5 candidates to take over the Braves after Bobby Cox

Sorry, but i might be the only one to say it but Terry was a good player and is already in good with the team and the Braves organization. He’s the guy i would have follow Bobby.

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MB – I take it you were not considering current managers. Though you lost me with TP. I haven’t seen enough from him. How about Ned Yost?

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Mark, nice writeups and I think timely conversations.
I totally agree that 1-it is time for a move, and 2-the next Manager should come outside the system. I don’t know if they could entice him or not but I’d also inquire of the current Marlins Manager Freddie Gonzalez. Freddie has his team above the Braves in t he standing without spending nearly as many bucks as the Braves have. He also appears to be able to handle young players as well.

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What about Fredi Gonzalez? He’s done quite well down in FL with no payroll, could Atlanta pry him away from Florida?

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I think Phillip Wellman should be considered. You know, the guy who once crawled soldier-style to the pitcher’s mound, then lobbed the rosin bag like a grenade at the umpire. The Braves need that kind of fire!

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Now while advocate Terry Pendleton just because of the smooth transition factor; another name within the organization might at least deserve some look and that is Eddie Perez. I don’t know but something about Eddie gives me the impression that he would be a very good manager if given the chance. Plus former ML Catchers seem to make very good managers.

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Fredi Gonzalez, Ned Yost, or if Eric Wedge got fired would be my choices.

After that, how about Claudell Washington, Chris Chambliss, or Terry Harper?

Ok, your list will just have to do

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Gary, I agree. I think Eddie Perez is a better and more likely in-house candidate than Terry Pendleton.

Has there ever been any indication from Braves brass that Pendleton is some sort of “successor”? Or is that just an assumption among many fans?

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Good point E…Rocks. At this point in time a fresh take on things I think would be very helpful. I have nothing personally against TP, but I think he’s been in the system so long he’d just be more of the same.
Only regret I think I would have is I like current hitting coach and you don’t know if you’d keep him once a change is made.

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You’re right, the succession has never been discussed. Add to that the fact that Pendleton has had several managerial interviews and is still the Braves hitting coach. He was even up for the Phillies manager position once they fired Larry Bowa several years ago.

I personally think he would be a good manager, but obviously his managing philosophy hasn’t translated into a job at the Major League level. (look at me already second guessing my first choice). Of course that could be because he is waiting for Bobby to retire so he can be the man in Atlanta.

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Enter your comments here How about Dusty Baker. A perfect fit. Don Gill

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TP is one of the reasons Cox should go. Why reward him with the top job? I swear it’s like everybody has taken crazy pills.

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Keep Cox wait two years and then hire Chipper.

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sorry- should read “Cardinals’”

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Fredi Gonzalez was given a 3 year contract extension after he won the 2008 manager of the year award,,,so he is contracted to the Marlins through the 2011 season,,,, I dont think the Marlins would grant the Braves the right to talk to him

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In addition to Bochy and Torre, Dusty Baker left the Giants to take the Cubs. Tony LaRussa left the A’s for the Cardinals. Leyland left the Pirates for the Marlins, and the Marlins for the Rockies. Piniella left the Mariners for the Devil Rays. In none of these cases was the manager fired. It happens more often than you’re letting on, I think, Mark.

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Also, let’s remind everyone that Freddie Gonzales is not only not on Mark’s list for his reason above, but also for the fact that the Marlins signed him to an extension before the season began. He isn’t leaving Florida, especially with a new stadium coming and all that talent.

I like Freddie and think of him as a great manager in the making, but the Marlins are not letting him go, especially to a division and region rival like the Braves.

Also Matthew, Giradi was fired by the Marlins and then hired a season later by the Yankees. Bouchy is the only recent manager to up and switch teams. Dusty Baker was in 2003 as well.

And please do not ever, ever…..mention Dusty Baker and Braves manager in the same sentence. That would be the end of Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson. Dusty has a nice streak going of killing young pitchers.

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Don’t hire TP. I don’t want him getting a hold on Freeman. He can’t do his job as a hitting coach let alone a manager. Francouer gets sent down. Chipper has bad year, Mac has an 0-20. Do you want want him influencing young talent at the major league level?

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What is Biff Pocaroba doing these days? Or Andres Thomas…. he would be a good hire.

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Brad Mills by a mile. He’s not only respected and admired by his peers and the players, he doesn’t let sentamentality get in the way of doing what’s right and what’s needed. (Bobby Cox’s biggest weakness). We need new blood from other organizations to instill some urgency and fire in this team. I’m tired of people saying the Braves act “professional”. That’s called apathy, and it’s infecting some of the older Braves right now. Let’s get it done JS & FW!

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If that is all that’s out there we may as well keep Cox and be a “wait til next year” team a few more years.

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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?

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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Also, why not Snitker? Again, just curious…

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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.

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What about Chino Cadahia

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Enter your comments here Fredi Gonzalez look at what he’s done with the Marlins

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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!

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Eddie Perez is my choice to replace BC.

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Are you fricking crazy,Terry Pendleton.He could not manage a little league team!

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Maybe the Braves could get Albert Pujols to be a player manager. That would help the team.

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Give us Barabbas…….

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Maybe the Braves could get those Tom Emanski tapes to manage the team. I bet Fred McGriff would endorse that move.

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Manny Acta, Manny Acta, Manny Acta. And promote Botelho and Dismuke from Gwinnett to be the pitching coach and hitting coach respectively.

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How about Dr. Lou Holtz, sir?

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If I were Frank Wren I’d go to the Jackson Diagnostic and Classification Center. I’d find the biggest, toughest, scariest, smelliest, inmate, in the whole joint. I’d allow him to motivate by patrolling the bench with a shank.

Greg (Ed) Norton, our shi__iest player, would suddenly draw comparisons to Rod Carew.

FEAR, the greatest motivator of them all!

WORLD SERIES HERE WE COME!!

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There is no reason for Cox to retire this year. But if he does the best choice is Ned Yost. He turned around a dreadful Brewers franchise (I still can’t believe they fired him in the middle of the wild card chase) and he’s supposedly a Cox clone. Writing his name multiple times in all-caps should help get my point across.

NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST NED YOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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With the Crime Dog as hitting coach everyone on the team would have that one handed helicopter follow through and a cool mustache.

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MARK, TERRY PENDELTON WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THE JOB. HE HAS PLAYED IN TWO WINNING ORGANIZATION IN ST.LOUIS UNDER HERTZOF AND THE BRAVES UNDER COX. HE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THE TWO GREAT MANAGERS PLUS WITH HIS TALENT AND ABILITIES, HE WOULD BE THE PERFECT FIT. HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS AND THE ORGANIZATION.

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To improve on our current Cox funk, I would

A) Look for anyone with a pulse, and

B) Go outside the Braves organization

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IF PENDELTON IS HIRED, I HOPE HE WOULD BRING BACK LEO MAZONNE AS HIS PITCHING COACH. THE BRAVES SUFFERED WHEN HE LEFT.

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Did you get extra points for obscurity? What about current managers or former managers? Don’t you think Freddi Gonzalez would be an excellent choice? I would think they would at least interview him (if he’s interested, and why wouldn’t he be). How about Ned Yost? He got the Brewers back to respectable, and they dumped him for some inexplicable reason. Add in Eddie Perez and that’s my foursome for interviews.

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MB,

How about Alan Trammell? Bench coach for the Cubs who may or may not get the nod if Lou steps down. Talk of Sandberg being elevated to the Cubs. Anyway, Trammell managed basically a Triple A team when he had the Tigers. Leyland gives him a lot of credit of restoring professionalism to the organization before he inherited the team and took them to the WS.

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Good list. I like the idea of getting some new blood into the organization. Brad Mills would be my choice. He makes decisions based on performance, not on the number of decades you’ve been playing ball. The Red sox will do everything they can to retain him. They’re not dummies. They know they have a winner there. Jose Oquendo is a good choice, bit of a temper, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I still think as long as Bobby can wobble to home plate to argue with an umpire he’s going to want to manage. This is a necessary change if the Braves are to succeed, but I just don’t think the Braves management have the gonads to act. Hope I’m wrong. Believe me, you don’t get better with age when you get into you’re mid-60’s.

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Ned Yost. He was Bobby’s guy until his success in Milwaukee. Or get Fredi from the Marlins. These are both proven managers…with Braves ties.

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Bobby Valentine is a good choice. He did get the Mets to the playoff’s twice, and as I understand excelled in Japan. Why not, he is a funny dude thats for sure. I remember once he was thrown out of the game, and came incognito as a security guard.

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Catchers are reputed to make really good managers. Greg Olson was very limber. He could lie on his back and bend his legs back and touch his toes to the ground. A good manager should be able to do that. Bobby lost that awhile back. Olson was hanging around baseball. That’s how the Braves got Spooneyburger. There’s another candidate. Sideburns of a manager.

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TIM TEBOW…..TIM TEBOW…….TIM TEBOW….. He can do anything he has been touched by god to be perfect in every way possible…….

( I would love it if one of his team mates decked him once he got in their face. what a @#$@!!!!!)

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“Sabermetrics” is close enough to “shankmetrics” for me!

Mills sounds like the guy!

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Great topic,
Thanks Mark for bringing it up. I think the Braves need a younger manager but am not sure who would be a good fit. Love Gardenhire, but seems impossible to bring him here. But just the fact that we are talking about it gives me hope for change. Look at the Falcons with their coach, awsome! I love Duncan as a pitching coach but am not sure he would do well as a mamager. Love Ron Darling here in NY, has a good perspective on the game but not sure if its too much Mets for the Bravos fans..Ha… I am excited about next year thought and like many others am hoping bobby steps down asap and let’s us get on with the program for next year..

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Or… Jimmy Williams

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Simple NED YOST!

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The Buckaroo Martinez covets this position. You don’t have to win so I’d say he’s qualified.

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WILLIE MARTINEZ he has to be good at something!!!

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Zip’s Widow @4:05 p.m.

I managed the base team when I was in the Air Force but we only had 9 players. The Braves have 25. That’s an entirely different kind of managing — all together.

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It is of course a different sport but it will be fun to watch how the current NFL fad (partly to save money) of hiring young assistants copied from Tomlin’s success with the Steelers plays out.
Jason Whitlock with the KC Star takes a critical and humorous look at the Chiefs’ new head coach. “The Raiders basically played dead and won” is his best quip.

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BTW Benedict has managerial experience at the show, albeit it one game.

Whom ever they hire, they should fire immediately and hire again, longterm.

You can’t follow a legend.

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I voted for TP….without hesitation…he’s a baseball man and I think he would be a great hire…that said..I think Cox returns next year..

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If we’re going out on a limb…..how ’bout Bobby Valentine?

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I don’t actually know for sure if Valentine is funny, but that game he gets ejected, and comes back to the clubhouse a security guard cracks me up. Here’s a video of him giving the explanation of what happened that day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jowwMKG5kYc

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I’m going to join just a few others in asking about Brian Snitker. I don’t know much about his coaching style other than his experience in the Braves system. Based on what little I can observe, he would seem to be the best candidate in my mind. Mark, do you have any insight on him?

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What makes anyone think that TP would be a good manager??? The guy has not proved himself as a good hitting coach. He would have been fired anywhere else. The only reason he held his job is because of nostalgia. TP had a career avg of around 270 and only had two good seasons. I dont understand why people even think he was all that as a hitter.
I dont know who the answer is. But I do not believe that TP is the answer.

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Joe Maddon…he gets out of the American League East, which will be bottlenecked up by the Yankees and Red Sox until the end of time.

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Why does anybody want to replace McDowell with Leo or anyone else? What’s not to like about the job he has done this year? A career best year for Vasquez, noticeable improvement in KK, Hanson, and Medlen from the time they arrived. Does he get some credit for the success JJ has had these past 2 years. Granted he did not turn Blaine Boyer into Mariano Rivera, but then Duncan couldn’t do much with Boyer either.

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I don’t know about as manager, but I think Larry Wayne Jones, Sr. would be awesome as a hitting coach. I wouldn’t mind having him as manager either.

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I would also recommend Greg Maddux, he knows how to win and all men who play the game repsect his knowledge and abilities…He would sell a lot more tickets…The fans love him.

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The problem with hiring a new guy is he may not be experienced enough to know good assistants. That is the big difference between Mora and Smith. Mora hired Grag Knapp because he knew him and was not confident enough to choose from a larg group the best guy.
Again it’s a different sport.
My point is Atlanta get to be the trainer of managers who learn here and then do better elsewhere.
I’m tired of that.

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oh, and for the record, I still believe Bobby Cox should stay manager as long as he wants. I don’t understand how people can turn against a manager who led his team to 14 straight playoff appearances in a row. Players like playing for him, he has a proven winning record, what more can you people want. Of course you can nitpick certain moves but hindsight is always 20/20. He’s a baseball lifer and I’m pretty sure knows more about the game than anyone commenting on here.

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I guess I don’t get the “he’s under contract” statement about Freddi Gonzalez. Last time I checked having a job doesn’t preclude you from getting another job if he really wanted it. Freddi was an unproven manager when he was hired, I doubt he has some sort of Braves buyout clause (a la Urban Meyer and Notre Dame). If Freddi was interested, he would be considered and given an interview. I mean, the guys on your list are “under contract” with the clubs they work for. That’s a dumb statement.

As for Ned Yost, last time I checked Milwaukee was a bottom dweller when he got there and were more relevant when he left. I’m not worried about him getting let go with 12 games left in the season. Sometimes the people you work for don’t know what they’re doing. Leo Mazzone will tell you all about Baltimore. He was fired from them. Does that mean he is not worth hiring as a pitching coach now?

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misterwax……. NO WAY GREG WOULD EVER MANAGE. It would cut into his GOLF time.

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Not Terry P., its just more of the same, look at the offensive production and ask yourself if this is what you want to see again. I wonder if we really need a manager that the players are all familiar with, here again is this really what you want to see.

The Braves need new blood that will come in and make a statement as to what he expects (A WINNING ATTITUDE), not the same old thing-good players, well like management and no offense.

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I do not have the information or smarts to pick Bobby Cox’s successor – But apparently I am smarter than almost 46% of the responders to the poll of Should Bobby Cox return as the Braves Manager?

FORTY-SIX PERCENT SAID YES!!! OMG – I am beginning to feel brilliant. ( I voted NO) It’s easy to say Mr Wren, try it – NO!

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Word out of Milwaukee is that Yost was a pretty bad manager and many of his players hated playing for him. What’s Don Baylor up to these days? I always thought he got the shaft in Colorado.

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I think managing a baseball team is a bit overrated as far as any “skill” required – it’s more about being a team leader than it is x’s and o’s.

Therefore I would dismiss any opinions I have about TP as a hitting instructor. He’d probably be a much better manager.

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How about Rafael Ramirez or Pascual Perez?

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Anything or anybody but Bobby Cox. An old mop and a bag of balls would be better.

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Shamus…..you must remember the 80’s when Glen Hubbard could turn the double play with the best of em..he had no fear..I also thought about him as the next Mgr…but I think now a days he’s happy being the first base coach and drinking hotel beer on road trips..(sitting next to Bobby of course…..) but I’m often wrong….BTW…your prison post earlier get my vote for most hilariuos of the day….good stuff….

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Somebody needs to take a look at Bobby Valentine. We need someone who can manufacture runs, knows how to play small ball, and utilize this pitching staff we have. Just because we have a closer does not mean you have to give him the ball when your starter is still under 100 pitches for the night. The game has gone past Cox.

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We don’t need someone who is loved, thats what we have had for the past years and where has it gotten us. WE NEED A LEADER, A MANAGER AND SOMEONE WITH A NEW OUTLOOK ON WHERE THE BRAVES NEED TO GO FROM HERE.

I for one am tired of winning baseball that doesn’t equate to a sucessful season, winning means one thing, BRING HOME THE BACON. !!!!

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want a former pitcher?: Pascual Perez

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I have always like the way the Cards ran things to steal a coach from them seems to be a step in the right direction. Jose would be my 1st choice of your list. Ullger would be 2nd as the Twins always seem to fight and claw the entire season to over achieve. TP would be my absolute last choice. He has proven nothing at his present position. Chipper and Mac consult their dads when in a slump. Frenchy went to Rudy, and AJ excepted a minor league deal from the Rangers to work with Rudy over a deal with the Braves.

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If you want to go outside the organization and change the culture and tone in the clubhouse, then you should hire Larry Bowa. He flamed out in Philly but should have learned from it particularly having worked under Torre.

I also think Willie Randolph would be a good choice. He has major league managerial experience in a market like NYC and knows the game.

Not sure why we need to take a chance on unproven managerial talent such as TP, Duncan and Oquendo but apparently they and the Minnesota and Boston guys are ‘hot’ names.

Whoever comes in better show Chipper some respect and not try to run him out of the game (which is what LaRussa did to Ozzie Smith).

LET’S GO BRAVES!

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A correction: Van Gundy was Riley’s long time assistant, and what I forgot was that he came in only when Don Nelson, the guy who replaced Riley, was fired. I’m one who believes that a long time assistant coach, or baseball coach, who served under a successful coach or manager, is the best fit, when a long time mamager leaves the team. The Yankees didnt do that when Giradi replaced Torre, and they struggled last year. Now, they are back on top.

I hope the Braves pick TP or Perez.

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So Mark, I’m reading a fair bit of barely disguised contempt for Yost. Anything we should know about? He does seem logical on the surface but his departure from Milwaukee and lack of subsequent work is perplexing at best.

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Mark

I feel that TP is the best person for the job….He gets the shaft alot of times, simply because Booby is the coach.

TP is a very hard-edge, in your face type person…That is why the Braves need him. There’s alot of negativity surrounding him, simply because he’s affiliated with Cox…

I like to compare TP to that of a middle-manager in a corporation. You can make all of the changes you want to those under you, DEMAND that employees do it your way, but if the employees disagree with you (Andrew, Franceour) and the upper-management backs them, NOT YOU (ala Booby), then you lose that respect…

I feel that Braves brass must have privately told TP to be patient, ride it out because your next.

I say that simply because with Franceour going to Texas’ hitting coach, Cox not knowing how to put together a line-up (YOU KNOW TP HAS TO HAVE A DIFFERING OPINION ABOUT WHERE TO HIT THESE PLAYERS), TP has to be frustrated with what’s going on……..

I know, alot of people will disagree w/me, that’s ok…I just feel that the players hitting approach is NOT TP’s fault, it’s the fault of the individual players, and Cox doesn’t have the balls to agree with TP…

Besides, look at the positive PR involved if the Braves hires an African-America manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, if you want an outside coach, why not go with Mets 1b coach Luis Alicea…

I remember him from my FSU days, really hardnose player, greatly respected with the players and THIS IS IMPORTANT…is able to relate to the Latino players (ala Yunel)….

He is a real student of the game, stresses fundementals and is not afraid to get in your face if you screw up..He demands perfection.

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How about Cooper, who was just fired. To be honest, I think the Astros are making a mistake, I don’t know how Cooper had such a great season last year, with such a horrible pitching. When you’re number 3 starter is Mike Hampton, it’s not you’re fault you’re losing.

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1. Terry Pendleton
2. Bobby Valentine
3. Dave Duncan
4. Ned Yost
5. Willie Randolph

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Why is everyone wanting Bobby gone so quick? Yes, he is frustrating sometimes, but not every decision is going to always work out. He plays the numbers game and for years he has looked brilliant. You cannot tell me that for 14 years, he won the division based on talent alone. A lot of that winning was because the in-game decisions were made better than the opposition. Plus, players love him. Bobby should manage forever if he wants too!

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I’m not knocking your choice of Ron Gardenhire ad the best manager in baseball, but I am compelled to ask why you think he is?

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why would anyone get to the ball game at 11 for a 7 pm game ?

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Brad Mills has 11 years experience managing in the minors, served as advance scout for the Cubs and has several years experience as a coach. He’s never lived off his name or reputation because most people don’t even know his name. He’s the assistant manager for the Red Sox because he got there through hard work and doing his due diligence. With his past success working with young players and his managerial experience he would probably be a great manager for a team that’s willing to give him a chance. I just hope it’s the Braves and not some other team.

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When I first read this headline, I immediately started to look for the breaking story that Bobby Cox had stated he was retiring at the end of the season. I would have been shocked because Bobby’s never made a decision like that but in the off season. He’s too low-key to make such a statement when the season is still going on.

However, having read your headline on this column, I just immediately thought that’s what happened.

That’s because I never would have believed an AJC sports writer would have the audacity to call for his resignation and then proffer five replacement candidates!

What utter nonsense!

Shame on you Bradley, and shame on the AJC. I hope you enjoy covering the team from outside the locker room because if you thought you had issues with John Smoltz then you’ve seen nothing yet! You will likely be blackballed by the players on this one, and not because Bobby asked them, but because they love Cox so much they’re going to skin you alive!

In all seriousness, your editor should have pulled this column for no other reason than to protect your ability to interact with the team to get background for good columns and stories. If I were Carroll Rogers or Dave O’Brien, who actually cover the team, I’d be very angry with you for jeapardizing their contacts by association with the AJC and this column!

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I’d like to bring back freddie Gonzalez from florida..

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Ken Stallings……you may be right….interesting post…

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i would say the pickings are very slim looking at the names mention.
lets wait to see what the braves do with bobby before we go popping off about bobby’s replacement.

i personally think we need bobby more than ever with the young talent the braves have and especially with his patience,otherwise it could be a real downner if the braves pick the wrong person which is very possible.

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Mark, I agree with you. Braves need to go out of the system and get mgr with different views. We need change. My pick would be any of 5 except TP. He!! no to TP. Ist. Mills 2nd Jose Oquendo.

Please go out of system……no TP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I’d hire ANYONE who could even tell you where the bullpen is, much less how to use it!

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I used to think Pendelton was the guy, but apparently he can’t see the forest for the trees. Why else would high value players seek out their own hitting coaches. Saying that if he is a guy who would force the other team to make plays instead of always playing it safe I might be in favor of him. In the game of baseball if you force the other guys to make a perfect play then you sometimes cause errors. Cox for all his achievments he plays what Iv’e come to call a grandpa style of baserunning and taking bases.

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Your list is entered as a joke, right? None of these can be seriously considered for the job. Would be better to just keep Bobby.

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Terry Pendleton?

You rednecks deserve a losing team just for dumb you are. A guy like Mills bringing what he has learned from the Red Sox over what TP has been around in Atlanta? Idiots!!

I still think a guy like Willie Randolph would do well here. But TP? I would rather keep Bobby. (Yikes!) Why not just keep the original here if your going to replace him with a non experienced watered down version.

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You guys obviously have nothing to write about today. Cox is still the manager until HE says otherwise. By the way, who do you think will replace Obama?

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What about Danny Hall? He knows how to get a team to the post season and choke every year. He would be perfect for the Braves.

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Hire Barry Bonds.He knows how to get results immediately

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The Braves need someone that has been involved with the Braves.
Ned Yost, Eddie Perez, Glen Hubbard, Pendleton , someone that the players will respond to and want to play for. I’d like to see Eddie Perez givin a shot. Alot of former catchers have made good managers.

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Let’s hire Mike Maddux, you know, for no real reason, just because

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Virginia “old” fan….I’m okay with Pat Corrales…you spelled it right…half the team is Latino…why not a latino Mgr…maybe he can spark those those guys….

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Another stupid blog by Bradley. There’s a reason he’s known as “Mr. I’m on, and now off, the bandwagon.” Nobody is more wishy-washy that Bradley, except when he decides the bury the dagger in someone’s heart, and then he’s ruthless. Bradley has decided Cox must go but Atlanta Braves’ management hasn’t. Bradley has decided it’s time to list successor candidates but Atlanta Braves’ management hasn’t. Guess who will have the final decision? Not Bradley.

As to the “prospective choices,” what is the matter with the respondents? The leading vote getter, as if it mattered, is Terry Pendleton. Other than his MVP season, what has the chubster contributed to the Braves success, or lack thereof? Hitting coach? Please. When has the Braves hitting looked exceedingly successful? When Chipper Jones or Brian McCann, the team’s best hitters, have a problem who do they call? Not TP, but their fathers. It’s a shame that Bradley would list TP as a candidate, and it’s an indictment of Braves fans that they would chose him over more qualified candidates, even if they aren’t former Braves.

bowman
– -
“Art will always be Art.” – Goethe

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how about Ryne Sandberg young enough to identify with the younger players, but please not Pendleton he is what killed the free swingers Frenchy and Andruw he took them from their game.

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Anybody on this board who thinks that TeePee would be a good manager loses instant credibility in my book…how many Braves have improved as a hitter under him? I’d put Yost, Gonzalez, Snitker or Wellman in front of TP from the ‘hometown’ list & the only guy behind him would be Guillen who is a 1st class jerkoff. All I know is that Cox got a lot of credit for being “GREAT” when all he and Leo had to do was pick a Hall of Famer to win 3 of 5 most of the 1990’s. I figure 75% of D-1 coaches could have accomplished the same results with the teams of the ’90s.

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Enter your comments here

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How about me?

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As long as the Braves refuse to put money into the team it doesnt matter who manages they will be a non-playoff team. The one thing that Cox needs to do is to make changes. Chipper needs to go to first base. Less wear and tear on his body compaired to third base. Go get a CLOSER. How many games have been lost due to the bullpen. I say bring in Maddux as the pitching/bench coach. He has stated that he would like to be a bench coach how many times have we heard stories of him calling outs from the bench before the pitch. Go get a hitting coach who is a instructor, not somebody like TP who just coaches. Bottom line is as long as the Braves owners treat them as a busniess that is decided by profit and loss and not by winning championships the braves will struggle.

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Please, ANYBODY but Pendleton!

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The GT guys is Danny Hall…better than a lot of the major league managers, hands down.

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Everyone thinks 1st base is so easy to play……… alot more footwork involved. Deal with holding runners. and we always see mistakes involving the 1st basman making the small tosses to the pitcher covering. Chipper at 1st could be even worse. Considering he’s never played a game at the position, high bad throw he goes to jump for it comes down on the bag spring ankel, or can he cant one hop throws from the other infielders?? He’s been horrible at 3rd this year and he would prolly be worst at 1st.

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I would like to add another name… Bobby Cox. To paraphrase Ted Turner, the guy we are looking for to replace Bobby Cox is Bobby Cox. From 1966 there are only two things to consider. Exhibit A is the Braves without Bobby Cox. Exhibit B is the Braves with Bobby Cox. I cast my vote for the Bobby Cox Braves.

When you think of all the division achievments, League Championships, and the ONE World Series that everone likes to harp, the Braves have not exactly presented the most threatening line up. They have had good players. Good guys for the community. Players of character and team. But with all the success this organization has had, how many players other than Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz are HOF material? There is Chipper, of course. I hope he gets it.

The Braves are who they are because of Bobby Cox. Players come to Atlanta and all of the sudden, they are better than ever. Players leave Atlanta and you never hear anything about them again. These players may be inspired but some of the credit has to go to the manager that knows how to best use the talent.

Every year the Braves break camp with a chance. As a fan that is all you can ask. If you want something else, there is a place for you. Without Bobby Cox all you have is Cubs. They stopped blaming the manager years ago. Now days the blame goes to a goat, a black cat and a guy wearing goofy head phones. A good day is when their star hits a homerun! A good year is when the Cubs are out of it in August. That’s when the Bears start.

Until Bobby quits, he is my vote for manager.

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If these are the 5 best replacements for Bobby Cox, then these are also the best 5 reasons to keep Bobby Cox that I can think of.

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Mark,

Do not listen to the girly men like Ken Stallings. He’s literally asking you to avoid your honest opinion to maintain the favor of your fellow writers and to retain access to the Braves personnel. As I wrote in your other column, you now have my utmost respect for at least debating the possibilities and this is the very best type of journalistic integrity.

Stallings,

Grow a pair!

Larry (1-14)

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What about getting Klesko as hitting coach if TP gets Bobby’s job?

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Bob Rathbun

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Joe Torre.

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Mark, more often than not, the player or coach waits too late to make the right call.

I can go on baseballreference.com and pull up scores of hall of famers whose last year or two in the league was abysmal. Just a year or two too late.

I think several years out of the playoffs is a good starting point for analysis of whether it is time or not….

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I sure didn’t want to see Coach Landry not succeed either – and I have the utmost respect of what Bobby has accomplished in his career.

But when you get 68, and I am only 49, but when you get 68, is it all working like it used to upstairs?

Is the impetus for having daily enthusiasm for the game and being mentally in the game really there every night?

Sometimes I really wonder…..

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If the Braves hire TP………I will NEVER return to the TED until he leaves! He’s an AWFUL coach.

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The Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez is the right man! Can’t believe he wasn’t listed in your top 5. They should do what they need to do to bring him back to Atlanta.

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Now that Liberty Media and Frank Wren have created a situation that may well force Bobby Cox to walk away, I don’t think they’ll consider Terry Pendleton at all. They will want a clean slate.

I also don’t think they’re smart enough to make a serious offer to any of the four “outsiders” on your list, Mark. And that’s probably the worst part of the entire situation.

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I believe that the person who should tak over is someone who has experience. ?? Ned Yost. He did a great job with the Brewers who were stupid to get rid of him.

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Mickey Hatcher – Hitting Coach, LA Angels of Anaheim

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Rocket Wheeler: Coached 2008 Pelicans to the League Finals, 2003 Rome Braves to Championship, 1999 Dunden Blue Jays to League Finals. Has been in the Braves system since 2003 so he knows a lot of the young guys very well such as Heyward (a part of the 2008 team), Hanson ( a part of the 2008 team for the 1st half), and McCann( a part of the 2003 team). He also knows the veterans well since he has spent time with the Major league club once the minor league season ends (I’ve seen him in the dugout). Is fiery which is needed

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I hope that Bobby doesn’t decide to retire. If he does, tell him to call me and I’ll do all I can to talk him out of it. He’s easily best manager (still) in major league baseball.

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Enter your comments here If you were looking outside for a manager and you saw someone with Bobby’s credentials, you’d snap him up in a minute. Change is always enticing, but not always the best. Let’s not rush to replace one of the best manager’s ever. The time will come soon enough.

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I think Bob Brenly would be a good choice for the Braves. Experienced and has won the big one.

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Jim Leyland.

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Freddie Gonzalez

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Eddie Perez is probably the best coach in the Venezuelan winter league, last year he almost made the manager of the year on his first year as a coach and with a team of rookies (the majority of the Aguilas del Zulia were rookie and unknown players) made it all the way to the playoffs. He is completely on top of his game and makes the right moves at the right time. Everyone here knows him and respects him as a player, friend and part of the coaching staff, but as a coach he takes it very serious, kind of do or die on every game and doesn’t hesitate to think outside the box.
It might sound crazy, but I think its actually a great idea of Eddie leading the Braves. The team need the change and energy.

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On a serious note, I think the Eddie Perez recommendation is probably the best one yet….

Not only was he a hard nosed blue collar player, he also can connect with the Latin and American players, which will be huge moving forward….

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Reading these comments scares the hell out of me. I hope no one takes these seriously.

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Enter your comments here What about Don Mattingly. He has been coaching under Joe Torre.

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How about a veteran player who has always been respected at the end of a long career? And who didn`t make a ton of money who would have no desire to remain in the game. How about SS Omar Vizquel?

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Mark:
I’m surprized you missed the obvious wild-card choice (beyond Ted Turner) and nominate Chipper Jones as player/manager. He’s already talking about stepping down if he can’t step up, and he’s a throw-back to the old days where players started the game with a dirty uni. He’s earned the respect of his teammates, and I’ll bet you a cold one he would take the job. He would also bench himself and play someone who would do the job when that time comes.

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Pasquel Perez – just get him a Garmon!

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I nominate myself as the right candidate for the managers job. Requirements are as follows:

Five million up front for starters with the right to walk away if I so choose, and the right to kick Frank Wren’s behind if I get the urge. My own penthouse with 24 hour escort service at home and on the road. Cigars will be banned from the clubhouse but medicinal cannabis is allowed. Foul language will be encouraged at all times. I’ll fight the opposition at the drop of a hat and drop it myself. I also demand that Whitey Herzog be given his own his own rocking chair as part of my coaching staff.

Pitching and defense will be the hallmark of my club. If said pitcher or player cannot do both, he will be clubbed. O yea, better run like the damn wind when I call for a double steal or I’m gonna steal your ride, and take it for a spin around the bases behind you. Dirty uniform’s, tobacco and a bad attitude’s are welcome. For pitchers: pine tar, emery boards, thumb tacks and hair gel are required tools for the job. Brush back pitches and a mean disposition are welcome too.

Rule number one, my name is *that Asshole*, just don’t repeat it in front of me. Rule number two, I’m always right. Rule number three, If I’m wrong, refer to rules two and one in backwards order.

When can I start?

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Sorry, but Terry Pendleton would just the worst choice possible. Please get a good manager. the choice of Pendleton would just insure many more years of failure, before finally getting a quality manager. Might as awell keep Cox if you choose Pendleton.

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MARK:

Didn’t vote because my choice is DAVE BRUNDIGE, and he wasn’t on the list. And I like your reasons for picking PENDLETON fourth. 1- He rides a HARLEY, and 2- he’s a hard-nose change of pace guy. All I can say is wow. Way to make an informed decision as significant as this one would be. Thank goodness you don’t get to choose. Come on MARK. You can do better than this.

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Enter your comments here
Is it too much to do a little homework before you jabber stream of consciousness meandering thoughts?
Anyone familiar with Dave Duncan’s mindset would know that he hasn’t or won’t have any interest in being a big league manager. His style is behind the scenes in the trenches and has as much said so in numerous interviews.

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I’m with at least 8 other people on this thread who’ve commented that TP doesn’t do his current job well, why promote him? The Braves have been consistent about offensive-underperformance during his tenure as hitting coach. Don’t say it was just Francouer either, Chipper goes to his dad; when Andruw couldn’t get it straightened out in house he went outside. If the team underperforms offensively year in-year out I put that on the hitting coach.

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I like Fredi Gonzalez and Ned Yost. Even if you don’t, Mark, they should certainly be part of your poll.

Scott Ullger? Really?

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Enter your comments here I think that it should be someone outside of the organization. An ex catcher and one of the younger breed like they did with the yankees with guerrarde.. besides I dont think thats going to take place for another two years. until cox himself desides to. its still going to be his job til he steps down.

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I need more choices

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Would Stotlemeyer from the Yanks be a good choice? I know that isn’t how you spell his name, but thought I’d throw it out there. Also, starting new, why not look to Tom Glavine?

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I VOTE FOR MANNY MOTA or José Cuervo

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I guess my question would be what the goals for the next manager would be? I am reminded of a few years back when the Catholic Church was looking for a new Pope and they decided to go after an older more established Cardinal because he would not face as much criticism for failing to live up to his predecessor, because the understanding was he would only be around for a few years. Why not put some very stable, conservative time between Bobby and taking a risk on a young and unproven coach.

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Who ever thinks Bobby will leave this pitching staff without being fired is crazy. He loves these long seasons and short post season runs. Two names I have not seen…Glen Hubbard [in house] and japan returnee [Asian World Champion winner} Bobby Valentine. Love the fire need the fire but alas we are and will be left in the cold. Bobby is still heating his house with whale oil. He ain’t a’changin’!

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The people who are still defending Bobby Cox must either: a. not have watched any of the Braves games this year, or b. know nothing at all about baseball. Any baseball savy person, who watched the games, would have seen the many, many managing blunders that Cox made, often costing the team a win. Now are we supposed to overlook all of that, because he was (debatably) successful in the past? Please Bobby, just go. It’s time. And if he won’t retire voluntarily, then please John and Frank, gently but firmly escort him to the door to retirement.

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Eddie Perez!!!!!

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PHILLIP WELLMAN!!!

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Maybe I’m just biased because my last name is Pendleton and I named my dog Terry only because of my last name, but I would really like to see Terry Pendleton become the new manager when Cox retires. Either that or see Mazzone come back, which will probably never happen.

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TP is not even a good hitting coach ! What makes you think he would be a good head coach ? Usually you promote for excellent work and production he has done niether. I can see it coming now he is going to get the job because he’s black, because if he doesn’t get it race will be the reason.

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Right now it is a pointless debate because BOBBY COX WILL BE BACK

When he does leave, I think it is in this order

1. TP
2. Freddy Gonzalez (I think he could jump teams)
3. Eddie Perez
4. Ned Yost
5. Jose Oquindo

and an off the RADAR pick…..JOE SIMPSON (if he was interested I really think he could be a successful coach. All the Braves’ players know him, he knows the personnel, he is a very smart baseball guy and coming down from the press box has been done before

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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE no terry pendleton….he is ruining the team as hitting coach

i think bobby (cox not dews) should be bullpen coach and eddie perez manager. just have them switch places. makes perfect sense

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I would like to see Terry Pendleton as the new Braves Manager. He had a stellar career with the Braves and as you said is much respected by the players. Hands down, he’s my choice.

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“Why would you hire someone whose previous team fired him as it was about to make the playoffs? Is there a brighter red flag?”

No there is not, but the Braves hired Cox anyway. You forgot to add that the Blue Jays won two World Series immediately after firing him. That’s about five or so less than the Braves would have won had they done the same.

No manager has done less with more in the postseason in any sport that Cox. Maybe they can hire George Karl or Marty Schottenheimer to continue the tradition.

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What about Eddie Perez?

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If you’re going to make a move away from Cox — which should be done — then you really should go with a fresh new approach. Elevating Pendleton to that job would be little more than a continuation of the Cox mentality and system. With the pitching staff we’ve got — really good starters, really erratic late-inning relievers — I’d like to see someone take over who isn’t a stubborn manage-by-formula/pitch-count guy.

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Mark,

We need to keep Bobby Cox until he is ready to go. The players love playing for him. I fully realize they haven’t made it to the playoffs as of late, but some of that is due to injuries that are simply beyond a managers control. Like you said in your comments regarding Terry Pendelton, Cox is one of the best managers ever. I have to think that Bobby hasn’t suddenly forgotten how to manage.

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One choice here, Orel Hersheiser, a student of the game and great character.

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Enter your comments here

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Phillip Wellman could be a dark horse. Why not let him give it a shot. He managed alot of these guys in the minors and got them ready for the bigs. One silly meltdown will not stop him from managing the bigs.

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Enter your comments here

What about Phillip Wellman?
Could be fun with his blow-ups.

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I have thought for a few years now that TP would be Bobby’s replacement. Terry brings an edge this young team needs at this time, not a “gentle’ approach Bobby uses.
I give TP my vote.

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what about ned yost? for a while it was thought that he would take over for bobby.

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I hope Cox will stay another year. He has record that is one of the best ever and is loved by his players. He needs a couple of hitter and a left handed pitcher. This group of players has a great potential and I believe Cox is best man.

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I think John Smoltz would be better than any other I’ve heard.

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Hey Mark -

What do you think about Greg Norton as the next skipper? Clearly Bobby is grooming him for something.

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What ever happened to Chris Chambliss? He was on the radar many times to be a manager. He was in Braves system. Jim Fregossi also knows Braves system and has prior managing experience.
For those who don’t think Tery Pendleton should get the job because he is a Cox deciple, remember he also played and won a world series under Whitey Herzog, who knew how to get speed and how to use it to win a championship. He also was pretty good at handling his pitching staff. If TP is chosen I hope he takes Bobby’s good points (good player relationship, and patience) and Herzog’s good points (knowledge of how to use speed) and use his own instincts to manage the Braves.

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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.

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What about Jeff Blauser?

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If Bobby should step down, which I hope he stays. Let’s really shake it up, go get Bobby Valetine.

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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.

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Enter your comments here

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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.

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…..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!

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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.

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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?

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Why hasnt anybody mentioned the best hitter in the past 30 yrs…Tonny Gwynn

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… 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.

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How about Davie Johnson guys

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Willie Randolph or Ned Yost.

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Gardenhire the BEST manager

nope

Cox, Torre, Sciosa, La Russa and Freddi I put ahead of the Twins uno !

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Is Crash Davis still available?

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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.

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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…

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TP will get serious consideration. Hank Aaron, Al Sharpton, and Jessie Jackson will see to that.

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dogsbrekky is 100% g@y.

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*who were lousy hitters*

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Fidel Castro’s son would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC

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Fidel Castro’s brother would be a good candidate…. he looked good as a Cuban assistant in the WBC

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ozzie guilleN!

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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.

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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.

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As far as I’m concerned you can take Pendleton off the list. His history of trying to change every hitter is a matter of record at failure. He ruined Francoeur and Kelly Johnson, Andrew Jones and countless others. No, no Pendleton.

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You’re listing the wrong Red Sox coach-pitching coach John Farrel did a great job in personnel in Cleveland and has been outstanding in Boston, he is going to make an excellent manager for whatever teams snaps him up.

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Ned Yost or Eddie Perez would be the two best candidates. Why would you want Pendelton? He has proven to be a terrible hitting coach, look at Andruw and Frenchy, I know he won an MVP here and was a gret player for us, but we need something better than him.

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If we can get past the Marlins issue, Fredi is a no-brainer. Seriously.

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“UGA”– Actually, Terry Pendleton did deserve the MVP in 1991.

If you want to talk about bad management, look at the guy running your team over in Athens. He had the best quarterback and the best runningback all season, and I never saw a sense of urgency. The team looked apathetic and complacent all year, especially Knowshon Moreno, who got hit with a dose of reality when Alabama steamrolled him and his teammates.

Now he’s showing one but doesn’t have the talent.

Speaking of overrated coaching, Urban Meyer is overrated, and Tim Tebow is the most-overrated athlete I’ve ever seen in any sport. The best college player ever?! You’ve got to be kidding me!! He literally isn’t 25% the player Herschel Walker was, and Danny Wuerffel was a LOT better than him.

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I’d like to see a wildcard pick firebrand type like Terry Bevington.

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Brad Komminsk, it has to be Brad Komminsk. Why? Because Brad Komminsk is AWESOME!

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MB…..re: your 4:08 post regarding Bobby Valentine…..the SAME can b said of Joe Torre.

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Joe Morgan??????? He couldn’t shut his mouth long enough to manage a team!!!!!!

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Any of the above as long as it isn’t Pendleton.

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I’d like to see Chipper become a player/manager, then retire at the end of his current contract and become full time manager.

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Terry Pendleton head coach. Chipper Jones hitting coach. Evan Longoria 3B.

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I loved TP as a player; but as a coach, he has been terrible. The Braves’ hitting has been abysmal and a major reason for their collapse from prominence. **Go with Ullger or Mills.**

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Chipper Jones Manager!!

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I think Lou Brown should be coaxed out of retirement. What he did with the Indians in ‘89 was nothing short of remarkable, considering the history of that club, the tight-fisted owner, and the cast of misfits and retreads he had to deal with.

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f***er needed to be fired about 3 years ago. GD another season with this senile POS.

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Unfortunately, scietologists aren’t allowed in the bible belt UGA MF can’t spell. GD, My tax dollars are wasted on this Moran. UGA=MF Idiot

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Noogie, your tax dollars are wasted on yourself…it’s moron and it’s not capitalized unless starting a sentence.

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John Smoltz

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As much as it pains me to side with a UGA fan, I have to agree, I actually got to have him as a batting coach several years ago at a baseball camp. He is a great guy, very knowledgeable, and I think he has what it takes to fill Bobby Cox’s shoes. Well maybe in every aspect except the whole record for the most ejections from a game.

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Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux

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Braves management – step up and do the world a huge favor; hire a minority person, specifically Barack Obama! with Joe Biden as 3b coach, Harry Reid at 1b, Pelosi as pitching coach and Hillary as batting coach – with the understanding that all the above resign from their current jobs.

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Joe Morgan he knows more than anyone,and stays at Holiday Inn Express.

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the list emphasizes how much the braves will miss cox

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Hire Mike Hampton! who knows if he can coach, but he should be willing to work for at least a couple of years for free, right?

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Who is the ignoramus who keeps referring to Bobby Cox as the Braves’ “COACH”? He is their MANAGER. There ARE other sports besides football, and, remember, the Braves are the first MAJOR LEAGUE team to play in Atlanta (beating out the expansion Falcons by several months).

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Is Murphy still farming? If he is, how bout promoting Hubbard?

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Aren’t we forgetting about one Mr. Ned Yost there Bradley???

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How about Chipper as a player-manager? That would be interesting. You got to think that TP is at the top of the short list right now. I’m kind of happy that it wasn’t announced today that TP would take over. It’s good to leave that open because who knows who will be available comes the end of next season (which hopefully will go into November). Maybe even Bobby deciding to come back and defend a title.

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The logical choice to replace Bobby is easy. Mike Scioscia would turn this team into a true national league team, which happens to suit our personnel better. We’ve had an American League style of play for all of these years; it’s finally time to play like we’re from the senior circuit.

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Any chance of the Braves taking a look at Don Mattingly?

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I’m pretty sure I know who the next manager will be—the best a$$-kisser.

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Terry Francona, who’s the second-best manager in baseball? You’re kidding yourself.

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Bobby Valentine

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Freddy Gonzales anyone? History with the organization and a proven manager in Florida.
Just not Ned Yost or TP.

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In my view, Braves next manager needs to have already been a ML manager having already led a ML team so that would eliminate Tony Gwynn (who I love), TP, Dave Duncan, Jose Oquendo, and any other bench coach for Boston or Minnesota.

Who then?

Bobby Valentine—heck no. His ego wouldn’t fit within Turner Field anyway.

Joe Torre—he is not going to leave L.A. for Atlanta especially if they make a playoff run particularly given all that off the field endorsement money he rakes in by managing in the second largest media market in the world.

Ned Yost has zero people skills and a lousy track record so no thanks.

Marlins would be fools to let Freddy Gonzales go especially to a team in the same division so unlikely he would be available though he would be my first choice as he is great and clearly knows how to work with young talent.

Willie Randolph would be a good choice. Despite how things ended in NYC, he’s experienced, won rings as a player and as a coach, and was initially successful in NYC and in handling the largest media market in the world.

Don Baylor is experienced, was hosed in Denver, was a coach under BC some years back, and was instrumental in motivating Chipper to step up his game when Don was our hitting coach. I think he could be added while keeping most of BC’s current staff (if that’s something the team wants to do) particularly our pitching coach (although TP might leave which is something we could easily deal with).

I also think Larry Bowa is someone we should consider. He flamed out in Philly due to being too intense but is the perfect balance to Joe Torre in LA and no doubt has learned a few things since his Philly tenure ended. He might have just the attitude we need to push our guys and if we kept most of the staff, then they could balance out his intensity.

If we did take on someone with zero ML managerial experience, I’d say go with Tony Gwynn.

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I will say the same name I have been saying for 3 years…Willie Randolph. What an amazing guy to have following Cox. He got a raw deal in New York and what better way to stick it to the Mets every year.

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Terry Pendleton will do for the Braves what Tyrone Willingham did for Notre Dame and Washington. A nice guy way over his head.

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Enter your comments here what about one of the most favorite braves in the history of the franchise? DALE MURPHY!!!

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how about BUCK SHOWALTER or however u spell his name.

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Maybe we can all be right if the Braves turn to the College of Coaches used by the Cubs in the early 60’s. They had rotating managers. Every few weeks another coach would become the manager for a short period of time until it was some other coach’s turn to take over. It was a total failure with the Cubs but everything old is new again. Ha!

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How About Ned Yost?

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Ned Yost is the only person the braves should even consider to replace Cox. He has worked with Bobby in the past, has a similar managerial style, and has proven himself as a manager. I can’t see why the brewers let him go. GET YOST!!!

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I think they should look outside the system. I say they should talk to Don Mattingly. Don would be a great fit to help get the young guys hitting better. Anybody from inside the organazation would have to much pressure on them.

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Ned Yost looks to be the best choice to me.

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Enter your comments hereMy choice is Fredi Gonzalez! He is awesome in every way!

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I say Buck Showalter, lets see what he can do with real talent

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this may be kinda crazy.. but i think willie randolph could do a good job for about 10 years or so.

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JOE TORRE, he is the man!

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Why not Chipper Jones? Player-Manager, or if he retires, just the Manager.

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I have heard alot of choices TP Isnt a good one! I am thinking Leo Mazzone! proven winner and Braves history! get rid of Pendleton and hire the rangers ex hitting coach now with the cubs!

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WHAT ABOUT LEMKE?? OR GREG OLSON? I LIKE RYNE SANDBERG!! HE WILL NEVER HAVE SUCCESS IN CHICAGO

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