The new Bobby Cox? He’s managing the Red Sox
Of Bobby Cox, I’ve maintained — sorry to be quoting my silly self here, but know no way around it — he’s the best manager I’ve ever seen and the best I’ll ever see. But now I’m thinking maybe only the first part applies.
Because Terry Francona has Bobby Cox written all over him, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.
Francona manages the Red Sox, and that’s a job unlike any other in sports. “I don’t think anything prepares you for Boston,” Francona said Saturday, speaking before Game 2 of his team’s series at Turner Field. But then, in almost the same breath, he admitted that maybe something did help ready him for Red Sox Nation.
The Red Sox have and have had a slew of good players in Francona’s five-plus seasons — Manny, Big Papi, Pedro, Beckett, Schilling, Papelbon, Pedroia, even Nomar — but none of them was, is or will ever be the greatest athlete this manager has managed. See, Francona had Michael Jordan.
The year was 1994, and Jordan was a Birmingham Baron. Francona was the manager, and he learned early about the caring and feeding of the mass — and massively hysterical — media. “The situation was kind of unique,” he said. “I had to deal with more media than a minor-league manager is used to. That was good training.”
He laughed. “Before Michael got there, the Birmingham [media] was {two print reporters], and they’d come down and ask a couple of questions and then go eat.”
As for dealing with MJ himself: “There were many people wanting to get at him. I can’t imagine going through that … I was shocked at how someone could handle what he had to handle … I really think he enjoyed being on the bus [Jordan rented a special one for the Barons] and playing dominoes or cards. For those 10 hours, nobody could get at him.”
In Boston, the Sox are Rock Stars, same as Jordan was whenever he roamed. Handling MJ was essentially a pilot film on how to handle the RS and, as Francona said, “You try to learn from everything.”
It helps, too, that he’s a great baseball man. His dad, Tito Francona, was a big-leaguer (and even an Atlanta Brave) of note — the younger Francona is invariably called “Tito” by his players — and Terry had a promising future as a Expo truncated by a knee injury. He managed the Phillies and was fired for no real reason, and in his first four seasons in Boston he twice won the World Series.
He has the Cox touch with his players — he worried about giving outfielder Jason Bay, who hates to sit, Saturday off — but has that Red Sox thing about numbers. (Francona also noted Bay had hit only .167 against Javier Vazquez.) He travels not just with a BlackBerry but with a laptop and a printer. He’s a lifelong baseball man who’s suitably 21st Century.
And that’s what I see Terry “Tito” Francona becoming — the Bobby Cox of the 21st Century. He has in Boston the resources to win for a good long while, the same as Cox did here. And that’s also why, should the Braves ever need a new manager, I’d look first to Brad Mills.
He’s Tito’s bench coach. He was once Tito’s roommate. If Tito is the next Bobby, then maybe Mills is the next Tito.
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107 comments Add your comment
Ghost of Shane Vendrell
June 29th, 2009
6:07 am
If you think Cox is the best manager ever you haven’t been paying attention.
Cletus
June 29th, 2009
6:45 am
No one who handles a bullpen as badly as Bobby Cox should be considered the best. He frequently used Soriano and Gonzales in non-save situations, then the very next game has to use the clowns of the bullpen (like Jeff Bennett) to finish tight games (which they invariably lose).
And he’s far too beholden to slumping players. Why is Kelly Johnson still playing? Frenchy seems to be getting better, but he should have been benched a long time ago.
And a “great” manager would have won more than one World Series, especially considering he had Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Avery, etc.
Buzz
June 29th, 2009
6:46 am
Joe Torre is better than Bobby Cox. Haven’t you seen him?
braveshoo
June 29th, 2009
7:17 am
Bobby Cox has always been a players manager.That was fine when he had a team of All-stars,but times have changed, and I dont think Bobby has adjusted.He likes to play for the 3run homer,but we dont have home run hitters. Give me 6-8 hits a game, and I will score 3-4 runs. Lead off man walks; steal him to second;bunt him to third; and bunt him home.Run scores-no hits-ball never leaves the infield. Get the first two runners on; bunt them over; bunt them home. Bobby never does this.If he has a runner at second with no outs, he lets the hitter try to get him to third by hitting the ball to the right side. Too often we get a pop-up or a srike-out instead. If we get a runner to third with only one out, Bobby waits for the sac fly or a ground ball to score him instead of bunting him home. Too often we get a pop-up or a strikeout and dont score. With the pitching we have, Bobby needs to play small ball-something even our poor hitting team can do or should be able to do. We need to bunt more; run more; put pressure on the defense and stop leaving so many RISP.
bull-gator
June 29th, 2009
7:20 am
LaRussa deserves some mention. By the way, whay the hell is Johnson in the line-up? Does he even know how to play 2nd base? And what was that super screw up of an attempted run down yesterday? I’ve seen little leagures do a better job than that as most are better coached. It’s amazing the lack of basic baseball skills major league players have today. I don’t think a lot of them really know how to properly play the game.
braveshoo
June 29th, 2009
7:38 am
This may be heresy,but I think Bobby is playing favorites this year and it is causing disention, even though Bobby doesnt realise it. JF and KJ should be benched. They are not performing.They should practice harder;work on their hitting and earn their playing time in the future. Right now Prado and Diaz are better,and the other Latin players know it. This is probably causing problems with people like Escobar,who is young and immature, but is probably the best player we have and needs to play.When Infante comes back, he should play 2b and prado should play 1b. We need both of thes guys in the line-up,and CK hasn’t been getting it done either-look at his RBI total. Prado and Infante and Diaz can all hit and run; have better speed;strike out less often, and bring more energy and aggessiveness to the field that this team needs. WE need a spark and a change in philosophy.
Be-little, BeBOLD
June 29th, 2009
7:40 am
Mr. Bradley, if you think Bobby Cox is the best manager you ever seen, then I might suggest you start watching some other teams besides the Braves. And if you are still of that mindset, maybe you should find another sport to cover because you simply are blind to that fact. How much does Cox pay you to spout such foolishness on his behalf?????
bali
June 29th, 2009
8:03 am
thanks for standing up for bobby cox . i know things have not been as manywould like for the last few years…… but hey things happen in baseball sometimes that are out of his hands,,,,,,,,, the brave s are a team in transition,\ and it takes time to restock the cubbard so to speak, which many people do not seem to realize. The pitching got addressed this year maybe the hitting will get better or maybe we will see some offseason trades to make the braves more competitive
LSU
June 29th, 2009
8:16 am
Mark,
You say Bobby’s the best manager you’ve ever seen, but yet you can give any reasons why Bobby keeps playing a totally inadequate Kelly Johnson at 2nd base…Also, why did the greatest manager ever not have Tommy Hanson on the opening day roster? How can the greatest manager ever have 3 1/2 lackluster losing seasons in a row, and the teams play, just keeps getting worse & worse?
Shouldn’t the greatest manager ever be able to teach & motivate his team to where 3 1/2 seasons of subpar baseball doesn’t happen?
I’m thinking just about any run of the mill recycled MLB manager would’ve looked pretty great having Smoltz, Maddux & Glavine in their primes for many many years, along with $$$ to buy position players on a need be basis during that time….Looks like that’s maybe what’s happening for Francona in Boston.
Johnson
June 29th, 2009
8:21 am
Cox is far from the best as he made less out of more than any considered for that title . By my count, his mismanagement singlehandedly cost us at least 2 additional WS titles. Cox manages postseason same way he does regular season. He plays cold players while resting hot ones. You can’t manage a 7 game series like a 160 game season.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
8:32 am
Moron Cox the best ever?? Please Bradley, go easy on the drugs.
Henry D.
June 29th, 2009
8:44 am
The “greatest manager ever” would not put up with the atrocious defense we have seen this year, nor the little league base running that is going on. Cox needs to be booted upstairs if he wants to remain with the organization and someone hired that will close the clubhouse door and chew some butt every now and then. These guys know Bobby isn’t going to do or say anything so it doesn’t matter.
Joey
June 29th, 2009
9:04 am
Mark, I would have agreed with you a few years ago, even with Cox’s dismal playoff failures. But I believe Torre, LaRussa and others could take this year’s Braves team and be leading the division right now. Coach Pendleton, Jeff Bennett and Kelly Johnson (and probably Frenchy) would be long gone. How can you stay pat at pitching coach with the way this team hits? They can’t bunt, move runners over, nor drive them in. But the “player’s manager” is fine with it all…
Joey
June 29th, 2009
9:05 am
Hitting coach that is…
Paul H
June 29th, 2009
9:20 am
Bobby Cox is a great manager but every time I see Bennett or Moylan come in for “relief,” I question him.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
9:21 am
How old are you Bradley? You never saw Leo Durocher(retired 1973) when you were a kid? Casey Stengel(1965, maybe before your time)? How about Earl Weaver(1986)? Sparky Anderson(1995)? Tommy Lasorda(1996)? Tony LaRussa? Joe Torre?
You must 22, right out of college and only get Peachtree TV, or whatever channel you get the Braves on. You’re living in a bubble.
Ken
June 29th, 2009
9:33 am
I’m a Braves fan through and through, but Tony LaRussa is the best manager I’ve ever seen, hands down. Lasorda is a close second.
Don
June 29th, 2009
9:34 am
You have got to be kidding. Bobby Cox is one of the worst offensive managers in baseball history. (Right Now, Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – violating the first absolute essential for run production.) He doesn’t even understand the first absolute necessity for offensive management – emphasize/teach/demand that your hitters work the count- make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches – enableing 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, get into their weak middle relief etc. ect. Cox does’t have a clue – has never emphisized/taught/demanded this. Braves offensive failres is NO MYSTERY – Cox’s failure to demaand essentil approach to hitting = the Braves now being NEXT TO LAST in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat = a guareantee that your run production will be terrible. Why do baseball writers protect him and not point this out – Don’ they understand it either. It’s like not understanding that 2 + 2 = 4. And this doesn’ even mention his incompetence and unbelievable moves he makes in – in game strategey – and so many time moves that takes the pressure off the opposing pitcher when he hs out of since and struggleing. Cox has been great in keeping the team on an even keel etc. But he won the championships because of having an All Star Pitching staff so dominant and so far far superior to all other teams that it made it almost impossible to lose over the 162 game regular season. – But he still won only one WS because of his shortcommings in the short series.
Ran Man
June 29th, 2009
9:36 am
Has there been one comment on this blog that hasn’t been beat to death over the last few weeks? Bobby didn’t win enough WS. Bobby is too loyal to his slumping players. Bobby can’t handle a bullpen. Etc, etc. Deja vu all over again.
The Fix is In
June 29th, 2009
9:36 am
Glad to see the Red Sox and their umpires finally leave town.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
9:38 am
Ran Man,
We’re only responding to Bradley’s blog. He’s the one that keeps bringing up how great Cox is. Blame him.
Atticus
June 29th, 2009
9:39 am
Mark, tell me why Bobby Cox IS (not was) a good manager now? He got the credit for winning ONE WS and for the 14 division titles (wow we can hang our hat on being better than 4 teams each year!) with 4 HOF players in Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux and Chipper and now Mac….so why doesn’t he get held accountable when this team goes 4 years with no playoffs??
I realize this team doesn’t have enough talent, but the point is Cox is too set, not hungry enough and works the game less than the LL coaches I see at the local park.
Case in point–We are going against Beckett, 2 men on, no outs and Francouer comes up. If this was Game 7 of the WS you bunt 100% of the time…so why not now? He does this time and time again. he has a team that can’t score runs and he does nothing to manufacture runs and he holds Yunel accountable but GA??
Cox WAS a great manager because he managed expectations and got the most out of players. No more. Every batter it seems is havin one of the worst seasons of their career outside of maybe Yunel and Mac. What is he doing to manage TP or that situation?
richbrave
June 29th, 2009
9:44 am
BRADLEY closed his eyes when TORRE was here. Didn’t see him.
LSU
June 29th, 2009
9:53 am
Mark,
Do you plan on defending what you wrote in this blog?
Also, in your opinion how much input if any does Frank Wren have on who plays & who sits? I ask because if the Braves are trying to showcase Francoeur & Kelly Johnson as trade bait, than it seems to be backfiring.
Brian Williams
June 29th, 2009
9:53 am
In a semi-related story, Michael Vick is the new Michael Jackson.
NC Braves Fan
June 29th, 2009
9:55 am
The Red Sox have really become the class organization in MLB. From Theo Epstein in the front office to Francona in the dugout, they really know how to manage a major league roster.
The Yankees may yet catch them or beat them in the postseason, but in my opinion the Sox, despite having a hefty payroll, come by their success by making smart decisions – not by opening the bank vault and trying to spend their way to titles.
Big Muddy
June 29th, 2009
9:55 am
Wow- Bradley. I assume you either wash your glasses with water from the big muddy (Mississippi River)or have been drinkng it. Bobby can’t carry Larussa or Torre’s jock strap.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
9:56 am
Fifteen first-place finishes in an era of free agency and constant change, 14 of them over consecutive completed seasons: There’s my defense.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
9:58 am
richbrave,
Bradley must not have been born yet when Torre was here 82-84. Torre’s teams finished 1,2,3 in that order. Just think if we had stuck with him for 20 years like we have with that idiot Cox. Can you imagine how many WS titles we would have now?
Smitty
June 29th, 2009
10:00 am
Mark, I agree with your estimate of Cox for the most part. I have been saying for a few years now that Cox will probably be remembered as one of or possibly the best Managers in the history of baseball “over the season of 162 games but not at all successful in any kind of a short series.” It is a case of greatest strength vs. greatest weakness. His faith in his players, his refusal to criticize in public, his patience in allowing them to continue to perform in search of their best results in superior performance and professionalism over the long haul of a season or 14 seasons. Its why his players love him; listen to Chipper talk about him. But, this same basic approach in a short series or even in one game, given his Amer.League philosophy(let hitters hit , let pitchers pitch, bunt ,sacrifice, steal only if you have to,but never at the expense of allowing a player to perform) results in crucial losses when he doesn’t have a team made up of superior players acquired by keen G M’s. Charlie Leibrandt in the world series being the best of many examples. This is a mediocre Brves team at the plate. They have rebuilt a very good pitching staff but at the plate compare the braves 6,7,8 hitters with any other teams. Every game is crucial but Cox doesn’t coach that way so runners at third base with no one out never score as weak hitters flail away.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
10:00 am
I covered Torre in 1984 here. He’s really good. I know La Russa a little bit — kind of spent a day with him a few years ago — and like him a lot. He’s really good. I was around Sparky Anderson in Cincinnati. He was terrific.
But Cox, in my view, is better. Now, do I think Cox is the perfect manager for the 2009 Braves? As I sought to indicate two weeks ago, I do not.
Blindog
June 29th, 2009
10:05 am
I can guarantee you if you give Bobby a 150-200 millon dollar payroll he will win more games than anyone. NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Braves73
June 29th, 2009
10:08 am
Mark, you have well stated your point about Bobby being a “great manager” but you need to be more precise in regards to this statement. Bobby Cox is/was a “great players manager” meaning he treats everyone/player with respect, never rips a player in the paper, and defends “his boys” till the end…for that Bobby gets 100% credit & his 14 consecutive titles. Now, to be FAIR, Bobby Cox has to be one of the WORST tactical managers ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can at least own up to this, then I will certainly respect the first half of your arguement.
Booger
June 29th, 2009
10:09 am
Tito, I served with Bobby Cox: I knew Bobby Cox; Bobby Cox was a friend of mine. Tito, you’re no Bobby Cox.
Bobby Cox is a nose picker.
SOS
June 29th, 2009
10:12 am
I will add to the general concensus here. You must be smoking something or have not been looking at other teams. The Braves won 14 division titles in spite of Bobby Cox’s mismanagment of the bullpen and his stubborn bullheaded insistence on playing his favorites while the better players ride the pines. (Ex. Andruw Jones, Reitsma, Kelly Johnson, Jeff Bennett to name a few). Sure he was a 162 game manager who builds confidence and trust with his players. However, we should have won at least 2 more Division titles or World Series if not for his insane use of the bullpen. The day has past him now and the current addition of the Braves is pitiful in their baserunning and defensive. Of course he also shows blind loyalty to Terry Pendleton who should also be run out of town.
Matt from Suwanee
June 29th, 2009
10:18 am
Ease up on Cox. He hasn’t forgotten how to manage a team. You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken .
sidslid
June 29th, 2009
10:20 am
Phil:
Earl Weaver was the Cox of the ’70s. Vastly superior teams that couldn’t get it done (when there were only two levels of playoffs). His four 20 game winner Oriole team was up 2-0 in the 71 series and coughed it up to the Pirates. To bookend the decade, he was up 3-1 on the “We are Family” Bucs and lost with the last two games in Baltimore.
jakej
June 29th, 2009
10:21 am
Good stuff about Francona, but when it comes to Cox, you’re hallucinating.
UGA Fan
June 29th, 2009
10:24 am
Mark, fifteen division titles in a row…what about a wild card team from your own division winning the World Series twice during that span while you are sitting at home watching it. Fifteen division titles with only one World Series Championship during that same time frame. How could you say that makes him the greatest ever? Sure, give him Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine in their prime, and he can win the division but shouldn’t the greatest manager of all time be able to win more the one, I repeat one World Series during those fifteen years?
LSU
June 29th, 2009
10:25 am
Mark,
So you’re saying Bobby Cox is a great manager as long as long as what, as long as he doesn’t have to try and manage this current team? If you’d have said you thought Bobby used to be a great manager but not anymore, than that might’ve made sense. What’s Bobby done in the last 4 seasons to be considered great?
As for the 15 straight… Ted made sure Bobby had the horses, and Bobby did a great regular season job of not screwing it up…Postseason, not great at all. He screwed that up.
How bout an answer to my Kelly Johnson question too?
By the way..I like your blogs the best MB. Even though I disagree with you sometimes, at least you participate. So thanks.
Jfreak
June 29th, 2009
10:25 am
All managers have bad years and bad teams at times. We live too much in the 90’s and forget that not even the Yankees make the playoffs every year. With that said, Cox is stubborn to a fault. He is loyal sometimes to a fault. He is Bobby Cox and he isn’t going anywhere! I disagree with some of his calls and this team could probably use a more forceful motivator but like Frenchy he’s had good season in the past which proves to me he can do the job.
Bottom line the Braves just simply aren’t going to win much this year. The pitching has been what we thought it would be and that’s good. The hitting has been less than we’d hoped for. These guys just don’t seem to understand how to be professional when it comes to hitting and that is a product of their teaching. I don’t see the Braves really doing anything in the way of roster moves other than maybe trading a vet pitcher for some young prospects to build for the future.
Sorry guys but we have what we have this year. By the way, Chippers power numbers are that much better than Frenchy’s. Better average and a couple more home runs but RBI’s are VERY similar and RBI’s matter most of all to me.
Atticus
June 29th, 2009
10:26 am
Mark I didn’t disagree with that defense although I DID say beating 4 other teams is not exactly the same as winning multiple WS. My question was if he got all that credit then, why doesn’t he receive equal accountabilty when we have gone 4 years with no playoffs. You also didn’t answer my question about the situation in the Red Sox game.
By the way, I still think you are an excellent writer, I just want to keep you on your toes
Helluva Engineer
June 29th, 2009
10:28 am
Kelly Johnson is HORRIBLE. Why does Cox continue to play this loser????
John
June 29th, 2009
10:28 am
Bobby Cox– needs to go. The big story today though is the Mark DeRosa trade. Where were the Braves??? They were nowhere, which is where they are going under current management and ownership. I also thought about Texeria yesterday when I saw him play with the Yankees on ESPN. 20 homers and 50+rbis. If the Braves had any real intention of winning they would not have swapped him out for Kotchman. Simply put– new ownership and financial committment are required.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
10:32 am
Now, if you’re asking me, do I ever say to my silly self, “Why is Kelly Johnson in the game?” — the answer would be yes. And I didn’t like Cox walking Ortiz to get to Kotsay on Saturday in the eighth inning. But that one at least worked out.
It’s not that I never disagree with Bobby Cox. It’s that I consider the six-month regular season a truer measure of a manger than the truncated postseason.
And I would note that Earl Weaver is in the Hall of Fame and lost three of his four World Series. And Sparky Anderson lost his first two. And La Russa lost three of his first four — twice on sweeps.
BigMike
June 29th, 2009
10:34 am
bobby has one MLB Championship ring with ATL, Torre has multiple with the yanks nuff said !
BigMike
June 29th, 2009
10:35 am
Enter your comments here
Manners Matter
June 29th, 2009
10:37 am
Dear Braves Fans,
If there is an empty seat in the row in front of you at Turner Field, and there is a person sitting on either side of that empty seat, it is VERY RUDE and INCONSIDERATE to put your feet in that seat and/or dangle them in the face of the person who paid to sit there to watch the baseball game.
Let’s All Have Consideration for Other People and Have a Great Time at the Ballpark Together!
Thank You.
BraveNoMore
June 29th, 2009
10:46 am
Bobby Cox is the worst manager I have ever seen. He has John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux and wins 1 championship when all you ever hear is that pitching wins championships. He was out managed in all play-off series. Also, does a players manager mean that you tolerate loafing and sloppy play. This current team is lifeless. Has to start from the top down. Cox is the most underachieving manger there has ever been. By the way it is time to trade “Chipper” and go young.
Braves73
June 29th, 2009
10:47 am
Mark,I think you have beaten the horse to death, but it does make for good blogging.
On the whole buyers or sellers front, what would you do if you were the Braves? Would you start selling off key pieces for the future or slowly bring up your “future stars” and work them into the lineup (without giving up completely)?
Phil
June 29th, 2009
10:47 am
Torre has 4 WS titles. Sparky Anderson has 3 WS titles. LaRussa has 2 WS tiltes. Earl Weaver has 1 WS title, same as Cox. But as you pointed out Bradley, Cox has 15 division titles. That’s more than any of those other guys. Sparky had 7 division titles. With 15 chances, don’t you think the GREATEST manager of all time could win more than 1?? He should have more than Sparky’s 3 don’t you think?
I’m guessing math wasn’t your best subject in school.
Carnac The Adequate
June 29th, 2009
10:49 am
The ANSWER IS: “The Slugger’s Wife”
—————————————
The QUESTION: What is the nickname within the Braves organization for Mrs. Bobby Cox ?
NC Braves Fan
June 29th, 2009
10:50 am
Torre is a great manager, but the Yankees haven’t done squat in the postseason since the late 1990s – and his ability to bring a title to Tinseltown remains yet to be seen.
Does that mean he’s not as good as he used to be, or that he does not have the caliber of players he once did?
azcat225
June 29th, 2009
10:50 am
I’ve followed Terry’s career since his playing days at the University of Arizona, including a national championship his senior year. He hasn’t changed a bit over the years and will in all likelihood be at the helm for the BoSox as long as he desires. It’s nice to see good people do well.
Concerned Brave
June 29th, 2009
10:52 am
Does being a players manager mean playing Kelly Johnson, putting up with Garrett Anderson’s lolly gagging, accepting a team with no heart. This team sucks from the top down. I agree with trading Chipper for some young talent like Texas screwed us out of. Cox has under-achieved with the staff he had over the years. I think it is because he is to soft on the players. I would rather have a manger that puts winning first no matter if he has to trade players that don’t hustle and know how to play the game.
LSU
June 29th, 2009
10:53 am
MB,
I think you highly underestimate the postseason. Isn’t it the goal of every team to win the last baseball game played in the season, including postseason? Did you really feel a great since of accomplishment over that 15 year span and only 1 WS title at the time it was all going on?
I didn’t, it left me with kind of an empty feeling, especially with ownership retaining and spending $$$ to attain whatever players Bobby needed to win that last game, in which he failed 14 out of 15 times.
I’d personally trade 12 (stupidly maybe) of those regular season titles for 2 more WS titles.
Duke Yellowjacket
June 29th, 2009
11:06 am
Brad:
While I agree with you about Tito’s outstanding managerial skills, serious health issues will likely prevent him from staying at the helm too much longer. Look for long-time friend and bench coach Brad Mills to become manager of the Red Sox within the next couple of years.
THWG!
Mac
June 29th, 2009
11:07 am
I was living in Birmingham when Francona was managing there. It was obvious, even then, he was headed for big things.
elroy
June 29th, 2009
11:11 am
I can stand to get beat like a rug. What I can’t stand to see is player who don’t hustle down the firstbase line, outfielders who don’t come in to back up a base, and players who go brain dead (johnson). Red Sox batters put on a clinic, especially 1 and 2,with the way they work a pitcher. It seemed that the no. 3 hitter got to see every pitch by the time he got into the box.
Helluva Engineer
June 29th, 2009
11:14 am
Question…..
Would Kelly Johnson be starting for any other MLB team????
Jay
June 29th, 2009
11:15 am
LSU – you’re basically saying you’d rather be the Florida Marlisn than what the Braves had? I guess there’s something to that.
As for Bobby, many have pointed out – his greatest failure is that he managed the post season like the regular season, yes, sticking with players too long and not playing the hot hand. I have never been enamored of his bullpen management. I always thought he overused certain relievers and had a tendency sometimes to use closers when he shouldn’t, but… overall, you can’t argue with the success when he had major league players and he’s a shoo-in for HOF. Best ever? No, but, among them.
We can all argue with specific game decisions, but, he’s gotten many more right than wrong.
I hope that if another big bat is not provided to this team (and soon), that Bobby will relook at his lineup and decide how he’s going to get more speed on the basepaths and improve the defense, so that we win most of the 3-1, 4-2 games, rather than being on the other end. That’s probably going to require a lineup that features more Prado, Infante, Diaz, and Blanco ultimately. This makes Kotchman and Anderson the odd men out (maybe we can get something for Anderson).
BTW – Derosa is the answer to a question no one asked.
cjbreed
June 29th, 2009
11:18 am
let’s see the juggernaut of money spent on the yankees and red sox make terry francona and joe torroe jokes. they were handle championships(in torre’s case steriods for his players too). the only managers at bobby’s level or above are tony larussa and jim leyland.
cjbreed
June 29th, 2009
11:19 am
LSU and it’s bayuooo rat fans suc*
Hoosier Aaron
June 29th, 2009
11:20 am
I’m not sure who the Best Manager of all time is but (in my opinion) if 6 teams all had the exact same talent – Tommy Lasorda would get more out of those players than any mentioned above.
Now seriously..
C’mon – If Yuney gets pulled for bone-head plays then Kelly should too.
Besides – Kelly is giving us nothing with the bat.
Call up Chris Burke – do something…
This division is horrible and our pitching is lights-out and we’re doing nothing to try to win.
Oregon Brave
June 29th, 2009
11:44 am
You are so wrong about Bobby. I like Bobby. Reminds me of my father-in-law. But he is a bad manager of a baseball team. JF and DA are two of the laziest outfielders I’ve ever seen. KJ is not a major league 2b. And YE does not have a baseball players mentallity. Why doesn’t Bobby get as upset with his players and coaches (especially his coaches) as he does with the umps? Yeah, Bobby is a players coach alright. A lazy player. Nothing is expected of these chumps and nothing is demanded. TP
hinted that a few weeks ago when he said sooner or later the batter has got to take it upon himself to step up. A good manager would have heard that and reacted. As in new expectations and demands. Why can’t these players, coaches and managers understand that what they do is a dream every MLB fan from little kids to old men would die for the opportunity to spend one game on the field, in the dugout and the clubhouse? All the while I’m sitting up here in Oregon watching dink hits behind second and dribblers thru the infield to left go for doubles. Maybe you are right Mark. Maybe Bobby’s greatness just makes the players look worse than they really are.
HoJo
June 29th, 2009
11:59 am
You’ve got to be kidding right? First off Francona is BETTER than Cox. The guy’s won two World Series in the last 4 years and might win another this year. Cox is an absolutely miserable playoff manager, one of the worst ever. You can defend him all you want but we had incredible teams in the ’90s with hall of fame pitching and we BARELY won a World Series. We came up short 13 other times. The playoffs is where managing matters and Bobby consistently showed that what he was best at was handing the ball to John, Tom or Greg and saying “Go beat the Expos”. Think about it, we had three 1st ballot hall of fame pitchers for ten years and all we were good at was beating up on the National Leagues sisters of the poor and then losing in the playoffs. Man, Cox IS awesome. Please, spare me. Joe Torre did a much better job under much more difficult circumstances…and in NEW YORK!!!
Don
June 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
Cox has never developed good run producting teams — How can you defend his complete lack of understanding or implementation of the first absoulte necessity of run production — teaching/emphasizing/demanding that your hitters work the count – make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches. Cox has never done this. This is absolutely essentil to having a good run producint team – has multiple advantages – enables your hitters to see what he has, adjust to him, get better pitches to hit, forces him to make mistakes, tires him out both within innings and for the game, gets you into the teams weak middle relief etc. It is absolutely unbelievable that Cox does not understand and develop this. Right now the Braves are next to LAST IN ALL OF BASEBALL IN AVERAGE NUMBER OF PITCHES SEEN PER AT BAT – which GURARENTEES they will have terrible run production.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
12:10 pm
Imagine how great Cox would be if he’d hired Greg Knapp to coordinate his offense.
Don
June 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
Isn’t it strange that players who are brought up or acquired by other teams continue to signifucantly improve — While those acquired or brought up by the Braves usually get worse. No mystery — Bobby Cox does not teach/ emphasize/ demand the absolute necessity of correct approach to hitting (working the count – making the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches). Braves are right now second to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – which guarentees that they will have terrible run production. Do baseball writers who defend Cox not understand this either — It’s like 2 + 2 = 4.
Atticus
June 29th, 2009
12:27 pm
I agree, the regular season is a greater measure of a manager’s success. But think about it, how can a team win 14 division titles and only ONE WS. You almost have to try and lose to be able to do that. He made a mistake with Charlie Liebrandt and that cost us. Other than that, he was just plain unlucky (Lonnie Smith, Wohlers etc…)
But if he gets credit for the success of the regular seasons, how about 4 straight years without a good regular season. He is not the manager for this team anymore he is not hungry enough. You can’t manage the same every year. Sometimes it requires a different stratagey, different players require different psychology and he just doesn’t get much out of young players. He just doesn’t seem to want to work at it and motivate and light a fire by creating runs.
Something is wrong with Chipper too.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
12:40 pm
Time has certainly passed for Cox, I think most logical people would agree on this. As it has for Bobby Bowden and others that hang on forever. If you say Cox has earned the right to leave when he wants to, then the Braves will continue this trend until he retires. And Cox has hinted that he may keep going. He may decide to stay another 5-10 years. Can you Cox supporters take another 5-10 years of this mess? I had enough 10 years ago.
Don
June 29th, 2009
12:47 pm
How can you just ignore that fact that the Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – and that this is typical Bobby Cox. Do you like Cox not have a clue not understand that this guarantees that you will have terrible run production – violates of first absolute essential of offense – working the count and making the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches. Cox has never taught/ developed/ emphasied/ demanded/ implemented this – which is complete incompetence and is unbelievable. This enables your hitters to see what the pitcher has, adjust to him, get better pitches to hit, make him make mistakes, tire him out, get into the teams weak middle relief etc. etc. Not to do this shows a complete lack of understanding of winning baseball.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
Don, that’s simply not true about players never improving here. Think of John Burkett. Think of Matt Diaz, who was cut in Tampa. Think of Kerry Ligtenberg, who came here in a deal for balls and bats (literally). Think of Terry Pendleton, who arrived and won a batting championship and the MVP award. Think of Jaret Wright and Chris Hammond, pitchers who became hot free agents because of what they did as Braves. Think of Otis Nixon, who was a fourth outfielder in Montreal.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
12:54 pm
Don,
Bradley can/will ignore all the facts you throw at him. Just like the fact that Sparky Anderson won 3 WS titles in 7 attempts where Cox only won 1 in 15 attempts. They can’t defend things like that where the numbers don’t lie, they will just ignore them.
Ralph
June 29th, 2009
1:00 pm
I don’t think I need to comment any further than 65 of the 73 previous comments, they have said it all. Mark you are as much in the tank for Braves Management as the elite media are for Obama if fact you are so much out of touch with the real world that I question weather I should bother to read your BLOGs anymore.
Mac
June 29th, 2009
1:10 pm
Um, Bobby Cox hasn’t managed in 15 World Series. Thanks for the hyperbole, though.
LSU
June 29th, 2009
1:22 pm
MB,
I know you’ve said before that you don’t know much about the folks who run Liberty, but do you or anyone you may know have any insight as to whether Liberty will sell the Braves in a couple of years?
Phil
June 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
15 playoff appearances = 15 attempts at a World Series title. Does that make better sense? Like I said, you can’t defend the numbers, so try and mix words ang ignore the facts.
Braves Mom
June 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
To all of you bashing Bobby, I guess you missed the Sports Illustrated article where MLB players were polled on which manager they’d most like to play for other than their own, Bobby was the top pick, by a long shot.
So, I for one, am choosing to agree with the people actually IN MLB and w/ Mr. Bradley.
Bobby is the best ever, I say that not only as a baseball fan but also as a person who has read lots of books and aritcles about leadership, not just from a baseball perspective.
Not to mention he is fourth all times in win, that doesn’t happen by mistake folks.
I’m sure Cooperstown will soon agree also.
Mac
June 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
No, it doesn’t. Also, it’s not “mix” words, it’s mince words. Bobby Cox needs no defending from hysterical bloggers. How close are you to making any hall of fame? What are your baseball bona fides? Your barbershop banter is not expert analysis. Thanks and have a nice life.
LSU
June 29th, 2009
1:45 pm
Braves Mom,
Could you possibly relay that info to the current Braves team. Looks like this years team and the last 3 teams are out to get the worlds greatest manager.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
Braves Mom,
All lazy non-performing players would love to play for Cox. They get paid millions with no consequences, nothing is demanded from them. That poll didn’t surprise me at all.
Ken Stallings
June 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
Mark, there is a knee-jerk faction who loudly insist that Bobby Cox is a terrible manager. They will continue their criticism well past the time Cox is elected to the Hall of Fame!
The hard reality is that despite free agency, when the Braves committed themselves as an organization to pursue and keep the best players, and combine that with an enviable farm system, it could compete with the higher priced market teams like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Dodgers.
However, the team lost money most of those years. The same “fans” who want to blame it on Cox, fail to understand that it was the smaller market in Atlanta that eventually doomed the team. Turner had money issues arising from his Time-Warner relationship and it forced him to sell the team. Time-Warner then sold it to Liberty-Mutual.
The Yankees and Red Sox then went on a renewed bidding war and they decided to spend more money than any other AL team was physically capable of spending. The Mets have done likewise.
The result is surprising only in the sense the Mets still cannot even win their own division! The Red Sox and Yankees have turned the AL into their personal sandbox to play with the other toys. The Rays spoiled the show last season, but that’s the inevitable result of chance and a lot of prospects coming of age together.
The Rays are back to average again. And the Yankees and Red Sox are back to where they normally are — running roughshod over all opponents with all-star lineups in the field, the pen, and on the mound.
For the last three seasons the Braves kept winning their division, Cox took teams never considered contenders and shocked the baseball world by winning the NL East. That we couldn’t muster another run to the World Series doesn’t change the fact that high priced lineup with the Mets got managers and GM’s fired because they couldn’t beat the lower-priced lineups Cox put on the field.
Those efforts were the ultimate indication what Cox can do. But chewing gum and bailing wire cannot work miracles perpetually. Eventually, the bloom fell off the rose and now we cannot get “home team” discounts in free agency, which is why we could not get Tex to come back, and also why knowing this, we traded him.
We now have a lineup with one young stellar bat, one aging stellar bat, a young solid bat (McLouth) and a very irascible talented youth in Escobar who might have played his act too far for even Bobby. The rest of our daily lineup is middling and poor players. That isn’t Bobby’s fault. And the reason he plays Kelly Johnson is because he has speed and recognizing our near total lack of power, Cox knows speed is the only way we can score runs.
People who think managers like LaRussa could take the current Braves lineup and beat the Phillies and Mets with it are fools. Rather than LaRussa, give the Braves Albert Puhols! Put that bat in our lineup and suddenly Cox can do it himself!
Braves Mom
June 29th, 2009
1:56 pm
To LSU:
Seriously you think this year is Bobby’s fault?
Yes, I guess he should be able to go out there and hit for Frenchy, Kelly Johnson, Anderson, etc. etc. They are not winning b/c they have two, maybe three, players who are producing offensively.
And before you start screaming they shouldn’t be on the team, then blame Wren, Bobby is doing the best w/ the hand he’s been dealt.
I heard Mark Lemke once say that the coaches can only do so much, then it’s up to the players to go out and produce.
Take your argument up w/ Wren, Franceour, Johnson, Kotchman, Anderson, etc. etc. where the real blame lies.
Hoosier Aaron
June 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
Bobby Cox is certainly a Hall of Fame Manager.
However, in 72 AB in June, Kelly Johnson:
.125 BA
.167 Slg%
.229 OBP
5 Runs scored
2 SB
Speed isn’t really helping Kelly out or us.
I’ve gotta believe we have someone who could give us better production.
If not – call the Bucs about Freddy.
LSU
June 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Braves Mom,
I think Wren has done a pretty good job basically concentrating solely last off-season on bringing in some quality pitchers, and getting rid of 40+ year old oft-injured pitchers.
So when this off season comes and he starts looking for position players, maybe he’ll do as well with that too, or, we’ll just continue the trend of becoming the National league version of the KC Royals and the fans will just go away because no one will care.
Phil
June 29th, 2009
2:32 pm
Braves Mom,
You honestly beleive that Wren makes roster decisions without approval from Cox? I don’t think so. Cox probably has more say so than Wren. Cox is not playing the hand that was dealt to him, he had a huge part in this as well.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
2:36 pm
I have never met or spoken with a single member of corporate Liberty Media. (Unless you count Terry McGuirk, which I don’t.) I have no idea what that group’s thinking might be, but I recall they had to keep the Braves for at least three years — I believe it was three years — to get their tax break.
VaBravesfan
June 29th, 2009
2:47 pm
Mr. Bradley: I agree with your 12:52 p.m. post, there are a bunch of guys who played better here than before or after they came/left.
VaBravesfan
June 29th, 2009
2:49 pm
Hoosier Aaron: Those stats are pathetic, I knew he was bad, but OMG.
Lori
June 29th, 2009
2:52 pm
Bobby may not have been able to beat the Yankees in the World Series, but he will split your lip open and black your eye if spill red wine on his new carpet while nagging him.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
June 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
Good article as always, MB. Although all these people out here calling for Bobby’s head is starting to feel a little “broken record.” I think the majority of them missed the insinuation of one of your previous posts, where you purported that Bobby might not be the best manager for THIS 2009 Braves team. Bobby hasn’t changed — the players have. Now everyone’s going to say, “Well, Bobby should adjust, yell at them, not be the player’s manager, etc. or we should bring in someone who does.” But, I, for one, have always been proud of the fact that (overall) the Braves organization has been pretty classy and I think calling in someone else or having Bobby adjust would make us another Manny/Dodgers or Zambrano/Cubs organization.
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2009
3:25 pm
Thanks, Mrs. CB.
Dumbfound
June 29th, 2009
3:51 pm
Why did Mark Texeria say Joe Giradi was the best manager he ever played for ?!!! He must have seen something in Bobby Cox that would lead him to say that !!!!!!!
Dumbfound
June 29th, 2009
3:53 pm
And not good things !!!
Skeezix
June 29th, 2009
4:01 pm
I really like Bobby Cox and think of him as a master at managing a game; but my all time favorite – Tommy LaSorda. I lived in the LA area for 3 years and used to go see the Braves when they visited the Dodgers. Fans waited each day for the sports radio/newpapers daily updates on LaSorda’s antics-he is a one of a kind character, can cuss a blue streak and was really entertaining. He also was a master at managing a game, a great motivator, most players loved playing for him, and I loved watching Tommy chew out umps, man could he chew out an ump…. the fans would cheer his perfomances.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
June 29th, 2009
4:16 pm
Dumbfound: Tex also made mention of the fact that he felt honored to have played for Bobby and will always think of that year as special year because of Bobby.
Dumbfound
June 29th, 2009
4:22 pm
But if Tex said all of those nice things about Bobby Cox, Why did he not say he was also the best manager he ever played for ?!! Joe Giradi ?! Give me a break !! Joe Giradi was fired by the Florida Marlins. He was only a manager for about two years and now Mark Texeria is saying he’s the greatest ?! Something is not right !
LSU
June 29th, 2009
4:36 pm
Mrs. Bong
I would be nice if our classy organization could maybe put together an 8 game winning streak for old times sake.
Also while being classy during all those years, you don’t think that maybe Javy or Andruw might have participated in any Manny like activities, do you?
JEB
June 29th, 2009
5:02 pm
MB
Your assessment of Bobby Cox is right on!
It’s easy to sit on this side and view Bobby Cox up close on a regular basis and then compare him to others!
But, I was in Detroit in Sparky’s reign – he took the Tigers to the Worlds Series (after he had taken the big red machine to the series) and won with Detroit – yet there were those voices (much like here in Atl. ) that griped and complained – wanted him fired – and wanted someone else. Friends in the St. Louis area, continually harp and complain about LaRussa, and think he should move on (others love him!).
NY continually stayed on Torre’s back!
Getting to my point, we will miss Bobby GREATLY – after he is gone, there will be those looking for the 2nd resurrection of Bobby Cox (including the gripers and complainers)!
One thing I do not agree with you on MB –
it is not an issue whether Bobby is the man for this team – NOONE. I repeat NOONE could win with this team right now! There are TOO MANY obstacles on this team to win consistently. KJ and Frnchy have proved themselves to be “Head Cases” and they can’t play consistently well on this team (doubt they could for anyone!!)
Helluva Engineer
June 29th, 2009
5:06 pm
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kelly Johnson still sucks.
More to come at 6.
Bill
June 29th, 2009
9:35 pm
Mark said, The best manager I’ve every seem…..Thats Mark’s opinion. He also said he would not hire him for next year…in another post. …..all opinions. Damn this is the USA, can’t a man express himself? Your opinion might be different like mine is but Mark has a right to his.
I’m not a Cox fan and I hope and pray he’s gone ASP. I have no hard feeling for the fans that love BC. I thank BC for the good years but now its time to move on.
Mark did a good job telling about Tito and the Red Sox clubhouse..etc. I too would love to see Brad Mills ,or John Farrell as the next Manager of the Braves. That to is opinion!
Thanks Mark for keeping the natives informed. Hope Frank Wren reads the blogs. Glad I live in USA so I can express my opinion.
TennesseePaul
June 29th, 2009
9:49 pm
“any reasons why Bobby keeps playing a totally inadequate Kelly Johnson at 2nd base…”
Marteen Prado injured his groin. Omar Infante is out with a broken hand. Diory Hernandez is a short stop. Yunel already has issues of his own at SS. KJ, while I dislike him is the default choice.
“why did the greatest manager ever not have Tommy Hanson on the opening day roster?”
Frank Wren makes the roster choices. It was the belief of the organization that he should be in AAA to start. There is also the argument of postponing his debut to save on arbitration years… get him for 6.5 years vs 6 years.
“How can the greatest manager ever have 3 1/2 lackluster losing seasons in a row, and the teams play, just keeps getting worse & worse?”
You speak of the season when four starters, the closer and setup man, and several position players went down with season ending injuries? Or the massive turnover in the front office and coaches. Or the huge influx of new young players?
“Shouldn’t the greatest manager ever be able to teach & motivate his team to where 3 1/2 seasons of subpar baseball doesn’t happen?”
Are you asking every manager to be flawless? After 16 consecutive years of success dating back to the last managing year of the Jays and including the strike shortened ‘94 season, you are upset that a rash of injuries and turn over in the front office has produced some sub standard results for three years?
“I’m thinking just about any run of the mill recycled MLB manager would’ve looked pretty great having Smoltz, Maddux & Glavine in their primes for many many years, along with $$$ to buy position players on a need be basis during that time…”
Sounds like a reason to not be impressed with Torre… Or La Russa with his Pujols, McGwire, Henderson, Eckersly and other Hall of Fame caliber players.
“Looks like that’s maybe what’s happening for Francona in Boston.”
So in summary, no manager is good when they have talented players, and every manager is terrible when the players are terrible… gotcha.
Bradley: Gotta hand it to ya. You’ve hit a hot topic here that has kept the lunatics coming back. But I don’t see the famed Robot in here… only a matter of time I suppose.
Brad
June 30th, 2009
6:20 am
Any average manager should be able to win during the regular season with Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux! How hard is that? Only one World Series out of that many division titles and chances? Clearly Cox was outmatched time and again in the post season. As the Braves made the playoffs over and over and faced teams of similar talent, Cox was clearly out of his element and was beaten much more than he won. Other managers, LaRussa, Jim Leyland, Torre, would have won 3 times more than Cox ever though of! Mark, you usually are good, but this one is way off this time.
Don
June 30th, 2009
9:13 am
It is amazing how Cox supporters and writers pick out isolated things to defend him and ignore the overall situation. Based on the talent, Cox has never had good run producing teams – Why – He does not understand or implement the first absolute essential of run production. It is essential that your hitters work the count – force opposing pitchers to throw a lot of pitches. The Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat. Cox has never taught/ emphasized/ demanded this. This guarentees that we have terrible run production and will not be competitive (unless you should again have All Star Pitching so dominate and far far superior to other teams that it overcomes this). Cox also continues to make terrible in game decisions relationg to both offense and pitching. So many times he does exactly what the opposing manager would like to see him do in key situations. So many times he will take an action or lack of action that takes the pressure off the opposing pitcher in situations where he is under pressure or wild or out of sinc. Bobby Cox is just not a very intelligent manager. He does little to emphasize/ teach, force the development of skills in his players. He is a nice man who gets along well with players and was fortunate enough to be the manager when the Braves had All Star Pitching so dominant and far far superior to the other teams and that it overcame his lack of offensive management and lack of management skills and made it almost impossible to lose the Division over the 162 game regular season schedule. If you just look a games from the view of the opposing team -his mistakes and game after game are obvious.
Mitchell
June 30th, 2009
12:02 pm
Again, Mark Bradley, we cannot have a manager named Brad.
Not on my watch.
Also, it must have been nice for Tito’s rock stars to have had the Colorado Rockies, a team who was just happy to be there, for a World Series opponent,
Bobby Cox never got to play a “happy to be there” team.
And when we did face a team who hadn’t been there for a long, long time (Indians), we still had to play against a Hall of Famer in Eddie Murray and three or four potential or possible Hall of Famers in Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel and Kenny Lofton.
Bobby Cox had to deal with Hall of Fame players like Kirby Pucket, Dave Winfield, Wade Boggs, the aforementioned Eddie Murray as well as known steroid users like Roger Clemmens, Andy Pettite and Chuck Knob*ock.
Then of course there are the degenerate low lifes: Jim Leyritz (serving time), Darryl Strawberry and Cecil Fielder (kids won’t talk to them), Kirby Puckett again (sexual assault, indecent exposure), Wade Boggs again (hairpiece)… I could go on. No really, I could.
At least the Red Sox came through for their manager whereas Bobby Cox was made to look like a fool again and again for sticking with guys who should have gotten the out or the big hit but didn’t cause they sucked.
Then again, I’m sure it was tough going up against baby faced Jeff Francis and Troy Toluwitzki.
That’s how I roll Mark Bradley!
Oh yeah, the guy’s only won the AL East once. WTF?
ronald
June 30th, 2009
1:18 pm
Is Bobby Cox the greatest manager of all time? No. Is he one of the worst? No. He is a great manager but certainly not the greatest. Mark, I’d really like to know how you rate Frank Wren as a GM. I believe that is one of the big problems with this team, that and ownership. I don’t think that, so far as ownership goes, we are any better off with Liberty Media than we were with Time Warner/AOL. I may just be me but I have a hard time imagining a Corperation having much passion about a sports team. It’s about time we all admitted that this is just not a great team. An offense ought to be built for either power or speed (i.e. small ball). This team seems to be built for neither. We have little, if any, thunder in the lineup. We have a collection of guys who can hit for decent average. Chipper is not producing as we had hoped. Maybe he’ll come out of this slump he is in. McCann is, well, McCann. He is one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Right field is a real problem. Anyone who says it isn’t simply needs to check the team stats. Escobar has a lot of potential. However, I seriously question whether or not a “players manager” is going to make much of a dent in his thick head (see numurous bone headed plays this season). Diaz, Anderson, Kotchman and McClouth are all decent players. They are not the type of players around which you can build a team. Heck, Tommy Gregg and Ken Oberkfeld were good hitters. You just don’t build a team around them. After last season we knew where the holes were in the batting order. Those holes are still there. There was not a lot of power last year. There is not a lot of power this year. Why was this situation not fixed? The answer to that question is NOT “Bobby Cox.” It is “Frank Wren.”