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
Jim Williams
September 22nd, 2009
12:11 pm
Terry Pendleton need to leave the team. He is not a manger out look. Fred Mcgriff would be the best hiting coach. Greg Madduz would be the best and smarts pitching coach in the N.L. BASEBALL. For as mangers that are very smart and knows baseball are ;;;; DON SUTTON ,, KIRK GIBSON ,,BRUCE BENEDICT ,, AND DON MATTINGLY . >>>>>>>> BRAVES GEN.MANGER LOOK AT THIS LINE UP <<<<<<<<<<<<< I know baseball too. A winning team in the future.
Jim Williams
September 22nd, 2009
12:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Mike
September 22nd, 2009
12:32 pm
What about Jeff Blauser?
TP for Skipper
September 22nd, 2009
12:33 pm
I seem to remember a third basemen who acted as an onfield coach in his first year as a Brave and led us from worst to first. But that’s old news, right. Remember who was the National league MVP in his first year as a Brave? By the way that was the same year the Braves went from worst to first and never looked back.
TP would be a GREAT skipper for the Braves if Bobby ever decided to hang it up.
In Bobby’s words,
“Terry is good,” Cox said, emphasizing the adjective. “He’s an endless worker. He works harder than any hitting coach I’ve ever seen.” And Cox has worked alongside some fine ones: Cito Gaston, Clarence Jones, Don Baylor, Merv Rettenmund.
AJC June 4, 2009
Funny how short the memory is.
Smooth
September 22nd, 2009
12:34 pm
If Bobby should step down, which I hope he stays. Let’s really shake it up, go get Bobby Valetine.
rufues
September 22nd, 2009
12:41 pm
Who ever put Pendleton in a list for manager, must be trying to play a joke on the fans.
If they are going to make Pendleton manager, I would rather have Bobby Cox stay as manager.
It’s good that Pendleton is a hard worker and he’s like by everyone and so is Bobby Cox.
I didn’t know that managing a team was base on begin liked, and popular, it’s suppose to be how well he knows the game and handle the players, whether the players like it or not. Baseball player today are pamper, more than at any other time, and more than athletes, in other sports. Baseball players make millions of dollars and act like a bunch of spoil babies. Is Pendleton the answer………… NO………..get Billy Martin, he’s better.
Joe B
September 22nd, 2009
12:47 pm
In July, Espn had an online article titled “Retired Maddux interested in spring role”. Here are some interesting quotes from it:
“Manager Bobby Cox and Greg Maddux have mutual interest in Maddux serving as an instructor for the Atlanta Braves in spring training next year.”
“Maddux said he wants to allow one full season to pass so he can better evaluate his desire to return to the game as a coach.”
interesting… It’s been a full season since he’s retired.
Dave
September 22nd, 2009
1:03 pm
If you are lousy at your current job you do not get a promotion. no way no how Terry Pendleton, go for the best , Terry Francona
Dave
September 22nd, 2009
1:05 pm
Enter your comments here
MIke
September 22nd, 2009
1:28 pm
I am amazed at Braves fans who want to dump Bobby Cox after witnessing the best era of Braves baseball ever. EVER. Are any of you over 30 years old? Can you not remember the 70s, and 80s? Cox built — or helped build — both winning eras we had. Look it up. In the 70s, we would have killed for the kind of “mediocrity” we have now.
Having said that, there is evidence that Cox’s run here is nearing an end. I support TP. However, if you want to think outside the box, why not Cito Gaston (a former Brave who has won two WCs). He pumped life into a Toronto club this year that just so happens to play in a division that has three clearly better teams than the Jays. I think Cito would address our hitting woes, too. Unless Cito just loves the AL, I think the Braves job would interest him.
bob horner
September 22nd, 2009
2:01 pm
You need to remember that to ownership, the Braves are a tax writeoff, not a major league baseball team. As Turner Field has been transformed into some kind of sports Six Flags, I would expect that the new manager would be more entertainer than baseball brain.
braves70
September 22nd, 2009
2:15 pm
Funny how quickly people forget the fire of Terry Pendleton as a player. Do any of you remember him chewing out Marvin Freeman (around 1993) for not hitting the opponent after we had been hit? Do any of you remember him leading the charge in the 1992 playoffs when we were down and out? I am sure that his coaching style has been cramped by having to be under Bobby’s command. As far as hitting coach goes, well you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken Francoeur no matter how talented you may be.
While we might disagree on a replacement, I think we all firmly agree that Bobby Cox needs to go now!
Capitol Avenue Cal
September 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
…..As far as hitting coach goes, well you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken Francoeur no matter how talented you may be…… God, that MADE my day!
abudefdef
September 22nd, 2009
4:41 pm
I think Scoots (page 4 almost at the bottom) has it right…GREG NORTON is still on the team because Bobby is grooming him to be the new manager!
BRING ON PHILLIP WELLMAN
Mississippi were the Southern League CHAMPS in 2008! He knows how to win!
Coach (2010 or Bust)
September 22nd, 2009
5:21 pm
Terry Pendleton has my full support. He has been the Braves hitting coach since 2002 and has done a fine job in this capacity. He’s gonna make a fine manager for our Braves.
killerkudzu
September 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm
If it is going to be in house then it s/b from the minors we have a couple of good manager’s in waiting down on the farm. I personally like the G-Braves manager.
S Burrell
September 22nd, 2009
9:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Gotta be a reason Yost is not a viable option for you, Mark. I know he’ll get in your face (ask John Rocker) but I like a demanding guy. Took small market Milwaukee as far as they could go. So what’s his downside?
Ullger Could Replace Cox In Atlanta? | Minnesota Sports Zone
September 22nd, 2009
9:21 pm
[...] Mark Bradley (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) listed five possible candidates to replace Bobby Cox for the Atlanta Braves’ manager job, and Minnesota Twins’ third base coach Scott Ulger is listed fifth. [...]
aton45
September 22nd, 2009
11:43 pm
Why hasnt anybody mentioned the best hitter in the past 30 yrs…Tonny Gwynn
Carl Hester
September 22nd, 2009
11:48 pm
If Bobby goes, why don”t the Braves consider Joe Morgan,
He knows the game and knows how to handle people. Joe Morgan is a team
player and knows how to bring things together. He deserves a World Championship team. The Braves can do it with the work that Joe has put forth.
TheProfessor69
September 23rd, 2009
12:01 am
… I would not hire Terry Pendleton for anything , he needs to be fired as soon as possible… he is a terrible hitting coach and I would not even entertain the thought of him in a managerial position… he needs to go…now.
Chuck Uga
September 23rd, 2009
12:19 am
TERRY PENDLETON?! Are you kidding me?!
Isaac
September 23rd, 2009
8:48 am
How about Davie Johnson guys
Chris
September 23rd, 2009
9:32 am
Anybody remember what happened the Braves stunk and the first thing John Schuerholtz did was bring in a guy named Terry Pendleton and Sid Bream. Terry was a leader then and he is a leader now. He is respected by the players in the clubhouse and when you are working with millionaires, if they don’t respect you they won’t play hard for you.
Pendleton is the man for the job.
Joel Bagby
September 23rd, 2009
4:14 pm
Willie Randolph or Ned Yost.
DavidTH
September 23rd, 2009
4:27 pm
If Terry becomes manager then he gets away from being a batting coach – that would help. Just as long as he isnt the batting coach anymore then I say hire him as manager. The Braves messed up by not getting Joe Torre back, that would have been the best.
dogsbrekky
September 23rd, 2009
4:40 pm
Gardenhire the BEST manager
nope
Cox, Torre, Sciosa, La Russa and Freddi I put ahead of the Twins uno !
dogsbrekky
September 23rd, 2009
4:45 pm
Mike Jordan
September 21st, 2009
10:01 pm
5 candidates to replace Mark Bradley:
1.A monkey with a typewriter
2. Joe the Plumber
3. Spongebob
4. A mannequin
5. Otis the Drunk
All monkeys are outright offended by this post, please ban… Spongebob would be great though
DirkDawggler
September 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Is Crash Davis still available?
Ronald Millsaps
September 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Ned Yost would be a fine candidate. So would Bob Brenly.
Buzz
September 23rd, 2009
4:50 pm
Greg Maddux should be ASKED, though he would probably not be diplomatic enough, or understanding of other player’s mistakes, to last long.
I don’t think Pendleton is a good choice, his career batting average is lower than Frenchy’s. And he’s never impressed me as a coach. We need a Hall of Famer, and he ain’t it.
Brad in KY
September 23rd, 2009
4:51 pm
Hiring someone familiar with sabermetrics doesn’t really make sense if the organization doesn’t take those sorts of things seriously. There would be a total disconnect between the manager on the field and the front office. The “Braves Way” doesn’t involve much if any sabermetrics analysis so I doubt that will play any part in hiring Brad Mills or aybody else with that sort of experience. I think that’s regrettable, by the way.
Tomahawkin
September 23rd, 2009
4:52 pm
Ozzie Guillen or Ned Yost…
TP is too much like Bobby…He needs to get the AX as hitting coach let alone be a manager
Or better yet if fans really want to stir to add fuel to the fire, Bring in Larry Bowa
If Larry Bowa was manager he would’ve had fights with Chipper and Esco…
Ronald Millsaps
September 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
Just don’t hire someone whose idea of strong leadership was on display at the UN today.
USMC DAWG
September 23rd, 2009
4:54 pm
TP will get serious consideration. Hank Aaron, Al Sharpton, and Jessie Jackson will see to that.
Ronald Millsaps
September 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
“buzz”– Actually, Terry Pendleton was a fine career hitter, and your premise that a great player is a prerequisite to being a fine manager simply is incorrect.
How many great managers can you think of offhand who honestly were great players also? Arguably the currently-greatest coach in the NFL was a great player (Mike Singletary), but he’s one of the few.
Playing and coaching are separate entities, period, and I don’t see why you’re knocking Terry Pendleton’s leadership. Heck, his leadership was immeasurably-beneficial in 1991.
Herschel Talker
September 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
dogsbrekky is 100% g@y.
Innocent Bystander
September 23rd, 2009
4:58 pm
I don’t think Pendleton is a good choice, his career batting average is lower than Frenchy’s.
If you’ve read Moneyball, then you’ve probably read that the best hitting coaches are the ones who were lousy, because they don’t try to teach hitters to be like them.
Innocent Bystander
September 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
*who were lousy hitters*
Perry Laurentino
September 23rd, 2009
5:01 pm
I vote for Leo Mazzone!
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:02 pm
Fidel Castro’s son would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Fidel Castro’s brother would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Fidel Castro’s brother would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Fidel Castro’s brother would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC
bob dylan
September 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
ozzie guilleN!
Joe
September 23rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Potential Atlanta Braves 2011 Coaching Staff:
Mike Maddux Manager
Dave Justice Batting Coach
Greg Maddux Pitching Coach
Mark Lemke First Base Coach
Sid Breme Third Base Coach
Brian Jordan Bench Coach
Fred McGriff Bench Coach
Javy Lopez Bullpen Coach
Go Go
September 23rd, 2009
5:05 pm
What about Guerry Baldwin or Dennis Jordan from East Cobb Baseball? If they’re not available, you’ve got to go with Fredi. If we can get Don Sutton from the Nationals, we should be able to pry Fredi away from Florida. His family still lives in Cobb County so it would be a perfect fit. Or you talk Bobby into to coaching one more year and getting Fredi the following year.
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:07 pm
Braves #1 problem has been hitting this year. Why promote this clown Terry P? He didn’t deserve the MVP either!
Skeezix
September 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
Mark: You can’t replace a legend and master like Bobby Cox; you just hire someone else.
One has to be impressed with the job Gonzales has done with the Marlins. I think you are right-Duncan may be an option and I have no qualms about giving TP a shot at it. TP was great team leader as a player and has learned from the master, both as a player and now as a coach.
UGA Student
September 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
Terry could be the manager as long as he wears a Ninja Turtle costume