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
gayle
June 18th, 2009
12:51 pm
Dr.R; I’ll check you off as a Cox apologist. If you think that Burnett, Furcal and Griffey went elsewhere because of money, then I guess you’re also checking your mailbox for your playoff ticket applications.
Cox’s time and best work is behind him. It’s time to let go of the past and move on.
SRF
June 18th, 2009
12:51 pm
I blame the television – when I was growing up we watched them on WTCG-17 and they were awful back then.
Then came the Superstation days – and they got better. Now we are back to Channel 17 which I cannot even
pick up anymore so I rarely can watch any games – but they are awful again.
bravesfanforever
June 18th, 2009
12:53 pm
Taking a hint from B-rockGT….
Here is my lineup which would produce more runs and may actually keep us somewhat competitive…
Escobar SS
Prado 2B
Chipper 3B
McCann C
McLouth CF
Kotchman 1B
Diaz LF
B Jones RF
Pitcher
I’m not sure what the deal is but for 20 years, Bobby Cox would always have at least 3 guys in the line up at any one time who can’t hit. “Gotta have defense” I guess. But I think we have to consider all facets of the game and not just defense. I think it is one reason the Braves have won only one WS. They have played too conservatively. They do it during the season and in the post season.
I’ve always been an advocate of Davy Johnson’s thinking: Put all the guys in the line up who can hit. Defense is one thing but you gotta score runs to win games too. Hitting is far more important. It’s great to get both but unfortunately we don’t have very skilled hands on this team right now.
I think with regular play, Prado and Diaz will hit better. I know we tried that experiment with Diaz before, but just tell him that he’s only going to play the second half in left. Maybe he won’t notice that means he is actually full time (shhhhhhh…)
Brandon Jones should hit just enough to keep himself in the majors, until we make a trade, or if Schafer is going to prove himself at the MLB level. Jones could not possibly do any worse than Frenchy. Trade him or release him. I can guaranty you that he will either be someone’s bench player for the next few seasons or he will be out of baseball. He is not going to make a comeback people. Forget it.
McLouth really needs to hit in the middle of this line up. We need power! Escobar and Prado should get on base more than enough to be at the top. Maybe switch them if Escobar starts whining again that he doesn’t like hitting first or if he keeps hitting homers we will need him batting second. Not sure why no one has EVER suggested putting Prado leading off. Why not? He had a .377 OBP last year.
I agree that Greg Norton needs to be cut. It is absolutely 100% ridiculous that he is still with the team. He might be a nice guy but frankly, if a person does not produce then he should be fired. Sorry, but that’s just the way it works. I’ve fired people on my staff too because they were a drain on resources. He is taking up a roster spot for a TRUE hitter in Canizares.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HITTING! Bring in everyone who can hit and put them in the line up!! This should not be about relationship building or character building or whatever. It’s about winning games. If we have a player on the bench who is clearly outperforming the regular, then PUT HIM IN THERE!!! There is no reason why Prado, B. Jones, and Diaz should not be playing right now.
I have said it as well
June 18th, 2009
12:54 pm
Go head Gayle and preach!
Bobby should have long been gone. He could not have managed for the Yankees!! Look how many world series Joe Torre won and still the Yankees weren’t satisfied. That’s the way you handle business. If someone isn’t helping you get to the top of your sport (World Series Championships) why be content with being at the bottom of your sport (Regular Season Wins). I was disappointed when Joe Torre left Atlanta but he had a successful run in NY and George Steinbrenner still wasn’t satisfied. George Steinbrenner would have canned Bobby Cox years ago. IMHO.
Dr. R
June 18th, 2009
12:54 pm
“This team has too many good baseball players to not be winning more,they are obviously not motivated.” Understand that in baseball, you can’t become a better player just by TRYING harder. This isn’t pee-wee soccer. It’s a game of highly skilled players that requires execution and adjustment. If the players are no good, and I agree this roster is lacking, it’s because the front office did not judge the talent effectively. Even then, it’s not an exact science.
By the way, LaRussa has managed longer than Cox and has exactly one more title (including suffering two World Series sweeps) and Billy Martin also won just two in all the years he managed, and that was with the best team money can buy. Some express great love for these fiery old-school guys but their track records really aren’t so great, and they tend to wear out their welcome in short order. Martin was famous for getting teams to a certain point but he didn’t really win that much. Much of that is because his ego got in the way of letting the players get credit for winning.
Raleigh Dog
June 18th, 2009
12:55 pm
I doubt if anyone in the dugout including Cox knows what “avuncular” means.
Jimv
June 18th, 2009
12:55 pm
The farm beckons, Bobby. Writers like MB and many of the bloggers show kindness out of respect. Make this your last season-for your sake.
BigPapaT18
June 18th, 2009
12:56 pm
Uhhhhh…Rasheed you are ridiculous. Number of world series winners Dusty Baker managed = 0. In 14 years he has only been to the playoffs 4 times. What are you talking about?
Matt Jennings
June 18th, 2009
12:56 pm
I agree. The Braves need a change in manager, but they also need new manageMENT.
Their current GM has been suckered multiple times already (ie. Furcal), has alienated not one but two Braves legends (I personally think it’s good that they gave up on Glavine, but it didn’t need to be so bad), and just can’t find really good players.
Their current president, for all the praise he got while GM for deals like Maddux and McGriff, also made boneheaded deals like Rico Brogna, Albie Lopez, and giving away the farm for a few years rental of Gary Sheffield and J.D. Drew.
They need ownership this isn’t a faceless corporation.
bigstack19
June 18th, 2009
12:56 pm
Another great piece Mr. Bradley. You are right. They need a manager with some fire to him. Someone who behind closed doors of course, will get in these players faces and try to light a fire under their sorry butts. Cox was great with vets who knew how to win. This group needs to be taught how to win. Actually, the vast majority of this group needs to be replaced.
Ed
June 18th, 2009
12:58 pm
Will you please quit suggesting that Vazquez be traded??? Right now he is our BEST pitcher. He has been consistent throughout his career.
Dr. R
June 18th, 2009
12:59 pm
So Gayle, you think Burnett would have rather taken millions less to play for a fourth-place team than go to New York? If so, you are hopelessly naive. Ballplayers are businessmen trying to earn what they can before their elbows and knees give out in their mid-30s. I don’t begrudge them that, and I’d likely do the same. Furcal and Griffey are having terrible years so that actually worked out. Lowe has pitched well, and so has Vazquez. The problem isn’t free agents; it’s the homegrown talent, which isn’t very good. And that’s not Bobby’s fault. But I know I’m not going to change the minds of people who don’t care for him, so I guess we might as well move on.
Kevin
June 18th, 2009
12:59 pm
How about Ed Yost as manager n gerald perry as the hittin coach…We need fire Bobby cox n friends not the pitchin coach he okay.I still feel francoer will be traded with KJ to cubs for 4 minor league players n a outfielder not known maybe Milton Bradley..is one! Lets see if i get a answer back on that
Forsyth Fan
June 18th, 2009
1:00 pm
Bottom line here is BC had probably the best starting rotation in the last 50 years with the Braves in the 90’s. We should have won 3 or 4 world championships. BC is an excellent ‘gatherer’ of talent, but is too laid back to get the potential out of the talent. He is also too loyal to players once he decides to play them (Frenchy, Shaffer(sp). We need to ask him to leave and get someone with ‘fire in the belly’ or we are in for a long (80’s type) downturn!
Paul Lentz
June 18th, 2009
1:00 pm
Jeff Francoeur is batting 6th today. I dont care if it is a left hander pitching today. The fact that he is batting 6th today speaks volumes about this line-up. He should be batting 8th, PERIOD.
What continues to BAFFLE me is that Bobby Cox refuses to bench Francoeur and start Matt Diaz in right field. Yet today, Diaz is batting 4th and Francoeur 6th.
Now, some of you may be saying “Hum, Diaz rakes the lefties, therefore batting him higher makes sense”. Well, if you are going to judge by the numbers, then look at this:
Batting vs. Lefties……………..Matt Diaz………………Jeff Francoeur
At-Bats………………………………55…………………………74……….
Average…………………………….273………………………..297………
Doubles……………………………….3……………………………1………
Triples…………………………………1……………………………2………
Homers………………………………..0…………………………..1………
RBIs……………………………………6…………………………..11…….
Walks…………………………………6…………………………….2……..
Strikeouts…………………………….8……………………………8……..
Judging by those left numbers, I would “give” Francoeur a slight edge.
Lets look at their numbers vs. righties:
Batting vs. Righties……………..Matt Diaz………………Jeff Francoeur…..
At-Bats……………………………….59…………………………..166………….
Average……………………………..271…………………………..229…………
Doubles………………………………..2………………………………5………..
Triples………………………………….1………………………………0………..
Homers………………………………..2………………………………3………..
RBIs…………………………………..10…………………………….19………..
Walks………………………………….6………………………………8………..
Strikeouts…………………………….16…………………………….27……….
In almost 3 times that at-bats, I give the edge overwhelmly to Diaz. Francoeur’s batting average alone warrants him to be benched against right handers. If anything, Francoeur should only play against left handers and ride the bench against right handers.
Yet Matt Diaz is the one riding the bench against righties while Francoeur is free to drag the line-up with his .229 average against righties.
BULLDAWG FEMALE GRAD
June 18th, 2009
1:01 pm
THE BRAVES NEED ONE PERSON, B A R R Y L A M A R B O N D S. WHY CAN’T BAARY PLAY, A-ROD, MANNY, AND MANY OTHER TOOK JUICE TOO. TO ALL WHO FEEL BARRY L BONDS WILL NOT HELP THIS TEAM LOOK AT THE STANDINGS AFTER READING MY COMMENT, BETTER YET LOOK AT THE NEXT BASEBALL GAME EITHER IN PERSON OR LIVE. THE ORIGINAL HOMERUN KING WOULD NOT BE MAD AT THE CURRENT HOME ROME KING!!!!
Sid Bream's Legs
June 18th, 2009
1:03 pm
Mark,
I love these bombs you’re throwing this year! Smoltz is a jerk! Fire Frank Wren! Get rid of Francoeur! It’s about time the AJC columnists stopped drinking the Kool Aid!
nelson
June 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
We need a new mgr and new coachs . is time for atlanta , another year lost .start this year if necessary with a new mgr or in the 2010
Peter
June 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
Gee what is there not to like ?
We are battling for the cellar in the division…….. We walk less than most teams, make crucial outs with Impatience at the plate…….and have players that are constantly rally killers.
I think since the money they make is so small……. they should be allowed to relax and take their pay, after all isn’t baseball a long season……..gosh don’t they work about 1/2 as much as a regular workers, and sometime they have to work when it gets hot.
It must be tough to be fat out of shape and have to play ball when it is hot.
No wonder Bobby doesn’t expect too much…….why should we ?
BugKiller
June 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
How in the heck is Bobby Cox better than Sparky Anderson or
ANY of the managers you named?
Sparky Anderson actually WON three titles!
Winning 14 division titles in mostly WEAK divisions doesn’t mean CRAP unless you actually win a TITLE. What the heck is it with you people in the Atlanta sports media???
Bobby Cox is the single-most OVERRATED manager / coach in the
HISTORY OF SPORTS!!!
Mark, why do you refuse to acknowledge that Cox is the WORST
POSTSEASON MANAGER OF ALL TIME???
He is the absolute worst. He managed October like it was April, refusing to change his
tactics. Refusing to play the hot bats.
How many times did he insert some weak-hitting veteran into the lineup in October??? How
many times did those weak-hitting favored veterans of his actually do anything? How many times did he leave his pitchers in an inning too long? A batter too long?
His platooning of Ryan Klesko was the most ridiculous thing
I’ve seen in baseball in the last 20 years. His love of platoons is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in
baseball in the last 20 years.
How many GREAT teams saw their October chances dashed by the
duncery of Bobby the Booger Picker?
How many World Series would a GREAT manager, like Sparky
Anderson have won with those teams? Two more? Three more? Four more?
You are absolutely RIDICULOUS, Bradley.
How dare you compare great managers like Anderson to this
bumbler, who’s wasted more chances in October than ANY manager
in the history of baseball.
What about 1991? 1993? 1996? 1997? 2000? The Braves should have been to AT LEAST four more World Series, losing NLCSs they had no business losing (1993, 1997,
1998, and 2000). The Braves should have won AT LEAST three more World Series
that they had NO BUSINES LOSING!!! (1991, 1996, 1997).
Bobby Cox is the WORST manager when it matters the most. Bobby Cox has done the LEAST with some of the BEST teams in the history of baseball.
You stick Joe Torre, Sparky Anderson, heck, even freaking Tito up in Boston on those teams, and the Braves don’t choke away the 1996 Series, or the 1997 NLCS.
EVERY TIME a big decision had to be made, Cox made the wrong
one.
Bradley, STOP putting out your pro-Cox propaganda!!! When are you gonna learn that TALENT wins divisions!!! Managers have next to NOTHING to do with it. Managers win or lose in October. Stop telling the story
backwards, Bradley!!!
I AM SICK OF THE WRONG-FOOTED WORSHIP OF THE MOST OVERRATED
MANAGER IN BASEBALL HISTORY AND THE WORST MANAGER IN POSTSEASON BASEBALL HISTORY!!!
BOBBY COX SUCKS!!!
Dr. R
June 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
Where to begin?
Kevin, it’s Ned Yost, not Ed, and I doubt the Cubs would give much of anything for players the Braves don’t want. So go back to your coloring books and behave until mama gets home.
Forsyth Fan, Bobby does not “gather” the talent. He plays the guys the front office gets him. He doesn’t not go recruting like they do in high schools in your county.
And Bulldog Female Grad, first get your thumb off the shift key; then understand that Barry Lamar Bonds is 45 years old, has bad knees, hasn’t played in two years and may soon be in prison.
I’m gonna bow out now ‘cuz there’s just too many of these for me to bother with.
DMac
June 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
If Bobby had the class that many seem to think he has, he would resign now.
bravesfanforever
June 18th, 2009
1:06 pm
Paul Lentz… I really think Diaz’ numbers would be better if he got more consistent ABs. I know what happened earlier with him being picked to start regularly but honestly, what player doesn’t hit better when in the line up consistently?
Personally, I would bring up B Jones to play RF and put Diaz in LF regularly. Anderson needs to be released or retire.
This is only a short term fix because I still believe that we need to trade Vasquez, Johnson, and Francoeur for some hitting.
Gemini
June 18th, 2009
1:07 pm
Bobby’s best days are far behind him and it’s time he realized that and stepped down. As he’s gotten older, he’s unfortunately become much more stubborn in his ways. He’s very hesitant to ever change or try anything regardless of how bad a streak the Braves fall into. Whatever aggressive streak he used to have has been lost for several years now.’
Last night’s game was a perfect example. Jeff Francoeur gets on third with no one out. After the first out, why not take a chance on a squeeze play? Nope, let’s just sit back while the team strands the runner. Brian McCann is up with 2 men on and no one out. Why not try a hit and run? Nope, let’s just sit back while he inevitably hits into a double play.
When a team is struggling to score runs, you have to take a few chances here and there. Not only does this shake your own team up, but it certainly can affect your opponents as well. Hit and run plays pull defenders out of defensive alignments. Runners that threaten to steal can keep pitchers from concentrating. But unfortunately, Bobby seems to be content to let the other teams be as comfortable as possible.
And what is with his stubborn streak with the roster? It almost takes an act of God for him to ever change that. Obviously, the lineup he keeps trotting out there night after night isn’t getting it done. Sometimes, just changing the batting order helps. Sometimes, you just have to bench a player when they aren’t doing the job. Kelly is really stinking it up right now, but I’m not sure what it would take for Bobby to bench him. Why not take a player like Diory Hernandez and give Kelly some time off? What could it hurt? He finally yanked Yunel for a game and Yunel responded with a 2-run homer last night. But will he pull anyone else? Not likely.
The bullpen is just as bad. Kris Medlen has shown he has great stuff, but Bobby would rather keep sending out Peter Moylan to blow the game rather than let the rookie shine. Why? I don’t know, but it’s frustrating to watch it game in and game out.
And finally, my biggest beef with Bobby is what is his aversion to guys with speed? It seems like every time we actually have speed on this team, those are the players who get the least playing time. Guys like Brandon Jones and Josh Anderson would be benched even after games where they would have a couple of hits and steal a couple of bases while guys like Francoeur continue to play even when they have 0-for-20 streaks. Nate McClouth, despite being a great baserunner, only has 2 stolen bases since coming to the Braves. Why such a waste of tools players have to offer?
Instead, Bobby will probably continue to sit back and do the same things for the rest of the season and the Braves will continue to sink further and further back in the division.
Justafan
June 18th, 2009
1:08 pm
Mark….talk about Spin! Its for sure the spin don’t stop with MB. Can’t have it both ways, friend.
Dr. R
June 18th, 2009
1:08 pm
Though please forgive my “doesn’t not” double negative that I should have caught. Been in here so long I’ve picked up everyone’s bad habits.
Great column, Mark.
Tami
June 18th, 2009
1:09 pm
Amen! I LOVE Bobby, and I always will. But, absolutely NOTHING is working. Perhaps it’s time to let Bobby retire into the sunset while he’s still young enough to wait the 5-year period for his HOF installation so he can be there to receive the honor. It’s time to move on to another regime, which will most likely not be matched by Bobby’s. But, the next guy can most certainly try to come close.
Bobby's Cox
June 18th, 2009
1:09 pm
Someone tell Cox about the At-Bat application on the iphone. He can listen to the games on the radio while he’s managing and get advice from Joe Simpson like “maybe we should send the runners here on a 3-2 pitch to Bmac” in the 5th inning yesterday.
Someone needs to get this team amped up. They look so down. If I’m Cox, I’m telling them to take every extra base they can. Steal, hit and run, 1st to 3rd. I don’t care if they get thrown out or lose every day for a week…I think if they do it they at least become smarter about when to do it, play like they’re having fun, and start playing without the feeling like they don’t want to screw up.
Chop It Up All-Star
June 18th, 2009
1:10 pm
Very well done, Mark!! Really great articles this week!!
I have a great amount of respect for Mr. Cox and what he has done for the Braves organization – period. However, we all have a season, and I truly believe that his has passed.
As fans, maybe we won’t truly appreciate what he accomplished until he’s gone, but I’m actually kind of ready to see what’s next. Time for a new face and hopefully a new brand of Braves baseball!!
Truth-serum
June 18th, 2009
1:10 pm
Mo dumb Bradley finally picked a real article. Bobby”southern red” Cox and chipper(trade David justice or trade Me)Bubba jones should have been sent packing long ago.
This article is about 8 years out dated. Are you really that slow? Mo Dumb?
jch
June 18th, 2009
1:10 pm
Personally I think the days when Cox’s management style was successful are gone. The game has changed and the players attitudes have changed. He’s a “player’s manager” which means, to me anyway, he’s fiercely loyal to his players. However, in this day and age, how many of today’s players will return the same degree of loyalty?
The last couiple of years we’ve agonized over having to let go of our long time veterans and how to do this respectfully. Do you see that happening anywhere else in the league with the recent generations of players? I don’t.
The MLB has become much more like the NBA – the players are multi-media, multi-outlet celebrities. I would guess the salaries of most of the MLB’s All-Stars doesn’t even pay their taxes any longer – the vast majority of their income comes for outside sources. Baseball is just what they have to do to secure these lucrative contracts. “The Game” just isn’t as important to this day’s player is it was 20 years ago.
Coaching had to adjust in the NBA and has been adjusting in the MLB. Cox just doesn’t seem the type to adjust.
However, I can’t see firing Cox. Encouraging him to retire is about as much as you can do at this point. Hopefully he’ll get the hint and make a graceful exit before it becomes necessary to take a stronger stance.
So, assuming he leaves – who gets the job? Pendleton? I’m not crazy about this considering his lack of success as a hitting coach but, it would at least allow us to get someone into take his place!
MorningJacket
June 18th, 2009
1:11 pm
Totally with gatorman770. I’ve wanted Bobby gone for a long time, but a new manager won’t help this franchise. Until the Braves have an owner willing to spend some real money for more than just pitching, then the lineup will be mediocre at best. And that’s not Bobby’s fault.
Margaret
June 18th, 2009
1:11 pm
A really superior article, Mr Bradley. You are spot on.
“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.”
” 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.”
My feelings exactly.
Just a beautiful article. Thank you.
Shoulda Woulda Coulda
June 18th, 2009
1:13 pm
Adam Dunn’s “poor fielding” in left field (the reason we did not sign him) doesn’t look too bad right now does it?
jeffrey d
June 18th, 2009
1:13 pm
Bulldawg – Because Barry Bonds did wonders for San Francisco. I’m sure he’ll be even better after two more years of aging and inactivity.
Anyway…every coach I played for acted like a coach – they were mean and they were ugly. Not for the sake of being a jerk, but for the sake of helping us to do our best. They pressed our buttons to fire us up. They chewed us out when we did something stupid. Then they’d work to make sure we didn’t do something stupid again.
Like you said, Mark, this obviously isn’t working with these Braves…KJ, Yunel, and Francoeur particularly. They all have star potential, but they need more coaching, and it’s obvivous that Bobby’s style isn’t working.
JF McNamara
June 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
I like Bobby, and I have no problem with his motivational methods.
The problem I have is that he’s not adaptable. The Braves need to manufacture runs, and he just hasn’t changed his game plan. The Braves are a singles hitting team. You can’t cluster enough hits to score many runs that way.
You need power or you need to run, bunt, and manufacture. They do neither and the results are disastrous. Maybe add Blanco or Brandon Jones to the top of the order with McClouth and steal bases like (a poor man’s) Reyes and Castillo in New York. Do something. Being bad AND boring won’t sell.
derick
June 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
Yes it is time, As much as we hate to say it. Bobby is not getting the job done. He is a mere figure head for the position, of his former self. With that being said, I hope John S, not Frank Wren, handle this situation with the upmost respect deserving of a great Manger, Man, an employee of a world class organization.
DHD
June 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
You can’t win the Kentucky Derby on a jackass. Bobby Cox just needs some baseball players.
bravesfanforever
June 18th, 2009
1:15 pm
I love Bobby but frankly, the conservative style has to go. This has gone on long enough. His style is well suited for an established team where keeping the guys from griping in the clubhouse and keeping their minds solely on the field is paramount. I don’t think it works well with teams in transition where you literally need to start kicking some a$$es to get them to perform.
Put in all the guys into the line up who can hit. I don’t know why Bobby has always traditionally had 2-3 guys in at any one time who flat out cannot hit the ball. I just don’t get it. It’s this conservative approach that keeps rearing it’s ugly head. Francoeur, Anderson, and Johnson all need to be benched indefinitely or until we can trade them. They have ALL had more than enough ABs to figure things out by now. Start producing or you are canned. Period. End of story.
You know, going with a 4-5 man rotation in the playoffs is ridiculous. I know that’s nice to keep the guys “fresh” but we are talking about do or die. Put the top 3 guys in there and when it comes to the WS keep throwing out the top 2! Whatever it takes to win!
We still could use another trade but…
Escobar SS
Prado 2B
Chipper 3B
McCann C
McLouth CF
Kotchman 1B
Diaz LF
B Jones RF
Pitcher
jeffrey d
June 18th, 2009
1:15 pm
Adam Dunn’s “poor fielding” in left field (the reason we did not sign him) doesn’t look too bad right now does it?
At this point, I’d take an amputee in Left if he could hit.
DC from Conyers
June 18th, 2009
1:15 pm
MB I think you hit it right on the nose. BC is a Great guy, he treats his players like men. Problem is he has some kids playing for him. Kids who need guidence from Coaches who don’t coach. First rule change would be absolutely no working with another coach from another orgainazation. You work with our hitting coach, the one who is going to see you everyday, in the cages and games. More coaching ought to be done during the game. Talk to players about mental errors at the time they happen. Talk to players when they are on deck about the situation at hand. Whatch the coaches during a game they don’t coach.Move Chipper to first, should have happened years ago and it would have been settled at first. I think I heard last night that Mac had not struck out but 17 times this season. Frenchy take notice, if you swing on first pitch outside I would take you out of the game. Get your head out of your a__ _ and listen to your hitting coach. Heshould know you better than anyone except your father. Sorry but Anderson hasen’t shown me anything. Diaz would play everyday. Prado and Infantie would play alot couldn’t hurt or be anyworse than it is now. Just my opion.
Paul Lentz
June 18th, 2009
1:16 pm
It’s great how the Braves announcers pointed out that Francoeur is “batting” .348 in his past 6 games with 5 RBIs. However, he only has 1 double among those 8 hits. The other 7 hits are singles.
In the month of June, he has 1 double and 1 homer. That kind of production is PATHETIC. I could care less about his little “streak”. Lets see what Francoeur’s next 6 games brings. I’d take a lower average with more production, because we all know that Francoeur isnt going to bat .348 for the rest of the year.
dan
June 18th, 2009
1:17 pm
Bobby Cox deserves the best treatment he can get. I have a Braves fan since birth. Even if I do live in wisonsin. I have always been a loyal fan. The Game doesn’t change. The players do. Mr Cox may not be able to reach all players anymore. That doesn’t make him a bad mamager. vince lombardi was a great football coach. i don’t think he could coach these days today’s NFl players wouldn’t respond. Maybe the Braves’s need a change. Then who would fill bobby’s shoe’s. make a change when Cox is ready to leave and not before. he deserves respect.
Manny
June 18th, 2009
1:18 pm
Bobby Cox should go. But Bobby Cox shouldn’t be fired. Bobby Cox will probably look on this season and realize that it’s time to go. And if he decided next year that he should stay, then he should stay.
In short, it should be his call.
Will Jones - Atlanta
June 18th, 2009
1:19 pm
The Braves, where young men learn right values to prosper playing a game, should have fired Cox when he showed up on the police blotter for drunkenly beating his wife. After that was all the trouble with Chipper Jones that a better coach and mentor might have steered him around. Chipper’s performance on the field was negatively affected by the life choices made with a bum for a coach.
BigPapaT18
June 18th, 2009
1:19 pm
Please stop saying Cox cannot develop young talent. Look at the players who have come through the Braves organization throughout their 14 year run. Guys currently on the team that Bobby has helped “develop” include Chipper, McCann, and Yunel. No doubt these guys would say Cox was instrumental in their development as players.
dawg07
June 18th, 2009
1:20 pm
Changes from top to bottom. Need to go with young players.
Daniel
June 18th, 2009
1:21 pm
Everyone just needs to calm down.
Yes, the team stinks this season, no doubt about it. Mark suggested, as I am, that the real problem is that the current group of players have accepted the success of the Braves without having done anything to earn it.
Do we need to get rid of Cox because he brings a legacy of success, which his players take for granted?
If you answer, yes, then I suppose you feel that the reason for low SAT scores is because the test is too hard.
Bobby Cox taught this orginization, and city, what it meant to be a winner.
Make no mistake, with the possible exception of Ted Turner, Bobby Cox is THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN ATLANTA SPORTS HISTORY. (with apologies to Furman and Hank)
Paul Lentz
June 18th, 2009
1:22 pm
bravesfanforever…………..I totally agree that Matt Diaz would play better if he played regularly. That is why I posted the contrast in numbers between Diaz and Francoeur, especially their numbers batting against righties.
If anything, against righties, I would play Diaz in right and Anderson in left (bringing in Francoeur to pay right and move Diaz to left in late inning situations where the Braves have the lead). The only way I would start Francoeur is to give Anderson a rest against lefties, where I would switch Diaz to left field so Francoeur can start in right.
However, I still would start Anderson in left the majority of the time. Anderson still has pop in his bat. I would just replace him in left in late inning situations.
Regardless, Matt Diaz needs to play much more than Francoeur does.
bravesfanforever
June 18th, 2009
1:22 pm
Paul… It is about “what have you done for me lately” and Anderson, Johnson, and Francoeur have not done anything the past month and it’s why the Braves have not done anything in the standings.
Bobby Cox has NEVER thought about hitting first. It’s always about preserving the relationship with the player and letting the sap “hit through his problems”. We have capable guys who can outhit the regulars!