed, but not as much as the players have changed. This is a whole new generation of entitled, snotty little kids making it to the majors. They need discipline and coaching more than they do a friend. Bobby is amazing and will always be my favorite manager, but if the Braves want to be relevant then I hope that he decides to step away sooner than later.
LSU
June 18th, 2009
10:57 am
a⋅vun⋅cu⋅lar /əˈvʌŋkyələr/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler]
–adjective of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an uncle:
Maddux, Smoltz & Glavine in their prime for 10 seasons, and all Cox has got is 1 World Series championship???….I’d say he’s a tad bit overrated as a manager.
Nice balancing act of a blog story Mark. <<<< insert mucho sarcasm
Adam Lawson
June 18th, 2009
10:58 am
Mark, I wonder where you got the idea for this article?
smith
June 18th, 2009
10:58 am
Mark, there is a fine line between urgency and loyalty that all managers have to walk. You never quite know when a guy might turn it on. That said, you can’t give players like Jeff Francoeur the benefit of the doubt. He’s proven what he is. Kelly Johnson and Garret Anderson are a little bit different because of a better track record. But let’s be honest here, maybe Cox needs to find himself in the GM role because he’s been saddled with some bad players. Francoeur, Kotchman, Anderson, Johnson—these are bad players right now and will be for the rest of their careers. Only Johnson has shown flashes.
Cox has proven he can develop talent, but he’s also proven a stubborn loyalty that isn’t working out now.
.
bruce
June 18th, 2009
10:59 am
Mark, Thanks for your insights… are you asking Bobby to retire?
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
June 18th, 2009
11:06 am
I still place the majority of the blame on the players. This is what Bobby was afforded; these are the players he’s trying to work with. I don’t really see it as his fault that they’re all stubborn brats. And, especially at this level, you shouldn’t need someone to hold your hand through every swing and every clutch play.
Herschel Talker
June 18th, 2009
11:07 am
MB – so what you’re saying is that Cox is like Joe Torre? Give us a rich owner (Ted Turner), a GM who will trade for whatever we need, and all we need is a guy who can manage the egos? I’ll go with that. I agree. In which case, Cox has clearly been around far too long. He should have been gone after 2003. Anyone who observes the least bit knows that he’s not a great tactician, and he’s surely not a great handler of pitching staffs and lineup. So, as you say, he brings little to the table at this point.
Jack G.
June 18th, 2009
11:10 am
I hit it on the head. I just knew you were going to praise Saint Bobby.
The bottom line which you ignore, is the game and players have passed him by. Bobby just dosent change with the times.
Like so many players, they dont want to recognise the slippery slope.
They are so caught up in their own little word they refuse to (or cannot) face it (or know) when it is time to go.
Face it folks—it is better to retire at the top of the heap, than it is to be forced out.
LSU
June 18th, 2009
11:11 am
Mrs. Chanandler Bong,
Bobby is not going to fired, and he definitely deserves blame for this teams performance….Not sure what the ownership has in mind for the future, but home games where not many fans show up could/should make a manager seriously think about retiring.
Sir Stealth
June 18th, 2009
11:11 am
The question and the poll are both blasphemy to me. Bobby Cox is the Braves. It is beyond my understanding how even 1 person who considers themselves a Braves fan could want another manager, and insanity to me to disrespect him. Why would Atlanta fans want to dump on the legacy of our own team? The players just haven’t been very good. You can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat every year, it’s not like the other teams aren’t trying too. Braves fans seem to dismiss Bobby due to some sense of entitlement and don’t realize that he is responsible for us feeling like we have an entitled franchise. The Atlanta Braves were the lowest of jokes in baseball before he got here.
Adam Lawson
June 18th, 2009
11:11 am
I think i gave you the idea haha
B-rockGT
June 18th, 2009
11:12 am
this is purely hypothetical…if the season gets out of hand, which may soon very well happen. they should have a competition to be the manager for a day. have people buy a raffle ticket or something and then pick a name out of the hat. that being said it would be ridiculous for every fan to be able to put their name in the hat. so you could have them take a test or something so that we dont get an incompetent fool out there name Bo-… wait sorry i wont complete that thought.
anyways, I am the biggest fan of the Braves. I hate to see this continue happening to the Braves and for Bobby, but I think its time for a change (no im not an Obama fan). I think i can manage this team better. I’m not saying Bobby isnt a great manager because he is. All I’m saying, like you Mark, he’s not right for this team.
Personally, I would do this:
1. Prado would be my everyday second baseman. KJ isnt cutting it.
2. Francoeur would be either be in a platoon with Matt Diaz or in the minors trying to get back on track. We all know he has the talent. He is just lost right now. Being out of the spot light for a while and being able to focus on basics and hitting will only help him. In the meantime Brandon Jones and Matt Diaz would provide a decent enough platoon.
3. I would keep the lineup consistant. I dont care about a lefty facing a lefty. I know the numbers are there but seriously a righty faces a righty all the time. I understand its the fact that a lefty match up doesnt occur as much but seriously these are all MAJOR LEAGUE HITTERS. They should just be able to HIT. Here is my lineup:
Yunel Escobar (better avg at the top)
Nate McLouth
Chipper Jones
Brian McCann
Garrett Anderson/Matt Diaz
Martin Prado
Casey Kotchman
Brandon Jones/Matt Diaz
4. I like what Bobby does in the closer situation. Soriano closes if there is a better match up in the eighth for Gonzalez, but Moyland has got to go. He just hasnt been the same since Tommy John surgery. Acosta has pitched well enough to earn the 7th inning slot.
5. Cut Greg Norton. He cant even do his one job. I would not let him come back from the DL. Carnizares will be that added bat off the bench.
6.Hope for a trade for another outfielder. It wont come soon because I have a feeling we will keep pursuing one of the Marlins.
Jeff
June 18th, 2009
11:12 am
Mark,
Is there any chance of the Braves moving a veteran player by the trade deadline to pick up some prospects? The Yankees seem to need some pitching (ie Lowe or Vazquez) and the Braves could probably get some pretty good prospects out of the deal. The Yanks are obviously tired of losing to Boston and could overpay for one of our pitchers. I would think that, given our situation and outlook for next year, nobody would be off limits. Even Chipper has to be clammoring for a shot at another postseason before his time is up.
truth-serum
June 18th, 2009
11:12 am
Finally an article from Bradley with some sense!! Long over due….the change topic and an article from Bradley with some sense!! You just go Mark. A braves managerial change is long over due!~!! and take Chipper (trade David Justice or trade me ) Jones with you!
Tommy Wildfire Rich
June 18th, 2009
11:15 am
Did Chipper deamnd Justice be traded? Never heard that one. Sir Stealth- I agree completely.
Murph
June 18th, 2009
11:16 am
Like Glavine, Bobby’s time has come and gone. Like Glavine, he was great in the day, when the Braves were dominant. And like Glavine, it’s time for Bobby to leave.
There’s a new day dawning in Atlanta. These Braves, with their professional demeanor and lack of anything resembling drive or fire or a want to win, are not worth the price of admission.
Bryan G.
June 18th, 2009
11:17 am
Mark…
Very politically written. You say Cox is a great manager but that maybe he isn’t reaching the current Braves (which, clearly he is not).
Maybe you could be the next press secretary/minister of spin for our Prez!
PMC
June 18th, 2009
11:17 am
He could shake up his in game decisions quite a bit and take some more risks but overall he runs a professional organization. There aren’t a lot of shennigans from his team and in general they play professionally and they act professionally. I’d really love to see him squeeze with a runner on 3rd and no outs or keep a starter in the game longer than 100 pitches or try and steal or hit and run or in general bunt more but the problem with the team isn’t management or coaching, it’s a large portion of guys they count on to produce flat out not producing. He can’t speed up Jeff Francouers bat or force Kelly Johnson to not be abjectly terrible and not even be able to fly out to score a run. Or get bullpen guys to throw strikes. He’s a solid manager and he’s probably an awesome boss who lets his guys play and has faith in them… this group of talent in the order… just isn’t major league caliber.
Everyone always wants to talk about how major league pitching is so good to explain why these guys can’t hit. Ok. Everyone else in the league can hit it….we can’t…so the problem is that we don’t have, speed or power or average or consistancy. The manager can’t really do anything about that other than to hope he’s got someone better on the bench… currently we don’t.
UGA Fan
June 18th, 2009
11:19 am
Sad to say this, but I agree with LSU. I think Cox is overrated. One World Series victory during those 14 or 15 straight division championships is well, mediocre at best. Think about this, twice during that time, a Wild Card team from the Braves division went on to win the World Series. How does that make you the greatest manager ever? I could have filled out the lineup cards, gotten tossed from just as many games and still at least won the division during that run. Bobby is too much a players manager. His time has come and gone. We need to say thank you and move on.
Speaking of moving on, I hope that Pendleton is not the manager in waiting. What does it say when members of the team you’re coaching go to someone else for advice in your field of specialty? To me it says that they have no confidence in you whatsoever. No, the Braves need to get rid of Cox, Pendleton, and McDowell. I don’t know who to hire for manager, or the hitting coach, but I sure would love to see them give Maddux a shot at being the pitching coach.
One more thing Mark, I don’t know if I would say that the Braves were really great. Really good, yes, but really great, no. A really great team would have more then one ring to show for all those division championships.
Texas_Dawg
June 18th, 2009
11:19 am
I Agree with LSU. Overrated and deserving of the lions ahre of the blame for the Braves failures in the post season.
PMC
June 18th, 2009
11:20 am
Yelling excitable managers in baseball don’t tend to win much. They are annoying and they grind on you in the long season. Charlie Manuel and Joe Torre and or Bobby Cox are a lot better to have around a team for the long haul than Larry Bowa or Ozzie Guillen.
Chuck
June 18th, 2009
11:21 am
Everyone knows Bobby likes to go out and compete between the lines, and probably would until the Good Lord calls him home…
But what about the rest of the day at the ballpark…a bunch of tepid instruction from TP, who knows what we get from R Mac, and Bobby sits in his office and holds fort…shows off pics of the grandkids, talks fishing or golf or farming, and then makes the lineup card, gives a little rah rah (or not) and then they hit the field…
I think his energy and enthusiasm for the parts of the job that aren’t the actual game have waned…and understandably so…the team owners aren’t as committed as they once were either…otherwise they’d spend the necessary money to make the team better, and not give us a choice between pitching or hitting in the off-season.
Also notice that the only time he ever rips a player is when they are on their way out, ala Boyer or Kyle Davies…
WOW!
June 18th, 2009
11:24 am
So this is coming from the fans that didnt want to see Glavine go? But you rather Drop Bobby? What do we owe Glavine he left for money to go to the Mutts atleast Bobby has earned his keep
Floyd
June 18th, 2009
11:26 am
Great column, Mark.
What is it going to take to get Kelly Johnson out of the Braves line-up? For all the talk of Francouer being an anchor – and he certainly has his faults, don’t get me wrong – it’s Johnson who kills a Braves rally at every given turn. He can’t even manage to make productive outs. His defense is mediocre, at best. I’ve never seen a more obvious hole in a team’s line-up go unaddressed for this long. What’s it going to take and what are the options? I’m a fan of the man, but it grows more difficult for me to defend Cox when I continue to see KJ in the line-up on a daily basis.
Chopper
June 18th, 2009
11:27 am
Mark,
I’m starting to think it doesn’t matter who Bobby Cox is or what he has done. Based on what we’ve seen the Braves handle their legends like trash. (ie. Tom Glavine, your boy John Smoltz). Would it surprise anyone if the Braves up and fired Cox in the middle of the season? Why should it surprise anyone? That’s apparently how they do business these days. Classy!
DMac
June 18th, 2009
11:27 am
It’s time for him to go. Actually, it’s long past time. First of all, baseball is a game that’s all about production. Talk all you want about how many division championships he produced, just getting into the post-season isn’t enough. Show me the hardware, the trophies and the rings. In that, the most critical area of production for a major league manager, Cox has not produced. The bottom line will always be, that he only produced one World Series championship team.
Added to his personal lack of critical production, is his absolutely insane penchant for playing players that are not producing. Perhaps the two could be related. Could it be that his many irrational decisions to keep players in the lineup that are not producing, is Bobby’s subconscious way of trying to justify his own lack of critical production. Maybe his “loyalty,” is actually nothing more than his personal insecurity coming to the surface.
Whatever his psychological profile, his lack of critical production, plus his stubborn refusal to pull the plug on players that don’t product, equals a manager who should be relieved of duty.
brian elliott
June 18th, 2009
11:29 am
I agree it is time to move on. The good ole Braves are long gone. How about considering Ron Darling as Manager. He is very keen and has a good sense for the game. It might be a long shot but worth consideration..
Dennis
June 18th, 2009
11:30 am
Ah man….tough one to talk about. I love Bobby Cox and all that he has meant to Atlanta and the Atlanta Braves. That said, maybe it is time to move on. I think the players of today are less apt to respond to Bobby than guys like Smoltz, Jones and Glavine (and no I don’t think the club screwed up by letting Smoltz and Glavine go). It is time to restructure the team. Look around at the clubs that have gone that way. Only the “mega clubs” with oodles of cash in hand can buy their way back to success. Young players are coming along in the minors and a trade or two now of some of the older players seems the right thing to do. The problem is that the people on this blog and othres in Atlanta would go into spasmodic fits when the young Braves under a new manager next year fall even deeper in the standings. Atlanta sports fans have always been fair weather fans. The Cubs have won nothing yet sell out Wrigly every game. The more the Braves lose, the less behinds will be in the seat.
I would like everyone here who wants Cox gone and a change in direction to remember what they say now in the next two or three years when the Braves fall way back in the standings. Probably the existence of the Nationals will be the only thing keeping them out of the basement when the change takes place.
Mac
June 18th, 2009
11:31 am
This team couldn’t score less if it had Dion James in center, Ken Oberkfell at third, Rafael Belliard at short and Ozzie “Solo Shot” Virgil behind the plate.
BoiseDawg
June 18th, 2009
11:31 am
Greatest manager you have ever seen? Just like the time you said the ‘95 Braves were better than the ‘27 Yankees. MB… why do you always overreach in your analysis of how great someone or some team is here locally? You come off as more of a dreamy eyed fan than a credible sports journalist. I am not saying Bobby Cox is a bad manager, but there are several current managers that could have had just as much success with the talent the Braves had in the 90s, especially with starting pitching. Cox isn’t even the greatest manager of his generation. I’d rank Lou Pinella and Joe Torre higher. At least Joe Torre is proving he can win somewhere else and in a different league. And this aura of assurance you speak of? That should have left Turner Field about 3 years ago; because even when this team was making the playoffs they couldn’t get out of the divisional series.
Jim
June 18th, 2009
11:32 am
What’s with all the hate on Anderson and Kotchman? They’re not the problems. Anderson is coming around and has hit in 7 in a row, producing runs, hustling to 1st base with his old legs, and if you didn’t know, is hitting around 350 against lefties. That’s proof enough that he should be playing every day and Diaz every day in right. But our manager doesn’t work that way. Anderson’s obp can get to his career average of around 320 with a 280 average and Braves fans would still hate on him. He’s been the scapegoat for what the perennial losers like Francoeur and Johnson are causing. They get worse every season. THEY should go. When Anderson is up with man on 3rd less than 2 outs, he’s money. I’ll take him over Diaz and Francoeur any day, no offense to Diaz. If there are 2 outs, then Diaz hands down. Anyway, until Johnson and Francoeur are rid of for good, this is the team that we will be left to suffer with watching. If Bobby wants to keep these guys in there, then he’s putting his neck through the rope just like those 2 losers do every season. We did them favors by overpaying and not dragging their dirt out through arbitration, and this is how they repay the organization? Cut ties with them. It’s been a LONG LONG LONG time coming. But unfortunately, as the same has gone the past 4 seasons, it will take rock bottom for changes to be made to the same ol’ useless young players that get worse every year.
NRBraindead
June 18th, 2009
11:33 am
Cox is the leader of this team, and maybe that’s the problem. With Lowe, Jurgens, Vasquez, Hanson, and a healthy Hudson our starting pitching is very good. The line up lacks speed and power. Getting back to leadership, Bobby seems to be the only one with a fire in his belly (he’s into every pitch of every game, will argue on behalf of the team, and will support his players at all times) – he is a Hall of Fame Manager for all the right reasons. But aside from Bobby no one on The Braves has demonstrated any leadership to speak of. This is not a horrible team; it’s not a great team either. If this team comes around it is capable of 85 – 90 wins (but everything has to fall in place due to the aforementioned lack of speed and power); in other words The Braves need to find a way to score about 5 runs a game. If this team does not come around, it is also capable of a 75 – 80 win season.
Mac
June 18th, 2009
11:33 am
Speaking of Glavine, has he retired, gone to Japan, Mexico City, what?
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
June 18th, 2009
11:33 am
LSU, go back to the swamp. Whether or not the Braves need a new manager, the reality is that he won’t be fired. He’ll have to step down. I cannot imagine how a firing of Bobby Cox would resonate with the players (even the dismal ones), especially Chipper and McCann. I think firing Bobby Cox would do more to set back this team than help.
mike
June 18th, 2009
11:34 am
So he’s a player’s manager? Then maybe he deserves less credit for his team of the 90’s. Give any manager that kinda talent and they’d have similar results. He had excellent pitching, and decent lineups. All he had to do was march them out there.
This team obviously needs a little more babysitting.
PMC
June 18th, 2009
11:34 am
Kelly Johnson and or Francouer would be seeing more bench time if Infante was healthy and Prado’s knee wasn’t acting up.
He doesn’t have a lot of guys to put in for them.
We could do a lot worse than Bobby Cox…even if we do get frustrated because of the consistancy sometimes.
PN
June 18th, 2009
11:37 am
I have too much respect for Bobby Cox for this article. Let national media ponder this verbal diarrhea. Without Bobby Cox, people would care about the Braves may be as much as they care about the Montreal Expos. Let’s be serious here, managing has little to do with it. When your GM gives you Jeff Francoeur, Kelly Johnson, Garret Anderson, Casey Kotchman, and the need for a backup 3B to start 65 games, what can you do? It’s a soft-hitting lineup, what do you want the man to do? Bring Lou Pinella up? Francoeur will still swing and miss, Garret Anderson will still be on the decline of his career, Casey Kotchman will still be a soft-hitting smooth-fielding 1B, and Kelly Johnson will continue to be hot for 4 games followed by a hitting coma for 2 weeks. The man is doing the best he can. He was given pitching this year, and he’s put their talents in positions for success, and it’s been fantastic so far. Bobby isn’t the problem. Personnel is, both upper and lower.
100 Man
June 18th, 2009
11:38 am
Mark, nice column.
In your opinion, do you think Cox will be back next year? If he resigns or is forced out, who do you think would be legitimate candidates for the job?
Brian Snitker?
smith
June 18th, 2009
11:38 am
A .320 OBP is terrbile.
Braves Fan in N.Y.
June 18th, 2009
11:39 am
I was watching the Reds-Braves game Tuesday night on the Cincy station. Bravos had first and second, no outs, McCann at the plate. Count got to 3-2 and play-by-play man says something like “Bobby Cox is the type of manager who, in the past, would start the runners. McCann doesn’t strike out much–makes sense.” Cox doesn’t start the runners and McCann grounds into a double play. Next batter–Anderson–hits a fly ball that would have scored the runner from third had the runners been started and there was no DP. It seems to me Cox is playing not to lose instead of playing to win. He isn’t aggressive and seems afraid to take a chance believing it will fail.” You’d think a manager in his position–won’t be fired and will leave when he wants to–would take more chances, especially with a team with little power and struggling to score runs.
Mike
June 18th, 2009
11:40 am
The biggest change I’ve seen in the Braves over the past few years is a lack of fundamentals. The Braves of the ’90s rarely beat themselves and if the other team screwed up, those Braves teams made them pay. Now, I see a team that can’t advance runners, run the bases like Little Leaguers, don’t know how to work a pitcher, can’t bunt and can’t even execute a run down play (you force the runner back towards his last base, not toward the next base!). This reflects on the manager and his coaching staff. I hear the players love spring training, especially all the golf and fishing they get in. Do they ever work seriously on the basics of the game? Baseball America had an article during spring training saying that Mike Sciosca was at the Angels’ minor league facility, teaching them how to properly execute a run down. I doubt that Bobby would think of doing that. Cox was perhaps the best regular season manager in history but he should have retired after leading a rookie laden team to the postseason in 2005. He needs to be bumped up to the front office to help make talent evaluations and a younger man (Ned Yost perhaps?) hired who will instill discipline and fundamentals. Until then, we’ll see this team bumble along. It’s a shame, because neither the Phillies or Mets are world beaters this year. If the Phillies hadn’t already played the Nats 12 times this year, they’d probably barely be over .500. Oh well, there’s always next year.
Homer
June 18th, 2009
11:40 am
FIRE BRADLEY!!
W
June 18th, 2009
11:41 am
You eliminate a Hall of Fame manager and replace him with who. Change isn’t
always better. See the current presidency. Maybe it’s just inferior players.
AtlantaBytes
June 18th, 2009
11:41 am
Who is this LSU person and are you just now coming on to the baseball scene? If not, have you been stuck in Geaux Tiger land with little access to the outside world? Having visited the Lou on multiple occasions I wouldn’t blame you for lacking information or simply focusing on the incredible football played down there.
However, if you really insist on calling Bobby Cox overrated you better come up with some better reasoning than that he only won 1 World Series. Baseball is not a game that judges the talent of the players and coaches in stretches of 3, 5 or even 7 games. They play 162 games and being over .500 usually gets you in the running for the playoffs.
Any team can beat any other team on any given day. The fact that the Braves (under Bobby) did this 14 years in a row means more about the way he teaches and manages the game than any championship statistics you may throw out there.
In a sport where parody still reigns and putting the pieces in place to win is so difficult, not to mention holding those pieces together, they managed to go to the playoffs 14 times in a row. More than any other team, in any major sport, ever.
Call him washed up, out of touch or whatever else you can summon up from around the rock you were under. But to call him overrated is an epic mistake.
Mark, in the eventuality the little tigger still believes his initial argument, I believe you should look into instituting a 5 blog suspension of comment privileges.
Thanks,
AB
Lazy Dawg
June 18th, 2009
11:42 am
Bobby is the man! But I sure would love to see some Roger McDowell antics on the bench,they need to act like kids not bank executives.Try having fun in the dugout you will be amazed at the turn around.
DMac
June 18th, 2009
11:42 am
Mark, I believe that you may be to close to the issue, to be objective.
PoliticalMan
June 18th, 2009
11:42 am
Mark, you bent over backwards on this one. In fact, Cox and gang have been making bad personnel decisions for several yrs now. This habit of getting or sticking with over the hill players is past annoying. Glavine and Anderson this yr. I recall when Jordan and Modesi were on the same team. They were both washed up and everybody knew it. Secondly, I have been watching the Braves make atrocious blunders for yrs now, especially on defense. Cox sitting Escobar was a rarity. Finally, the Braves got lucky with Smoltz, Maddux, Glaving during the 90s. They would make most anyone seem like a genius. As far as keeping Cox. That is another bad decision. The Braves need major revamping including some wisdom and fire from a new manager.
Hitchmonster
June 18th, 2009
11:43 am
I’m reading “weaver on Strategy” right now and find many smiliarities between Weaver and Cox as well as the success of their teams. Weaver’s Orioles won 6 division titles and 4 pennants but only 1 World Series. (Interestingly, I’ve never seen Weaver knocked like Cox for having won only a single World Series … and it was an easier road before the wild card.) Weaver’s teams relied on pitching, defense and power — very much like the good Braves teams did. Ejections were hallmarks of both managers, too. Weaver was known for his use of statistics, which is different than Bobby. Weaver is rightfully recognized as a great manager, as Cox is and should be, but it looks like there’s another big difference between Weaver and Cox — knowing when to retire.
Jim
June 18th, 2009
11:44 am
“A .320 OBP is terrbile.”
Bla bla bla. His career obp is 327 with an average of 297. Very very similar to his numbers last year. I’ll take that any day for a corner outfielder that hits well with RISP. It doesn’t exactly work though when the other corner is renovated to a team-killing moron
Wes
June 18th, 2009
11:45 am
Braves Fan: that was LAST night, not Tuesday night.
Sir Stealth
June 18th, 2009
11:46 am
My humble opinion is that if you say that Bobby has failed for failing to win more in the postseason, you are an ingrate. Again, how many times before he showed up did the Atlanta Braves talk about the postseason? In 1991, he took the team worst to first. Do you really blame him for Lonnie Smith screwing up on the basepaths? He took a team from being a joke to within a hair of winning the greatest World Series of all time. When you watch highlights of Sid Bream sliding into home, do you blame Bobby for our postseason “failures” in taking out Jim Leyland (another great manager) and his Pirates multiple times? You’re gonna call him a failure in 1993 because he led his team back to the postseason by winning the last and greatest pennant race of all time?
I guess just winning only that one ring is a pretty big failure. Of course, that is also discounting the fact that 1995 was the only championship in the entire history of Atlanta professional sports, and he managed it. But yeah, he’s overrated, Atlanta fans shouldn’t hold him in high regard. Come to think of it, Hank Aaron only won one ring despite his greatness, guess he didn’t bring home enough “hardware” to be respected by Braves fans.
The Leyritz homer and the Eric Gregg game were horrible scarring things for the franchise, but I don’t get how that makes Bobby take the “lion’s share” of the blame for our postseason failures. By ‘99, the Braves honestly just weren’t as good as the teams that won. You think we underachieved by failing to beat the ‘99 Yankees? Would you have rather have not gotten to the postseason at all in 2000s when a lot of those teams had no right to be there? I guess if Bobby hadn’t been a regular season miracle worker ( think the Baby Braves) you couldn’t feel so dissatisfied with his work. What a bunch of crap.
Meat Rabbit
June 18th, 2009
11:46 am
I am the biggest Bobby Cox fan out there….I’ve been drinking the kool aid for many years. That being said, I do agree with you, MB. Do you think that Bobby sees this writing on the wall, or does he have his “baseball blinders” on?
Just a question for you, MB…since YOU mentioned it first. Theoretically, if you were hiring a new manager for the Bravos…who would make your interview list?
don
June 18th, 2009
11:48 am
Saint Thomas Aquinas couldn’t turn this team around unless he could undue some of the moronic trades made by the “braintrust”. If Cox approved the trades with St. Louis and Texas, then he, too, is a fool and should be sent to an unemployment office along with Wren and Schuerholz.
Mark Bradley
June 18th, 2009
11:48 am
Today’s next post will identify two guys who might be good managers if, in fact, the Braves were in the market for a manager.
smith
June 18th, 2009
11:49 am
A career .327 OBP for light hitting defensive short-stop would be bad, for a corner outfielder expected to produce, it’s downright awful. a .327 OBP makes you one of the worst corner outfielders in the league. Make no mistake, Anderson is just as much of a problem as Francoeur.
AtlantaBytes
June 18th, 2009
11:49 am
Amen Sir Stealth. He wouldn’t ever and won’t now let his players take the blame. Even though it has hurt his image and opened the door to the cynics forever. Those of us who understand and have been there from the start will never forget it.
Train Wreck Bystander
June 18th, 2009
11:50 am
This reminds me of Don Shula’s tenure with the Dolphins. What he did for that franchise in the 1970s was unforgettable. But by the time the 90s had rolled around, it seemed the game had passed him by. All those years with Dan Marino as QB and only one trip to the Super Bowl to show for it (with Marino as QB).
Shula got a long twilight because of all he did in the 70s. Sort of like the long twilight BC has had. But all things end and maybe it is time for Cox to ride into the sunset.
hal
June 18th, 2009
11:50 am
does anyone know how brooks conrad at gwinnets defence is? he seems to hit down there anyways
davonelson
June 18th, 2009
11:50 am
Very good observations. I state again that a great move would be to make Bobby the general manager again and hire the best field manager available. This would instantly return credibility to the front office and assure an objective look would be given to coaches and players. Bobby’s hands off management style contributed to Andrew Jones deteriorating and Francouer is headed in the same direction. Most young players are not “squared away” like McCann and a little early success ruins them unless a manager is willing to get in their face.
Tomy Fournier
June 18th, 2009
11:51 am
That’s your “COMMENT”….Mr. Bradley?…next time…”PLEASE”…SHUT THE ####@@@##$,DON”T SAY NOTHING…”YOU CAN’T DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE”Mr “MORON” COX…HAVE TO GO….OK???..HE IS THE “EPIDEMIC”!!!!
Packerman
June 18th, 2009
11:54 am
What about Clint Hurdle? He’s a good fundamentals guy. The players love playing for him. He’s won a WS in the past couple of years, and he made the Rockies of all teams competitive for the first time in forever. He had a lot of talent to work with, but nobody really knew who Matt Holliday, Garret Atkins, or Brad Hawpe were before he got going with them.
stynes
June 18th, 2009
11:54 am
Very good story, Mark. Interesting angle and one I’m somewhat inclined to agree with. I have a lot of respect for Bobby Cox and a great appreciation for what he’s done for Atlanta and baseball but you’re right – this team might not fit him very well. Good writing.
All I'm Saying
June 18th, 2009
11:55 am
What’s ailing the Braves won’t be solved with a new manager so put me down in the column where we keep Bobby (by the way, he’s one of the few reasons free-agent players even want to come to Atlanta).
Our pitching is solid and it simply comes down to not consistently scoring runs (all we need is at least four per game) and a new manager won’t make a difference. We need players who will produce and so far this season too many everyday players — CKotchman, KJohnson, JFrancoeur, JShafer — have not. Let’s hope Nate can stick as a lead-off batter as his speed is what we need as it’s obvious we’re going to need to play small ball going forward.
Also, everybody needs to calm down and lay-off Yunel Escobar: he’s one of our few young, talented everyday players (and there were no questions about Bobby ‘reaching’ him or getting through to him when he was playing well) and the last thing we need to do is to trade him.
Atticus
June 18th, 2009
11:55 am
Mark…..he WAS a great manager. But all people need hunger, need new perspective and need to learn. He just doesn’t seem to do well with young guys like he used to. He has also lost some great talent as his assistants and not sure if he currently has a bunch of yes men or if they are as talented as his past crew.
Having said all this….this current organizational malasie falls at the feet of John Scheurholtz and the fact they didn’t replace Paul Snyder and the player personnel people with nearly as talented as what they had in the early 90s. Just think about this, we haven’t had one positional player since Chipper become a superstar. Mac is becoming that for sure, but that is one every 10 years! We haven’t had one pitcher since Avery develop into a superstar. The exception was Jason Schmidt but he was traded. Now we possibly have Hanson. That is an ABYSMAL track record that comes nowehere close to what they did in the 90s. They have developed many decent players, but no superstars and you just can’t compete unless you either pay the highest salaries or have exceptional scountin i.e Marlins, Rays etc….
Don
June 18th, 2009
11:55 am
The best manager you have ever seen??? You have got to be kidding.
Bobby Cox is probably one of the worst all time offensive managers in baseball history. How can anyone manage for 20 plus years and not understand the absolute most essentil element of run production – making the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches – work the count. The Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat. This makes consistant run produciton impossible. Cox has never emphasized/stressed/demanded this. Making the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches is absolutely essential – It enables your hitters to see what he has, adjust to him, get better pitches to hit, make him make mistakes, wear him down both within innings and for the game, gets you into the teams weak middle relief etc. etc. It has a tremendous effect on your offensive production. Next to last in baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat guarantees that you are going to have close to the same position in the standings – unless you had All Star completely dominating Pitching far far superior to the other teams to overcome this. Having this was a once in a lifetime thing for the Braves — and this was the only way that Cox won — having an All Star Pitching Staff so far far superior and so dominate that it made it almost impossible to lose the Division over the 162 game regular season – and even then he won only 1 WS. His offensive game plan and idea of offensive management seems to be to make out the line up card and then sit in the dugout and be a cheerleader.
Packerman
June 18th, 2009
11:55 am
Pittsburgh has a better record than us now. Pathetic.
Jborodawg
June 18th, 2009
11:56 am
Overated? Ask ANY manager or player in MLB. Some fans think they know more about baseball than Bobby Cox. I highly doubt it. New owners and perhaps a GM; not a new manager. On the other hand, Wren’s still new at it; give him another year. It’s not Bobby’s fault the Braves are at the bottom in team BA. For some reason, most of these guys (like Andruw Jones) won’t listen to TP. I read one article in which Chipper was giving batting tips; so they’d rather listen to Chipper than TP? Hmmmm
smith
June 18th, 2009
11:57 am
By the way, imagine what this team would look like had the Braves signed Sheffield (.886 OPS) instead of Anderson (.661 OPS). And signed Dunn (.931 OPS) instead of adding to the rotation with Kawakami (93 ERA+).
Donut
June 18th, 2009
11:58 am
This team is lazy and totally uninspired and its shows day in and day out. Half the players either don’t care or just aren’t that good at what they do. For some guys, it’s probably a little of both. It’s that simple. MB, you’re 100% correct about Kelly Johnson. He has no business playing major league baseball. And Frenchy still thinks he’s hitting against high school juniors.
ChopFlopped
June 18th, 2009
12:02 pm
I’ll say it again, a manager or coach must change his style at times to suit the talents of the players on the team. Bobby Cox cannot coach this team like he did the team in 1995. That team was loaded with talent both on the pitching mound and at the plate. In the 90’s, he could sit back and wait for a home run because he had Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, Avery and whoever else you wanted to be your number five starter. The chances were that the pitcher wouldn’t give up squat. Now, he needs to manage to actually manufacture runs because this team is good in pitching but not like they were back then. This team also has much younger players than Cox ever had. If you will remember, the Braves simply went out and got what they wanted in the 90’s. HE NEEDS TO CHANGE HIS STYLE.
slimpickens
June 18th, 2009
12:03 pm
Fire Mark Bradley!! Then fire the AJC.
Blake
June 18th, 2009
12:04 pm
Comments like this help me understand why Atlanta has a reputation as a terrible sports town that can’t even sell out its own playoff games. Those of you suggesting that Bobby Cox is the reason for the Braves’ postseason failures are probably the same “fans” who couldn’t be bothered to show up for games in the postseason. And some of you really think Clint Hurdle, who made the postseason once as a complete fluke, or Ned Yost, who never made the postseason at all and blew one division lead after another, would do a better job? Wow. Just wow.
These same kinds of comments–”washed up,” “used to be good,” “game has passed him by”–were exactly what people at Penn State were saying about Joe Paterno when he went through a rough patch a few years ago. Strangely, you’re not hearing those comments much anymore. Funny what a few of Big 10 titles and bowl titles will do for you.
Blackberry Cobbler
June 18th, 2009
12:07 pm
If Cox gets the credit for when times were good, then he should get the credit now as well. Can’t have it both ways. I have to agree with you Bradley about one thing…….. Cox had the talent to work with back then. He doesn’t now. But then, isn’t that the real test of a manager– to do great when you don’t have the best? This is where Cox fails. He doesn’t know how to manage or coach without exceptional talent.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
June 18th, 2009
12:09 pm
Blackberry Cobbler, I think that would be a valid argument if we were seeing adjustments from some of the players and it still wasn’t working out. But we’re not. Frenchy is still swinging at the first pitch. And I find it really hard to believe no one has ever talked to him about that. You can’t teach someone who doesn’t want to learn. I think Chipper’s comments about Francoeur further demonstrates this.
Dolemite
June 18th, 2009
12:10 pm
The Florida Marlins have won 2 World Series since Bobby won 1. Yes…the Florida Marlins. Oh yeah, does that guy at Tampa Bay still have more stolen bases that the entire Braves team?
MiltonDawg
June 18th, 2009
12:10 pm
it’s time for a regime change. Out with old, in with new. We said goodbye to our aging pitchers and brining in younger talent. The same can be applied to our coaches & managers. I have nothing but the greatest respect for Smoltz/Glav/TP/Cox..but we have to stop living in the 90’s (and i agree with most that while it was a great run, we only have 1 WS ring to show for all that work & talent). Cox can have a front office position and TP can go down to the farm system. Time for Change!!
Born2Buzz
June 18th, 2009
12:11 pm
Mark, in MLB just like other professional sports there is 1 team that finishes 1st and that is the winner of the World Series, the champion of the league. So Bobby did not finish 1st 15 straight seasons, he did it once. He did have 15 seasons where he had a team capable of finishing first, problem is he only succeeded once.
Bobby was probably the best regular season manager when supplied a team with Hall of Fame and All Star talent. And make no mistake, talent is what really wins. But great managers win it all.
I think the most telling thing about this post was his answer when you asked him if he was reaching his players…”What do you mean?” That tells me he doesn’t get it.
Braves73
June 18th, 2009
12:12 pm
Mark, again another well written, well thought of piece. I couldn’t have put it better myself (guess that’s why you get the big bucks to write…& I don’t). Bobby is by all measure(s) a “great manager”. He has accomplish feats that may never be duplicated or surpassed (14 straight divisions championship is a professional sports record). He truly has his players best interest, & it’s almost surreal to watch & hear him root for every player (you can almost always hear Bobby shout encouragement from the dugout on every at bat).
We must not forget how “great” Bobby has been and will always be (a sure-fire first ballot hall of famer). Now with that being said, you are right on target. As I have preached, Bobby is a professed three-run homer type of manager. His strong suit doesn’t match the team’s current personal and payroll restrictions. The question is, how do you “gently let a manager of Bobby’s stature go”? It would be a colossal mistake for Frank Wren to fire Bobby, so the job of replacing him is not one that will ingratiate Wren with the fans (as if he cares anyway seeing how he has axed Smoltz, Glav, and his overall reaction to us dumb fans). If and when Bobby decides to retire I would have but one choice…Fredi Gonzalez. He is used to having ridiculous payroll restrictions, is great with creating something out of nothing (with young players), and is of course a former Braves coach and spent time in our minor league system.
SavBraves
June 18th, 2009
12:12 pm
Just don’t say Ned Yost is one of your potential managers. Make Bobby the GM
wolf
June 18th, 2009
12:13 pm
FRANK WREN is the guy who should be fired. He is the one who assembled this totally dysfunctional team, the one with no speed and no power and no idea how to manufacture runs, the man who got together the leaky infield when the pitching staff throws a lot of sinkers and needs sound defense. Wren is the guy who chased players all winter with bags of money and usially got rejected. The Orioles fired Frank Wren as their GM, and now they evrn beat the Braves. In baseball and anywhere else, it is seldom smart to hire somebody who has been fired from a similar job elsewhere for being incompetent. Get rid of Wren NOW and maybe, after the season ends, offer Bobby Cox a job as an advisor/consultant in the front office. With THIS team, no manager could be very successful.
Ron Roberts
June 18th, 2009
12:14 pm
Mark, I get what you’re saying, and JUST abotu agree, wholeheartedly with your assessment. The bottom line, though, is wins and losses and what moves the turnstiles. And there’s not a manager out there who could survive this many non-winning seasons, with the exception of Bobby Cox.
Does he deserve some benefit of the doubt? Sure, to a point. He’s not fully responsible for the assembling of the squad he has to manage, but he has input. Where he’s failed, I think, miserably, as a manager, is in sometimes being TOO lioyal.
I’m sure he loves Kelly Johnson like one of his own kids, maybe; but Kelly’s done NOTHING to warrant being an everyday player. We mad this very same tough decision with Marcus Giles, as well, and it was the right call to make. It’s a call that NEEDS to be made, now.
I’m sure he loves Jeff Francoeur, as well, but Jeff’s not cutting it, right now, and whatever defense he brought to the game, it’s not what it was when he came up, so any justification for keeping him in the everyday lineup for that purpose is just about fruitless.
The ‘lack of passion’ or ‘lack of urgency’ isn’t just somethign Cox has enabled, though; no, the local sports media hasn’t really pressed this franchise, and ownership hasn’t exactly sent any “win or there’ll be some shakeups, soon” messages, either. So maybe there IS some complacency. I just know that complacency isn’t good, whether you’re at the top or somewhere below.
As a fan (and somebody who’s yet to take in a game in Atlanta this year), my money and time-spent watching is too valuable to waste on a complacent operation.
Braves73
June 18th, 2009
12:14 pm
Enter your comments here
cvbraves
June 18th, 2009
12:14 pm
Thanks, Mark…I agree that Bobby Cox is the greatest…and believe that to be true now as well as then. Wish he’d manage forever. Been around and watching the Braves and a lot of baseball a long time (now over 70 yoa), and he’s the best.
gatorman770
June 18th, 2009
12:15 pm
Hell No! The Braves need new owners.
the evil rich
June 18th, 2009
12:16 pm
Of course it’s the players fault. But, a NEW manager is LONG OVERDUE!!
SC Ace
June 18th, 2009
12:16 pm
Freddi Gonzalez! Too bad the Marlins extended him.
Ned Yost would be a replacement Bobby would heartily endorse.
I still think they’re grooming TP, for better or for worse.
Tony in Johns Creek
June 18th, 2009
12:18 pm
It’s not Bobby. IT’S THE PLAYERS.
B-rockGT
June 18th, 2009
12:18 pm
Frenchy led off with a triple. Kelly Johnson proceeded to fly out but not deep enough. Javier Vazquez comes to the plate, one of the best bunting pitchers on the team. Does Bobby try a squeeze? NOPE. With this team you got to take runs how u can get them. That would have been a perfect time to do the squeeze and who knows that could have sparked the offense. It’s the little things that if done right, can really light up an offense. I just dont think he is taking the risks he needs to in order to push this team along. When Bmac was up with Chipper and Yunel on in front of him with no outs, Bobby should have sent the runners with a 3-2 count. The man has struck out only 19 times. Yes, I got these ideas from Joe and Boog last night, but come on they were good ideas and who knows maybe getting that one run from the squeeze and staying out of the DP would have won the game.
gatiger
June 18th, 2009
12:19 pm
The question should be, “Why does Terry Pendleton still have a job with the Braves?”
Atticus
June 18th, 2009
12:19 pm
There are many correct observations above including Jborodawg. Most baseball people think he is one of the top 2-3 managers in the game and it is because of what he did for 14 years. I would agree. But because we are talking subjectively, my question comes down to what makes a great manager, what is the criteria?
If it is consistency, Cox wins hands down. If it is titles, Torre. If it is getting the most out of the least, you have others….it goes on and on.
To me it really comes down to WS titles and putting the best teams on the field, year after year. Cox had 3 HOF pitchers and a very good surrounding cast in the 90s. Even then, the Braves still only won 1 WS. That has been discussed ad nauseum (the umpire, the Leyritz HR, on and on). He doesn’t have the players but he also isn’t getting the most out of them and it could be he doesn’t have the coaches, he doesn’t hold players as accountable as he used to or he just doesn’t connect like he used to, we really don’t know that unless we are in the clubhouse.
Daniel
June 18th, 2009
12:20 pm
I like your article Mark, well put.
I think it is amazing that people on here took it to mean that Bobby should go. I read it much more as an indictment of this current roster. Bobby has had unparalleled success(as you note). How do these “fans” and young players take his success as their own? And actually use it to judge or tune him out!
Mark, I think it is brilliant the way that you actually used many of the bloggers inflated ego’s and misguided baseball knowledge to parallel the way this team is playing.
Certainly, it seems that many of these players and “fans” are the ones that need to go, or at least remember they haven’t done anything to compare with Cox. A little humility and work ethic please!
If you feel this blog was directed at you, I implore you to look at your own life for what it is. The world has too many self-important do-nothings. We need real men and women, just like the Braves need real ball players.
Thank you,
Mark
Mark
June 18th, 2009
12:20 pm
Someone needs to light a fire in these guys. They need to play like they are playing for a job. I don’t think Bobby Cox can push those kind of buttons. And then you add to that his line-ups and on the field managing and tactics and I think it’s sadly time for Bobby to go.
Booby Cocks
June 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
Mark, good article. Why does Bobby get a free pass? Is he JoePa? Bowden? I mean, come on. The Braves haven’t been a top tier hitting team in YEARS. How frustrating is it to lose 3-2 every night?
And I’m sorry but has anyone else noticed the bungled plays in the field? Escobar making mistakes. Johnson’s errors. Run down fiascos. These team just doesn’t seem very well coached.
I have been a Braves fan since 1983. I just think it’s time to move on. How is that blasphemy? Every other franchise turns coaches over like toast. Why can’t we consider it?
Robert
June 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
“He’s the best manager I’ve ever seen. He’s the best manager I’ll ever see. ”
By process of logical reasoning, I deduce you have never ever seen another baseball manager and never ever will – either that or you, Mr Bradley smoke CHEAP crack – cuz Cox is absolutely the WORST manager of all time
Rufus
June 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
I don’t think Bobby Cox, is managing in the real world. I believe that he not doesn’t realize what’s going on, on the field, nor doesn’t realize, how bad Johnson, Anderson, and a couple of others are.
He’s not really managing, the man is stagnated. Since last year, Cox has been out of it, making the same mistakes, over and over again. He bench Escobar, he should bench the whole team.
He gets rid of good players and keep player like Johnson, Anderson, Kotchman.
Bobby Cox is not one to motivate a team.
Player like to play for him, because he doesn’t kick enough A–, the escape goat was Escobar, one of the few that is hitting the ball, boy is he rough.
Bobby, step down while you still have some respect from the fans.
dah!
June 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
Wow!!! It’s about time somebody realized Bobby Cox must go…done…through..over….finished! He should have been dismissed 10 years ago! Oh…and to the Braves General Manager, please stop bringing back old players with injuries. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks (including surgeries)…not gonna happen if you expect to win a championship anytime soon.
Bill Heller
June 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
Keep Cox. Teach Franceour how to throw a knuckleball.
gayle
June 18th, 2009
12:22 pm
I am delighted to see this subject being presented in public. Up to this point, any discussion about Cox going was like talking about the elderly aunt in the basement – everybody knew about it, but no one dare bring it up.
If the standard for great managers is longevity and regular season wins, Cox wins hands down.
But in the MLB and other professional sports, the measurements are championships and Cox has but one – only one. Three HOF’ers in the rotation and he only has one.
All you Cox apologists/enablers can choose to shoot the messenger here, but aside from Chipper, who is the constant over this run of failed post-seasons?
Why does blame and accoutability dodge Cox?
Why can’t the Braves develop and keep players?
Why do free agents no longer have Atlanta as a destination of choice?
I could go on, but it is like beating a dead horse – literally and figuratively.
For so many reasons, the housecleaning that began with Smoltz and Glavine must continue to the dugout if there is a sincere desire on the part of ownership to have a contending team.
If not, it shows that ownership is satisfied with the status quo, satisfied with peddling prospects for rent-a-players to perpetuate the myths of a playoff run.
Cox could have bowed out gracefully at any one of a number of occasions. His insistence of sticking around long past his time denies him that privledge.
The Braves seem to have become very skilled at the awkward and embarrassing exit. Now they have yet another opportunity to do just that.
Keeping Cox now assures this team free time in October for as long as this future HOF’er stubbornly sticks around.
61 year Braves Fan
June 18th, 2009
12:22 pm
I agree with Hershel Talker. Cox is a very poor tactician.