5 candidates to take over the Braves after Bobby Cox
Earlier today we offered 5 reasons Bobby Cox should step aside. Some of you then asked the logical follow-up: OK, genius, who would you hire to replace him? Here, presented in order of preference, is my short list:
1. Brad Mills, Red Sox bench coach: He has apprenticed beside Terry Francona, who’s the second-best manager in baseball — Minnesota’s Ron Gardenhire is the best — and who was Mills’ college roommate. He’s steeped in the Sox system of numbers-crunching, which would surely delight the stat geeks on DOB’s blog, and has been known to use the word “sabermetrics” in conversation.
2. Jose Oquendo, Cardinals third base coach: He’s considered the first choice to succeed Tony La Russa in St. Louis, but nobody’s sure when La Russa will leave. Oquendo is a key player liaison, having built an alliance with the taciturn Albert Pujols. (Ah, but you’re asking: Could he get along with Yunel Escobar? Probably.)
3. Dave Duncan, Cardinals pitching coach: There’s a spotty history for pitching coaches as managers. Roger Craig was a good one, Ray Miller less good. (And Leo Mazzone, the best pitching coach ever, never got a managerial sniff.) But the belief in St. Louis is that Duncan, La Russa’s longtime No. 2, wants out: He’s said to be angry at the local media over the treatment of his son Chris, whom the Cardinals traded to Boston last month. And it’s worth noting that Duncan wasn’t actually a pitcher himself. He was a catcher for the Oakland A’s of the early ’70s.
Loading ...4. Terry Pendleton, Braves hitting coach: If the Braves stay in-house, he’s the guy. He’s respected by the players — Jeff Francoeur’s flight to Texas for instruction shouldn’t be viewed as a consensus opinion — and beloved by the brass. He’s a hard worker who played under two of the best managers ever in Cox and Whitey Herzog, and he’s also a bit of a hard nose. (He rides a Harley!) Which, coming after the gentle ways of Bobby Cox, might not be a bad thing.
5. Scott Ullger, Twins third base coach: If Gardenhire is the best — and he is — why not grab his chief lieutenant? Ullger is a lifer in the Twins’ system and has managed in the minors. Plus, you have to admire a guy whose official bio reads: “Experience: A lot.”
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553 comments Add your comment
Brian
September 21st, 2009
3:04 pm
Here’s the problem, Mark. Ron Gardenhire is indeed one of the best managers in baseball. But he has only won one playoff series in his career. Postseason record? 5-15. Isn’t that what the blog denizens complain about now?
Obviously, Gardenhire is not going to be a candidate. My point is that so many people here are saying he is such a great manager. Well, what do we have right now if Gardenhire and his 5-15 postseason record is great?
Arthur House
September 21st, 2009
3:06 pm
Enter your comments here Ned Yost was firedbecause the management panicked. Look at the Brewers this year. Being fired is not a reason not to hire someone. If it was most managers would never get a second chance.
Braves73
September 21st, 2009
3:06 pm
Mark, I think the five you mentioned are strong candidates but you neglected to include Fredi Gonzalez. He is the best possible replacement for this type of baseball team. He is a former Braves manager, he knows the farm system, he absolutely makes the most of his talent and maximizes his players abilities.
J-man
September 21st, 2009
3:12 pm
I stand by what I said earlier about if Cox should retire. Getting anyone from the current coaching staff to replace him would be a disaster.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:12 pm
The Marlins might allow Fredi Gonzalez to come to the Braves — if they got Tommy Hanson in return.
tmac
September 21st, 2009
3:14 pm
Classic,
In this world of lack of appreciation from employer to employee, I can’t tell you how many times people look outside an arganization to fill a prestigious position.
Good Job Mark. By promoting other teams lieutenant’s, you are encouraging the Braves organization to covet thy neighbor’s property.
Now, I don’t know if Terry Pendleton is the right person for the job or not… but i’m sure there are people already in the Braves organization that could be the right person for the job.
How bout we start there?
N8
September 21st, 2009
3:14 pm
“Gardenhire has a small-budget team in the playoff hunt every year — and often in the playoffs. He’s terrific.” Mark Bradley
I live in Twins territory, and the players and fans LOVE Gardenhire. When Tom Kelly was not getting along with younger players and was a little gruff, Gardenhire was the “bridge” between those players and Kelly.
Management saw how much the players not only liked him, but respected his leadership and decisions, that he was an obvious choice. Tom Kelly couldn’t “relate” to the younger players (sound familiar? IE: Bobby and Yunel), and Gardenhire could.
I think the fact that a player (Francoeur) that was once considered the future of the team, and was an SI cover boy, went around TP for hitting advice, should be a clear enough reason as to NOT hire TP as the next manager.
Need to go outside of the organizaton, imo.
Brian
September 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
Well, J-man…I am about 95% sure that if Cox retires, the replacement will come in-house, so you might as well get prepared for it.
On the bright side, at least you’ll have a brand new manager to complain about! It’ll be exciting!
Tomas
September 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
I gotta think they’d give the job to TP, just because of respect. I also like Jose Oquendo and Dave Duncan. In fact I love Dave Duncan I just don’t know if he can be a manager. He has a fantastic ability as a pitching coach, would he have it as a manager? Who knows, but he sure knows when to bring in pitchers and manage pitch counts, which in reality is what managers are meant to do, as well as making the lineup card.
Jose Oquendo, managed the Puerto Rico team, which I think surpassed a lot of people’s expectations. He’s aggresive sending runners home, which I admire because it shows how he is not afraid to take risk and make tough choices.
El Bravo
September 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
TP would be the proverbial lightning rod so he probably would not be a wise hire under the existing Braves climate. At the first sign of trouble the already dwindling fan base woul be up in arms. If you are going to stay in-house Eddie Perez looks like the wise choice. Catchers usually make good coaches and he is very well liked inside and outside the Turner Field walls…
Joe
September 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
I wouldn’t take Pendleton for Braves manager, he seems too much like a p***y. He cried and let his feelings get hurt just because Francoeur went to Texas to work on his hitting. As a manager you have to have thick skin because as a manager you are the one who has to tell a player what is going on, good or bad.
Loveofthegame
September 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
LOL…….Mark…..That is about what they would want to give us Fredi
Ray Rackley
September 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
If Bobby steps down, Chipper Jones should retire as a player or be a player/ Manager. He’s the purest choice to manage the Atlanta Braves!
CraZyTRaDeMaN
September 21st, 2009
3:18 pm
I think Eddie Perez would be one of my top choses to replace Cox if you are going to go in-house.
1.Eddie Perez
2.Terry Pendelton
3.Dave Brundage
Matt
September 21st, 2009
3:19 pm
Ron Gardenhire is the BEST? Surely, you are joking!!
This is the same man who keeps playing Nick Punto for God’s sake. The player sooooo bad that the Mendoza line is a pipe dream for him.
This is the same manager whose use of Joe Nathan is absolutely mind boggling.
No, no, you must mean someone OTHER than Gardy.
JEB
September 21st, 2009
3:20 pm
MB
You state that you would like to see the Braves go outside the organization, just curious… why would you prefer that?
N8
September 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
Good point at 3:03 Mark. Totally agree. Can’t for the life of me think why people would want TP or Yost to replace Cox.
The only people that I can think of that would vote that way, would be people that don’t actually want Cox to be gone. They just want a similar succesor in line.
As for Fredi Gonzalez? While he was a Cox disciple, he obviously relates to a young team and somehow gets more out of them, than Cox has in recent years, and obviously is more personable than Yost ever was.
Ozzie Guillen was a Cox luitenant as well, and he couldn’t be further from what Cox is all about.
I’m just ready for change. As far as I’m concerned, McDowell can stay (way I see it, he’s done a fine job this year, if results and stats of the pitching staff speak any truth), along with Eddie Perez and Glen Hubbard. But Cox and TP have to go.
Perhaps, a guy like Eddie Perez would make a good bench coach?
Joe
September 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
Terry Pendleton would be a great choice.
JEB
September 21st, 2009
3:22 pm
Also, why not Snitker? Again, just curious…
Mark Roberts
September 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
Where is Ned Yost on this list? He’s a more viable candidate than anyone on the list.
Sting 'em Buzz
September 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I liked TP as a player, but if he is the manager, I will have to think long and hard in order to not take a year off from following the team.
Money
September 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
Just as long as we don’t let Bobby have any say in who takes his place…I really don’t want to see a team managed by Greg Norton…
Tomas
September 21st, 2009
3:25 pm
What about Chino Cadahia
Joe
September 21st, 2009
3:26 pm
TP would not be the right choice for the job.
crd
September 21st, 2009
3:26 pm
Enter your comments here Fredi Gonzalez look at what he’s done with the Marlins
Good Grief
September 21st, 2009
3:26 pm
I’d like to Ned Yost or Terry Pendleton. Just because they sat under Bobby it doesn’t mean they’ll think like Bobby, Mark. We’ve actually seen a Ned Yost team last year duke it out and play some good baseball. I think they’re completely different thinkers, even if they were under Bobby for a certain amount of time.
JEB
September 21st, 2009
3:28 pm
TP or Eddie Perez would be my “in house” guys.
One thing about TP – you always see him up at the post watching the game. He is into it as much as BC is, he never sits down.
Chino, on the other hand, takes the “Bench Coach” title very seriouly!
Joe
September 21st, 2009
3:28 pm
That would be nice if Maddux did come back and at least be the Braves pitching coach. He said that he would start helping the Braves.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 21st, 2009
3:32 pm
Eddie Perez is my choice to replace BC.
Eddie Haas
September 21st, 2009
3:32 pm
Call me. I’m still a player’s coach.
General Sherman
September 21st, 2009
3:33 pm
Are you fricking crazy,Terry Pendleton.He could not manage a little league team!
jeffrey d
September 21st, 2009
3:34 pm
Mark, by the time Bobby decides to retire, I think Heyward is going to be considered a candidate to replace him.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:35 pm
I wouldn’t hire Ned Yost. I don’t think the Braves will, either.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
Good one, Jeffrey.
I do think Cox is thinking about stepping aside, though.
Joe Simpson the Great
September 21st, 2009
3:37 pm
Maybe the Braves could get Albert Pujols to be a player manager. That would help the team.
Sammy Kershaw
September 21st, 2009
3:37 pm
The answer is simple and he is in the organization and under contract. Tommy Hanson for player manager. Bam, there you go.
dozer
September 21st, 2009
3:38 pm
Give us Barabbas…….
Dawgmess
September 21st, 2009
3:38 pm
Chipper????? Good grief, don’t you want a manager with some kind of work ethic? He’d strain an oblique just filling out the line-up card!
Justinstud
September 21st, 2009
3:39 pm
I don’t believe Gonzalez could be pried from Florida just yet, but by the time Cox is ready to go, he might be wooed north. Aside from Gonzalez, I too am shocked that more Braves fans have not mentioned Ned Yost as the answer. He is a student of Bobby Cox, was around during the run, and certainly knows what he is doing.
He certainly had the Brewers, a mid-market team in terms of payroll, playing very good baseball. But I think that no matter how good the manager, if the fundamentals are not executed by whoever is run out there, the result will not be pretty. On average, the manager can only be blamed/credited with the outcome of 7-10 games per year.
TOMMY HANSON’s GEM AGAINST HOUSTON WAS ONE OF THOSE. That was awful to see that poor kid work his nuts off and get no decision. But that can hardly be the downfall of the season.
jndn
September 21st, 2009
3:41 pm
What about Ned Yost?
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:41 pm
Mark Lemke told me last week that Chipper gets to the ballpark almost as early as Cox does (11 a.m. for a night game, say). He did that even as a rookie, the Lemmer said.
GaCracker
September 21st, 2009
3:41 pm
You want SABREmetrics – get the guru himself – Bill James!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2009
3:41 pm
We was thinking the next manager should have a championship already. Having a championship is a lot better than wanting one. A manager that has already won a championship knows how to do it again (with the possible exception of Bobby Cox). We was never a championship manager but Coach was and he could do it again. As far as saying, “C’mon kid” when they are batting and “Easy” when they are running to first – Coach can do it. Lefty/lefty and righty/righty he can handle, too. Nose picking is not something we’ve seen Coach do but for the right money he could probably dig into his nostrils like Bobby. TP is pretty close already but somebody who’s coached a champion can do it again. Then, if people want to see something different maybe the Braves need to go outside for the next manager. How about Don Sutton? He seems pretty smart and we’ve never seen him nose picking. Smart people hardly ever nose pick.
Nittany Lion
September 21st, 2009
3:43 pm
What about Lou Pinella? He is guy who would light a fire under guys and wouldn’t be afraid to bat Chipper down in the line up if he is struggling to see better pitches.
tvsportscaster
September 21st, 2009
3:44 pm
Two thoughts, no way in hell I give the job to Terry Pendleton. He’s been a terrible hitting coach, look no further than two guys, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur having to turn to someone outside of the organization to help, secondly my choice for manager would be D-Backs bench coach Kirk Gibson. He is a guy that has some fire and I think that is exactly what the Braves need. I would love for Gibson to get the job no managerial experience or not.
David
September 21st, 2009
3:45 pm
I don’t think the fact that TP isn’t the best hitting instructor rules out being a good manager. If that is the case hire the best pitching coach. It doesn’t always transcend into managing. Game management, player relations, using the pen effectively, transitioning young players into the major league atmosphere are reasons Cox has been effective. Pendelton has stuck by this organization when he could have gone elsewhere. He is my pick but here is a wild card- Don Mattingly.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:45 pm
Well, Sonny, here’s the list of championship managers still active: La Russa, Piniella, Cox, Torre, Leyland, Scioscia, Francona, Guillen, Manuel.
Two who aren’t currently managing: Bob Brenly and Jack McKeon.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2009
3:46 pm
Isn’t Bill James working for the Red Sox?
phoenix falcon
September 21st, 2009
3:47 pm
ummm, call me crazy, but there is just one issue with this article………..BOBBY COX IS STILL THE MANAGER, HE WILL BE THE MANAGER UNTIL HE DROPS DEAD, OR THEY FIRE HIM, AND I DON’T SEE THEM FIRING HIM ANYTIME SOON.
does Mike Smith coach baseball too???
and i would not want anybody on that list, what has anyone of them won?
just face it, we are stuck with cox.
Ed
September 21st, 2009
3:47 pm
It’s going to be Brian Snitker when Bobby steps down. He’s got experience managing the young guys as they came up through the system. He’s the 3rd base coach, just like Yost & Gonzales who went on to managerial gigs.