5 reasons Bobby Cox needs to hang it up now

Don’t forget about Jair Jurrjens in that era statement. They should sign him to a long term deal now and seeing how Scott Boras is his agent, it’s going to cost them.

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Bobby is one of the best managers in the game and shouldn’t hang it up because players don’t get hits, make plays or throw good pitches at key times. Bobby’s moves put players in position to succeed, but it’s up to the players to take the next step.

I would agree with you if the Braves were loosing a bunch of games with the tying or go ahead runs were in scoring position and nothing but a relief pitcher holding a bat at the plate. But that doesn’t happen to Bobby – meaning that he is doing his job and putting the players in position to win the game nightly.

If Chipper were hitting .325 instead of .271 and Sorreano and Gonzalous hadn’t blown 11 saves between them – we would probably be leading the division and nobody would be talking seriously about Bobby retiring. This is just baseball – if any one should consider retiring, it’s Chipper, not Bobby.

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Agreed on all points Mark. But will Terry McQuirk and John Schuerholz be able to persuade Bobby to retire, and if not, will they have the balls to show him the door?

It is time for this great franchise to move into the future. Cox is part of the gloried past. Parting paths is the obvious choice.

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The biggest problem that I have had with Bobby Cox is the thing that all the veteran players like about him. His undying loyalty to those veterans to the detrement of the team. He takes too long to realize that a player has lost it. Ala Chipper Jones, Francoeur, A. Jones, etc.

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Mark – thanks for this post. The changing of the guard on the pitching staff and in the front office has taken place, and a new crop of Braves is ready to usher in the next generation of ATL baseball. It just makes sense now for new leadership in the dugout.

In one way, it would have been nice to have a year to reflect on his legacy and for all of baseball to have a goodbye season – but I doubt Bobby would or will ever go out that way. In his case, I’m sure we won’t know it’s over until it’s over.

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6. Cox can’t put together a decent batting order: Our best HR hitters are hitting 7th and 1st (LaRoche and McLouth), our best hitter for average (Diaz) oftten bats 8th, Chipper shouldn’t have stayed in the 3 hole with his stats…

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great read Mark….ummm…are you going to do a 5 reasons why he shouldn’t retire..?? I hope….

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Like a Kentucky Derby winner, it is time for Bobby to head out to pasture and get paid just to take the mares and…..beat the hell out of em.

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Pendleton was a solid third baseman and hitter himself but he apparently is not one who can influence others as a hitting coach. Starting with Andrew Jones, his failures are legion. Why compound our felony and promote him to the manager’s job when it becomes available based on his proven inability to produce well in his current position? I’m sure he’s a likeable person but so are others in baseball. That should not be a factor in the selection. Maybe what the Braves need in a manager is a good “people person” but with a sterner attitude about discipline than Cox. Hang it up, Bobby, and enjoy your family time on the farm.

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6. he’s just padding an unreachable record at this point. no one will be thrown out of as many games as him! at this point, he’s like the power hitter trying to pad the career totals at the end. although unlike the erst-while slugger, he is doing it with more frequency now than when he was in his prime.

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Glad to see you’ve been reading the comments on Jeff Schultz’s page, Mark.

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All you ever hear is how great Bobby is, one World Championship! One, what is so great about that? I saw in Port St Lucie, Jermaine Dye, years ago, 400 homers ago, Jermaine Dye was a powerhouse with an arm. Bobby never liked him, never. Played one year! Greg Norton, shoot he will pick it up soon and will get the BA to 150. If to the owners, if to upper management Bobby Cox is the answer, they should all be fired. Gawd I was sick of him in the 90’s. Winning 9000 ball games is not the answer, winning one world title is!

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I agree that Bobby Cox should retire now. The team is in transition and part of that should be a new manager. He is deservedly a hall of famer, but he has seemed to diminish in performance this year, and the stat you offer re: the Marlins is pretty compelling.

Off topic, I’ve developed a new way to avoid dyspepsia while reading the AJC blogs. I only read the author’s post and follow up comments – not the posts of readers (scottbravesfan was a slip). That way I don’t waste my time with idiots calling for Joe Cox to be benched following a five-touchdown game and other craziness.

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Right on PA @ 7:59 AM! BC definately cost the Braves some games this year, but Chipper, Francouer, and Soriano cost them more by not performing as everyone expected. Now that the Braves know what they have, I expect next year will be a lot of fun – especially with BC managing.

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I hope Bobby has the good sense to retire gracefully, before Frank “the legend killer” Wren tells him it’s over. I don’t think it will come to that. But if it does, Wren will say something ugly, in a way that only he can.

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Your conclusion is correct, although your reasons are extrmely low keyed. Truth is Bobby Cox has made blunder after blunder, game after game this year. With our very good pitching talent and reasonably good offensive potential, it is almost unbelievable that the Braves have won barely over half their games. But the main point you miss is that this weakness as a manager is nothing new. He has never been been a good manager. He has always almost completely ignored the most improtant necessity in getting the most out of your hitters — that is, teaching, emphasizing, demanding — working the count, being selective, making the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches – which has multiple advantages: seeing what the pitcher has, adjusting to the pitcher, getting better pitches to hit, making him make mistakes, tireing him out both withn innings and for the game, getting into the teams weak middle relief etc. And this is just one continuous mistake – lack of management that has cost many games year after year. In addition, he makes blunder after blunder in his in game strategis and moves or lack thereof. He is extremely slow to make linup changes, the necessity of which is obvious to everyone – example, getting Prado into the linuup this year, getting Francouer out of the lineup, continuing to use Norton – just a few of many examples. He does not move players up and down in the batting order based of their being hot or cold – example, keeping Chipper in 3rd spot in order throughout prolonged slump. His use of the bullpen has always been terrible. So many times in – in game situations he makes moves or lack thereof that are exactly what the opposing manager wants him to do. He is terrible as far as putting pressure on the opposing pitcher – so many times mkes a move or like thereof that takes the pressure off. He is good at maintaing team moral, making players like him etc. He was fortunate enough to have been manager of a team that had an All Star Pitching Staff so far far superior to everyone else in the Division (in a fairly weak Diviison) that was good enouough to overcome his weakness as a Manage and win the Division of the long 162 game sechedule – for 14 years. But remember, that even with this tremendous advantage, he usually only barely won the Division and won only 1 WS in 14 opportunities (and that required Glavine pitching a shutout).

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MB:

If you want BC to leave, you better have an adequate replacement in mind. All of your reasons are valid only if that is the case. Change #2 to “54″ instead of 68, and #3 to “journalist” instead of manager and these reasons could apply to you, or to anyone’s spouse or old friend, for that matter. None are REALLY valid unless there is a far better alternative. Just ask dawg fans who bitched about BVG and now have WM!

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Enter your comments here I agree Cox needs to retire this will probley be 4 years in a row with no playoffs. If he dont wont to retire the GM should persuade him to..

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Oquendo, maybe. Don’t know much about Mills. Do you see the Marlins doing another housecleaning and their manager (Gonzales?) ending up here? All the sports sites earlier in the year claimed that Wren was high on Pendleton.

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Mark, come on, be careful what you wish for here. You just might get it. You may have some beefs with him but I don’t see any replacements that come near his credentials. Did you read your colleague Furman Bisher’s column on Sunday? Remember Casey Stengel managed until he was 75 and Connie Mack until he was 88. Baseball is passion for Bobby. Why give up on a passion?

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Bradley has finally seen the light. I welcome him over to our side.
The rest of you Cox lovers go back and read what Bradley wrote. You know it’s the truth. I wouldn’t have been so nice about it, but I will refrain fron name calling and simply agree once again that it’s past time for Cox to go.

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Plate Appearance, couldn’t have said it better, thanks!

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I’ve been slowly joining the “time for Cox to go” chorus. After pulling Hanson against Houston, refusing to walk Howard this weekend and not playing McCann every day (what are you saving him for Bobby, that lineup yesterday was just sad), I’m fully there now. Graciously walk away Bobby, we’ll all deservedly applaud you. But it’s time.

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Mark, how is the shift they put on Howard “conceding singles”? It’s exactly the opposite…they do that to take away singles, and it works. Ryan Howard does not hit ground balls to the left side. Maybe one or two all season. Why do you need someone over there?

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Enter your comments hereBradley, you need to take up Yoga (you might become flexible enough to remove your head from your tailpipe). Bobby Cox has that persona and ability, to have some high priced prima-donnas play for him and love it. Few have, or ever will find that ability. Who do you suggest is out there to take his place? Larry Bowa? Maybe we can bring back Chuck Tanner? Go write about football or at least something you know.

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Reasons 1 -5 are all valid. However the Braves aren’t winning because of reasons such as blown saves and power hitters hitting .275. I only wonder if the next guy can maintain the decorum that Bobby has. The Braves don’t fight, they don’t get arrested, they’re not involved in scandals and when they do occasionally screw up royally they quickly find themselves playing for a team that tolerates bad behavior. Bobby deserves a full healthy retirement but I only hope the Braves will be as much fun to watch as a family in the post-bobby era.

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Bobby Cox has 2,391 career wins. That makes him the winningest manager in baseball history with only 1 world series victory. The next closest is Leo Durocher, who had 2,008.

Bobby also holds the all-time record for playoff appearances with 15. And that makes him the worst postseason manager in history, since no other manager has had at least 8 appearances without winning 2 or more World Series.

Lastly, Cox has managed for 28 seasons. Only 10 guys have managed 25 seasons or more. Of the 10, he and Gene Mauch (24 season, 0 titles) are the only two who haven’t won at least two World Series.

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The one reason he should not hang it up is to not bow out on this note. I think the Braves need to have a manager in waiting and let it be known that next year is Bobby’s last. Give him one more shot at the WS.

Then retire him.

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I’m fine with retiring if he wants but having him forced out is someting different, as well as using him as a scapegoat BUT yes he does deserve some blame . Chipper said next year might be his last year – let them go out together or if a new manager can get Chipper to stay for 2 to 3 more good years then goodbye, Bobby I will miss you and appreciate EVERYTHING you have done for the Braves. Peolpe tend to forget that players come to the Braves to play for Bobby, not the big money that is thrown around (HAHA). And if Bobby goes then Terry goes with him, he CAN NOT be the next manager – Captain ted Turner was a better manager then terry ever could be one. And o yeah, get a real pitching coach also – say Glavine or Maddux.

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Enter your comments hereYeah retire grow hickory and maples on farm sale to bat mfgs.and bbq places.

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It’s time for that old fart to go. The retirement home is waiting for him to check in.

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Mark, I hold him in the same high regard as you. And I think what you say has merit, but I can not bring myself to want him to retire. It is sort of like, “… the devil you know versus the devil you don’t know”. I worry about who is replacment would be, and even in his present state he is better than almost all others.

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While, I can understand the opinion that maybe the Braves and BC should part company, your five reasons, Bradley, are either invalid or not supported by facts. Just because he’s been the Braves manager for almost 20 years and he’s 68 years old are irrelevant. What’s relevant is if he can get the best out of his players and manage the intricacies of the game despite being 68 and in the same position for almost two decades. The answer to that question is yes. Once Wren helped get rid of the three anchors dragging this team down — Schafer, Francoeur, and Johnson — the Braves win/loss record has been stellar. If the ultimate determination of whether a manager is doing the job is wins and losses, then reasons 2, 3, and 5 are not supported by the facts as once we obtained and/or started playing some productive players (see Prado, McLouth and anyone other than Francoeur in RF), we took off.

Where BC can be challenged is that (1) he’s loyal to a fault and (2) he is and always has been an Earl Weaver type manager: no consistent use of the hit and run, no aggressiveness in running the bases instilled in his players in spring training, stick to the same pattern in the use of the bullpen (letting the starters off the hook after six innings) and let’s wait on the three-run homer. If you all of sudden want a philosophical change in how the Braves are managed (which is a fair point), then I don’t see anyone better out there to manage the Braves.

What you should argue, Bradley, is that

1) With McLouth, Prado, and Escobar (and potentially Heyward and Freeman), we have the makings of speed oriented team offensively and defensively and we need a different style of manager, someone who won’t sit around and wait on the three run homer, someone who will tinker with his batting lineup, someone who will use his bullpen creatively, etc.

and

2) The Braves do not need to have an annual discussion about whether BC will continue and we need to prepare ourselves in the manager position for the next five years which means either sign BC to a five year deal (with the bench coach his designated successor) OR do not offer him a new deal (i.e. ask him to retire).

The Yankees let Torre go and they improved. The same could happen to the Braves. Just make sure your reasons make sense. Mine do. Yours don’t Bradley. (And just in case you are still not convinced, Bradley, try this on: You’ve been a writer with the AJ/C for 25 years, you’re older than the average bear, and you haven’t won any writing or journalism awards lately (certainly not in the last two years despite have oodles of good material to write about). So by your argument, the AJ/C should cut you loose too.).

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Thanks Mark. You put what had to be said in a lot nicer manner than most of us would’ve.

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Bobby just needs to go period, he’s coaching in the past, no speed in the line at all, being loyal to players past their prime has gotten him nowhere, except losing out on future prospects. Get rid of him and everybody else in the coaching staff, especially TP and seeif you can get Joe Torre back.

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Mark, you’ve changed your position since the beginning of the season. If you remember earlier in 2009, when I was writing “Retirement”, you were saying I was making Bobby the scapegoat, and that the Braves problems were not his fault. Actually, after reading your reasons today, I agree with them.

A few weeks ago, when the Braves were in the middle of the hot streak, and it looked like we had a chance to make the playoffs, I would have been okay with him coming back in 2010. Now, with our playoff hopes all but over, I just think that four years out of the playoffs, after fourteen straight division titles, calls for a change in the manager’s chair, especially with the pitching upgrades we made this year.

So, we now agree it’s time for Bobby to leave. My question to you then is, who do you think should be our new manager?

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He is still the best.

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Bobby should stay as long as HE wants…..he is the best!

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MB – good to see you have finally come around to the truth.

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Is hanson going to pitch in his regular spot this week?

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Bobby deserves to go out on his own terms. I hope he takes one more crack at it next season. The Braves have made a good run this year. Quite honestly, they have done much better than I anticipated.

As for reason#5 you said, “It has become too easy to play for him, too easy to be an Atlanta Brave”. I wonder if Escobar feels that way? Bobby has been pretty hard on him (and rightly so).

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BTW:

MY son called me yesterday morning from Ireland, his plabe had just landed in Shannon from Kuwait. He has been doing convoy escort duty as a Ma Deuce gunner on an MRAP for the past year in Iraq. So proud of him and so happy that the GOOD LORD saw him safely through his duty to his country. He’s on his way back to Hawaii now for a year.
I know that this is too serious a note, and I am the world’s biggest sports fan; but there are times that other things must take priority.
Thanks for your time and patience and God Bless everyone

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Excellent points, especially number 3. Very well said.

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Enter your comments here
God bless you for saying the truth – the organization owes Bobby so let him do PR stunts like the Hawks do with Dominique but let’s hire this generation’s Torre and go win another ring.

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Be careful what you wish for.

I too wish a farewell to Booby Cox. But if he retires, the next Braves manager WILL be Terry Pendleton. Mark my words. It WILL happen. If the Braves don’t promote him to manager, the “race card” will be played loud and clear. Mark my words.

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I hope Bobby manages the Braves for 20 more years…at least.

GO BRAVES !

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His Ass should been gone years ago.

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Totally agree with your assessment of the current Bobby Cox. If Bobby still wants to remain in baseball. Give him an executive position that allows him to evaluate player personnel, except pitchers. If Bobby has a fault, it’s micro management in the manner in which he works his pitching staff. Additionally, another dimension beside the big rally and the long ball need to be a part of a team to the extent they are able. Hit,run, steal hit and run. Complete games by starting pitchers. Then he’ll stay with Lowe and other of the seasoned pros in after they give up five hits in a row.
What’s he looking for, a miracle. Tom Glavine was a horrible first inning pitcher and we knew that, but very few others are as resilient. It’s demoralizing to a pitcher when that happens and he knows hen his stuff or placement isn’t working. Bobby is looking for a sign from the heavens.Time to go Bobby, and do it with some class. The club isn’t in a position to release him, that would be undignified.
Maybe he hates the idea of having to spend as much time with his wife; they have had their problems.

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As my old friend Clusters would say, “We was talking and we need Cox to stay.”

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What about Dave Duncan for a future manager? He is rumored to be unhappy in St. Louis…

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Hopefully, these are better reasons than the five reasons that Tech beats Miami.

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And you wonder why people call us fair-weather fans? Throw your manage to the wolves because the team isn’t reaching the playoffs for ump-teen years straight… nice. Maybe, just maybe, he has aging super stars and doesn’t have a hall of fame pitching staff anymore. Bobby’s talent is taking great players and getting them to perform. Give him the talent already and you’ll see more pennants. Maybe the problem is the front office… or just a bunch of impatient sports writers with nothing else to write about.

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He gets more out of the players then you think. Every time a former player goes to a new club, their stats are usualy down except for the exceptional players.One good closer over the years and he is in St. Louis.

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If I’m not mistaken, Bobby has 8 children and a bunch of grandkids. He’s won everything there is to win, so at his age, I think its time to retire and spend more time with the family.

Take a consulting role in the front office, which would allow him to still contribute to the makeup of the team. And I’m sure Wren values his opinion.

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The only possibly legitimate reason given for Cox to retire was reason #3, “He’s not quite the manager he once was.” The other four reasons are, with respect, nonsense.

That said, whether Cox is “quite the manager he once was” is up for debate (think Joe Paterno).

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Numbers 3 and 4 from the article are why I think it’s time for him to go. Frank Wren seems to lack the intestinal fortitude to stand up to Cox and get rid of under performing players that Cox won’t stop using. And Cox seems to really be playing favorites and putting guys in the doghouse to a much greater extent than he ever did in the past. It’s time for him to go.

What scares me though is that while I think it’s time for Cox to retire, I’m not sure I trust the Braves to replace him. Looking outside the majors might be best. Bobby has had coaches who have been poor managers (Yost and Williams come to mind), so I’m not enthused at all at the thought of just promoting someone already on the staff in Atlanta to the job.

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Better yet along with a new manager how about a new 3rd Base Coach, Bench Coach, and Hitting Coach.

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He’s definitely lost it. I mean just sending me up to hit with my 118 batting average proves it. I cant complain I got a family to support.

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Enter your comments here

I really hope Bobby realizes its time to hang up the spikes and move into the front office. The amount of silence on this subject from the Braves leads me to think that Bobby is headed this way after the season. Also there are much better candidates to replace him than TP and I believe Braves’ management wants new energy in the dugout.

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Well put Mark..

While I love what Cox did for the Braves in the past, his time has clearly passed him by.. He can’t do the little things right at all anymore.. This team with its starting pitching staff should have 90 wins or close to it right now.. How many of the gems that out starting guys pitched went for naught just because Cox pulled the pitcher and put in one of his bullpen guys that was notorious for blowing games (insert Acosta, O’Flaherty, Logan, and just about any of our bullpen guys here)

This team is in desperate need of new bullpen arms not named Manny Acosta, Eric O’Flaherty, Raphael Soriano, Boone Logan, and perhaps even Mike Gonzalez..

We need new bench bats not named Greg Norton..

We need a new LF not named Garrett Anderson..

Bobby has benched Escobar twice this year for “loafing” and while I agree with that, why hasn’t he benched Anderson for doing the same exact thing? Anderson loafs in the OF more then any other player I have seen this year.. I hope the age difference is not a excuse either because if you are athletic to play this game, you shouldn’t take a play off ever.. So that to me shows that Cox shows favorites and that is flat out wrong.. If you are going to cut a player some slack shouldn’t it be a very talented SS who hits for average, power, and has exceptional defense and not some LF who is clearly on his last leg and about to make his exit into retirement? Escobar is the Braves present and future at SS and he will be here long after Cox is gone..

Here is my wish list as a Braves fan come winter time..

1. New manager and coaching staff.. Lets start anew..
2. Revamped bullpen, or bring in a PC who can get the most out of his BP..
3. New starting LF.. Someone like Bay or Holliday would be great but probably to expensive.
4. Resign LaRoche to a 2-3 year deal and let Freeman progress in the minors..
5. Make sure Hayward is the new starting RF.. What to do with Diaz and Church?

Make some changes and maybe the Braves are contenders again in 2010..

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“There is no one available out there who can manage like Bobby Cox.”

I sure hope you’re right!

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Congrats Mark! You’re not even a top 3 writer for the worst paper in the country!

This comment has nothing to do with this article!

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Clusters and I go way back.

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BBrown, sure, Casey stengel managed until he was 85, and Connie Mack managed until he was 88, and BOTH of them had their LAST world Championship at age …umm SIXTY EIGHT, same age as Bobby Cox. As I have said for years, during which I seemed to be the LONE voice saying so, Bobby Cox is a fine manager over a 162 game season, but only won that ONE World Series because he had Smoltz, Glavine, Maddox and David Justice on his team. Some of you DON’Tblame him for losing the series in 91 and 92 but I do.

In ‘91 Bobby’s loyalty to junkballer Charlie Liebrandt, let Kirby Puckett, best junkball hitter in Minnesota, hit a game winning homer in game six. In ‘92, same scenario, only substitute Dave Winfield and Toronto for Kirby Puckett and Minnesota in the above sentence. And if Braves observers were really observant and honest with themselves they could point to a hundred different occasions during ANY time of the season and recall how many times the Braves failed to move runners to third with less than two outs, hit into double plays were the runner NEVER got close to breaking it up (because Bobby doesn’t use the hit and run) or where a sacrifice (even a SQUEEZE) was in order but never employed.

Bobby Cox would be a GREAT AMERICAN LEAGUE manager, but his success in the National League was due only to the fact that his players, over the years have been able to overcome his tactical mistakes..

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Yeah he needs to hang it up. And the friend who said do so while you can still do something is 100% correct. I hung it up over a year ago & it has been thee best move I have made in years.

And he has nothing left to prove.

Replacement? The history of baseball says that is a hit & miss, trial & error game. There is not list of “requirements” for a successful manager except the ability to handle unique people in a very unique environment.

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Mark – who do you suggest as the “new voice from the dugout” and why?

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Any bloggers who protest to keep Bobby on the throne need to look no further than Colorado – they will be the team with the NL Wild Card this year, not your beloved Bobby-led Braves.

The Rockies had the courage to dump their manager – the guy who took them to the playoffs in 2007 when the team wasn’t performing.

Since that change, the Rockies are about 30 games over .500 and headed to the playoffs. It makes you wonder where the Braves would be if their absent ownsership cared as much about this team as the Rockies did.

Old, out of touch, stubborn, past his time, too loyal as well as too quick to dump a quality player he can’t manage (Dye, Justice, Lofton, Boone).

Look how Glavine was embarrassed staying too long – aren’t you embarrassed Bobby? Go, please go!

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Another thing is that Ryan Howards homeruns arent just homeruns but if you notice his team gets fired up after he launches those bombs..its like in one mighty swing of his bat the opposing crowd is silenced, the Phillies players are suddenly thinking ‘Yeah we can do this!’ if they are trailing or ‘We got this!’ if they are winning. I mean look at that bottom of the ninth against Soriano. Howard launches one and next thing you know every one of the Phillies wants to join the party. If you can take that out of the equation by walking the guy then daggonit walk him.

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And replace him with who? Cox is admired across baseball not just because of what he has done in the past, but because of what he is doing *today.* I would hate to see their current record without Bobby as the skipper. He’s doing an awful lot with what he has.

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One reason why Cox should stay. The hatemongering morons who have been spitting venom about him all over these blogs ever since they were set up will be doing exactly the same to his replacement inside a month.

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I have the highest regard for Cox and appreciate the glory years, but it’s time to hang it up before he goes the way of Bobby Bowden. If Bowden had retired even 5 years ago (preferably 10 years ago), he would without dispute be regarded as one of the Top Five greatest college football coaches of all time. He was once regarded as the most innovative offensive mind in football, and his FSU teams were fun to watch. Instead, his stock has dipped each year until he is now considered an addled figurehead who’s good for the occasional homespun quip or two, but little else. That’s probably not entirely accurate, but that’s the perception. Say goodbye, Bobby. Thanks – it has been a great run.

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hahah its pretty dang bad when half the people who write on here cant even spell. yall are not true fans of the atlanta braves. bobby can stay as long as he wants. the reason for failure in 2009 is the fact that we missed that big slugger who would hit between chipper and mccann. I mean come on chipper did’nt have any protection. thats why the numbers arent so good.

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Ask the players what tney think…not a reporter who obviously should consider retiring instead of trying to think of what next contreversial article to write. I’m betting a few paychecks that %95 of them say he should stay and i would take there views way over MB’s.

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Bobby should go, and relax….. he has burnt the bullpen this year as usual.

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First of all thanks Mark. I believe you must be a pretty cool guy. I live in Spain and read the AJC like I read my Bible, daily. I can’t get the game and will not, can not pay for a $240 NFL game package so I listen to Sirius game-talk about all the games as it is on-line while I read your blog to keep up with the Falcons game: it keeps me sane. I missed the whole football season last year and have been jonesing bad. However, please give us overseas bloggers more gametime info because the idiots at Sirius do not tell you that you can’t get your teams on the on-line hookup until you have bought the subscribtion. I called them jerks because they have the same problem as the talking heads at ESPN. I call it the Northeast bias syndrome, they keep cutting back to the Patriots, Jets, and Northern teams alond with some of the west coast teams with only a quick word when someone scores in Atlanta. I also get angy when these talkers keep repeating that the hardest division in the NFC is the Northeast division. What a joke, they should look at the last few years at the how many of these teams in the NFC south have been in the championship game. Besides the Gaints who else is the beast of the east and when they played the Panthers they came up short. Thankyou

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Gotta love the Greg Norton comment…….. Bating 141 is one heck of a season…….

Don’t worry there is enough games left for him to get to ???????? 160 ?

So why hasn’t this guy been replaced ?

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Been saying this for three years now…good to see you’ve finally caught on.

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Mark. Thank you so much for having the cojones to speak out about Donk. It is way past time for him to go, but its great to see one writer on the AJC staff that will say what needs to be said (I know of two others that will not).

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Think about this: Bobby doesn’t throw pitches…not a one. Bobby doesn’t swing a bat…period Bobby don’t make or miss plays in the field……he’s not out there with a glove…..he doesn’t make bone-headed base running blunders…..he just slowly jogs to the ump to protect his players and takes the ejections and fines upon himself. He has a staff,i.e. Pendelton, McDowell, Perez and Chino just to name a few. If the pitcher is laying fastballs down the middle, it’s the pitchers fault and poss. the pitching coach….not Bobby. Frency searched elsewhere for hitting advise, poss. because Pendelton wasn’t helping him? eh? Chipper couldn’t hit a beach ball now, Norton?…..Bobby isn’t their hitting coach…Pendelton is. Perez should duct tape Medlen to a chair so he can’t come in…period. Chino directs the infield and out field like a blind policeman….sorry Chino…but too many balls are hitting the gaps or are over our heads or bloop in front of the players. With all the modern tech. it would seem to me that Bobby’s staff could be doing better. Last word: The General doesn’t fight the war, it’s the soldiers. Sav vy mates.

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Enter your comments here
Time for him to move on and take chipper with him.

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Mark, I don’t know what 14-year-old girl is writing the Web headline to your blog but tell them that Bobby is a manager, not a “coach.” This isn’t high school football. Gawd, I swear the people in this town are about as ignorant about baseball as any human beings on the green earth. Tribes in Borneo know more about the game than the college football, “Go Dawgs” Georgia-public school-education morons in this great city. I can’t even consider weighing in on the actual issue because of the idiocy of that headline.

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“All he did was help take the laughingstock of the National League and turn it into a championship team, a perennial contender, and one of the most highly respected organizations in baseball.”

No, no, and no

Cox happened to be around when a large group of young Braves turned the corner from overmatched to awesome. Yes he was involved in obtaining those players for the franchise, but that was as GM, where his work was solid, and not as manager

Making the playoffs does not make a team a contender – the Braves are the ultimate proof of that

The Braves organization and a lot of folks living within fity miles or so of the I–285 Perimeter consider themselves to be highly respected – outside that, they are essentially a laughingstock – or did you miss or ignore the baseball world’s reaction to their numerous player aquisition fiascos this past offseason (just the latest example)

Believe you me, the Yankees LAUGHED at the Braves all thru the late 90’s when we were at our supposed peak

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Mark –
How many of your five reasons apply to Joe Torre?

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Robert, you’re dead wrong all around. Baseball people respect Cox and the Braves for their amazing 14-year run. In baseball, making the playoffs is the hard part; once you’re there, it’s a crapshoot. This isn’t hockey or the NBA where every team with a pulse gets in. Baseball remains the one sport where the regular season is the true measure of a team or its players. You play every day for six months to get to October. After that, you take your chances. You show, once again, that Braves fans have no real knowledge of the game or the people who play it. Stick to Auburn football, bub.

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Dr. R.

Excuse me, but I think

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braves70 –

“The Braves were here long before Bobby Cox and will be here long after he is gone……. which I hope is after this season.”

Yes, the Braves were here before Bobby. And they sucked.

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Dr. R.

Excuse me, but I think YOU are the one who has “no real knowledge of the game or the people who play it”, my friend. I realize that it is an accomplishment to win 14 straight division championships and that it is a “crap shoot” when you get in the playoffs. However, 1 in 14 speaks volumes. All this talk about never having a reliable closer is simply making excuses. Let me give you two of my “favorite” Cox moves. Do you remember the time he told the world before the game that he hoped to get 5 good innings out of Glavine when he pitched with a fever? If I recall correctly, the Braves were up 2 to 1 in games on the Yankees and were winning game four 2-0 despite the fact that Glavine struggled alll night. Cox sends him out for the 6th or 7th (cannot remember which) and has NO ONE warming up until after the Yankees get 3 straight hits to tie the game. Of course, the Yankees go on to win the game and the World Series. Brilliant, positively brilliant. My other favorite is when he said that he was not going to pitch a certain pitcher in the 6th game of a playoff series while trailing 3 game to 2 because he was “saving” him for a potential game 7. Am I weird, or is true that there would be no game 7 if you don’t win game 6? Would you like some more examples of Cox’s playoff brilliance so you can further prove how uninformed and stupid people who criticize Cox are?

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“Think about this: Bobby doesn’t throw pitches…not a one.”

No, but Hanson can. Yet that moron takes him out after 8 innings in Houston and brings in Soriano to lose the game. Everybody and their brother knew Hanson was our best chance at winning that game. Everybody but Cox that is.

“Bobby doesn’t swing a bat…period”

Neither can Norton but that idiot Cox keeps sending him up there in critical situations. Everybody and their brother knows Norton can’t hit a lick. Evrybody but Cox that is.

“he doesn’t make bone-headed base running blunders…..”

No, not on the bases. He makes all his bone-headed decisions in the dugout.

It’s time for this buffoon to retire.

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FIRE BOOBY THE DONKEY!!! HE IS A COMPLETE IGNORAMUS!!!

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Enter your comments here I hope Mr. Cox will walk away for the good of the franchise. Sometimes it is hard to see the writing on the wall when you are personally involved as long as he has been with the Braves. He has been the one constant for the Braves for the last 20 years as GM and manager. As for his replacement I would love to see Cito Gaston if he were to become available…

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If Bobby stays, it will be more of the same next year, maybe some different excuses, but mostly the same, play good for a couple of months out of the year, but ultimately missing the playoffs because of losing to terrible teams. IE Reds and Nationals and Padres, no reason for that with the starting pitching the Braves had this year. Time to clean house, no position already earned for 2010, come to spring training and earn your position.

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I need a job!

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To: ozzie, September 21st, 2009, 11:39 am

You clearly did not read my post. I gave reasons why the Braves should get rid of BC so I don’t ‘fear change’ as you ignorantly put it.

My point was that Bradley’s reasons for getting rid of BC are ridiculous and could be applied to him (and would be equally ridiculous).

A stronger case for not bringing back BC is to simply say (as I did in my post that you clearly either did not read or did not understand) that

(a) We need to clarify the next five years and we don’t need any annual drama about whether the manager is coming back and we decided that we want someone to commit to us now for five years (assuming they do the job); and

(b) We need our team to be led in a different manner—we have team speed now and we need to remake our offensive approach to be based on working the count (i.e. not swinging at the first pitch), stealing bases, taking the extra base on the base paths, etc.

Those are the only two reasons you need to not offer BC another contract. You don’t need to say insulting things like he’s 68 years old or its simply time for him to go because those don’t make any sense based on the performance of this team once we got rid of three dead weights from the line-up.

And I don’t know why people keep tossing out that TP is his successor. If BC is let go, then all his coaches know that there is no guarantee they will be around. BC was kept by John Scheurholz [sp.] but Frank Wren doesn’t owe BC anything—just ask Glavine and Smoltz how sentimental Frank Wren is.

LET’S GO BRAVES!

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They don’t get to most of those playoff series without Cox. And Wohlers’ 39 saves didn’t keep him from giving up a game-winner to a backup catcher in ‘96 that cost them the series. But I won’t change anyone’s minds here and I know it. Everyone believes that this particular move or that one would have made a difference when it isn’t always that easy. Sometimes in baseball you pick the right guy at the right time but it doesn’t work. But when you have a football mentality and believe that this block or that play call would lead to success, you won’t be convinced otherwise. So I’m wasting my time. Enjoy your football games. Bobby will be gone soon, the Braves will go deep into the tank and you’ll be left to blast someone else.

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off with his head. the schmuck.

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We love you Bobby and hope to see you in the dugout next year and for many years to come! Please never leave! If you do leave, please find a replacement from within- someone who has been indoctrinated in the dull, lifeless brand of baseball the Braves play, where anyone with a hint of a fiery personality is quickly sent packing. Thank you in advance!

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Enter your comments heremark bradley get off this website, no body likes u

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Being from St. Louis and a die hard Cardinals fan (still), I have lived in Atlanta a long time. I go to alot of the Braves games not because i like the Braves, i go because i love the game of Baseball period. I use to say that Bobby Cox needs to go, I have recently recanted my thoughts and heres why. Bobby Cox only manages the talent he is given…..and while he may be loyal to certain players……..not all….he gets the most out of each……..Players play……….Managers manage, and when you get the the Major league level, there should be no excuses from the players period. They have to get it done on the field. Bobby Cox cant play and manage, he can only manage the talent he is given and in the Braves case “not” given at times. The game of baseball now is the same game that has been played for many many years, he’s not to old, thats BS, he knows the game and he knows it well. I think Atlanta would be better served if we demanded more from ownership and the front office to get talent in here that can play, want to win and play the game the right way which is hard night in and night out. St. Louis is a great baseball town because it demands a great product on the field the majority of the time(2nd in World Series wins), if the product isnt there, or you slack off, you get ran out of town…….Atlanta should be the same way. Once the talent is in place and Bobby dont win, then run Bobby Cox, Ownership and the front office out of town. Look at St. Louis, we ran the GM out once he stop producing and wanted LaRussa too. Guess what they brought in the talet to win, so Larussa has no excuses now. He better win, if not he will go too. To Bobby’s credit he is a company man…never heard him complain about what he is given to work with, he just maximize there talent and win…………..wonder what would happen if he demanded the same from the front office as we demand on him……..which is win and win championships. Whatever happens Bobby Cox, you are a class act………we all wish we had Bosses as loyal as you are……even when everyone else dont give it back to you. Thanks Coach Cox, you deserve to leave the game and Atlanta on your own terms, Hell, you earned it.

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You know even less about baseball than football and we all know you know nothing about football.

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I remember back in 79 sitting in the dugout with Bobby smoking a cigar and telling him that he sucked then. Well here we are 30yrs later and he still sucks. He has cost us countless playoff and world series games, he plays players that shouldnt even be in the bigs and then talks garbage in his puny office about how the guy really put a good swing on the ball. Come on you pukes that support him this guy is terrible.

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Joe Simpson

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Ken Stallings … Bradley’s column is unwarranted?

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10072818/You-can-blame-Cox-for-Atlanta%27s-shortcomings

Really?

Where there is smoke, there is fire …

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Enter your comments here
Mark, Well written and fair. Hard-core fans (like me) have a hard time seeing a Hall of Famer on his decline but the management of the resources includes lighting fires and keeping the team from losing in a “fragile” fashion. No three run home run….no alternative. Nate gets on and is doubled up at 2nd base. Hit to the opposite field? Rarely and by only a few. overwork pen? Absolutely. Three relievers in the top five in all of baseball in appearances? Insane!!Better team stat-wise than in the standings? Often. Be Brave Wren. Do the correct, yet difficult thing.

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Mark, I am glad you have FINALLY seen the light. I have always said the Braves won in spite of Bobby, not because of him. All this talent and only ONE ring. I think the greatest coach in NFL history, Jerry Glanville, should take over the Braves. He would lead them to the promised land.

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I say the Braves get 4 co-managers to replace Bobby Cox.

Mark Bradley
Furman Bisher
Jeff Schultz
Terence Moore

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You keep me as manager, or I open up another can of Whipass on Pam. Your choice.

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Go ahead, throw me out of the blog. Been there, done that, got a t-shirt.

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Why not think about Willie Randolph?

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Im just tired of him being a player manager and sticking with these players to long. Last I knew it was a TEAM we had on the field. Way to many times he has blown a great pitching game because of Soriano and thats not right to the pitcher. How many games has Soriano given up this year? To many.

I am sick of watching these players get treated like gold when there are other ones that are hitting and being sent down to the minors or left to sit on the bench. This is a team and I really want Ned Yost back as Manager. Hes proven and the players would love him. And he wins I do believe. He knows how to put a lineup together and hes good with young players too.

Its time to move on.

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It’s a damn shame Atlanta couldn’t have hired Bruce Bochy when he was available. That dude can manage. Jim Riggleman, too.

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Mr. Bradley:
With all due respect, Bobby Cox has forgot more than you will ever understand about Baseball. He would clearly, be a better Sports Writer than you! I could give you 100 reasons.

Regards,

Dr. Ruff

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Remember, change is not always a better thing.

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Bobby shouldn’t retire yet. I believe he has two good years left in the tank. Yes he should go out and enjoy the time he has between March and October, but if he still enjoys coming to the ball park and making out the lineup card…he should be afforded that right. Yes, we’re going to question his decisions to bat people where they are, but that’s our right to do that. The final decision is his. As it should be.

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As the Braves limp, sputter and cough to 86-76 and 3rd place again. ”
When you see some people work you wonder what they’ll do in retirement.

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And I agree with You Not So Hot.

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I have only one good reason,He took J. Jurrjen’s out with a 5 run lead 6th inning and shotty bullpen releif from that buck toothed Koala bear from down Unda! and Farnsworth does it again and again,like in the championship series against the Astro’s,he wears galsses,lets get some young guns,Bobby Cox,exit,good ridence….

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