Comments on: Bobby Cox a bad tactician? Because of Puckett? Come on

By: Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:56:20 +0000

[...] by Kirby Puckett during game 6 of the 1991 World Series. While fans are sad to see the end … Bobby Cox a bad tactician? Because of Puckett? Come onBobby Cox brought Charlie Leibrandt, a left-handed pitcher who'd been a starter all his career, [...]

By: DC Bravesfan

DC Bravesfan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:58:27 +0000

There seems to be 2 contingents here – one say, Cox makes good decisions, go with Cox; others say, Cox makes bad decisions, fire Cox. I say, Cox makes bad decisions, go with Cox.

Because, who are you going to get? A guy like Ozzie Guillen? Lou Pinella? How about Manny Acta? Cecil Cooper?

You have to think, if we didn’t have Cox, we wouldn’t have had any of the 14 straight, NOR the ‘95 series. No Smoltz, no Glavine, no Chipper, no McCann, no Diaz, no Prado. I think people really take for granted how amazing it was to KNOW that you were going to play baseball in October.

Yea, I’m defending the guy, he’s not perfect, lord knows some of his decisions killed me, but my question is, who are you going to get?

By: the real Andy

the real Andy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:02:14 +0000

i do agree that Bobby’s steady hand keeps teams playing hard. but we can’t ignore his deficiency in in-game situations.

for instance, his decision on Sunday

tied at 3 in the 7th inning, go ahead run on third with one out, pitcher’s spot up

the Following hitters available – Infante .290 avg, .731 OPS, David Ross .264 .866, .272 .721, Gorecki, Kelly, and Brooks Conrad .200 to .220 hitters. And Norton.

Norton, hitting .102 and slugging .118 from the left side. Let me reiterate – slugging .118!!! Bobby inexplicably picked Norton, who failed.

Because of Moylan’s Houdini impression saved Bobby from looking too terrible.

But that was a big run that we left out there, and it can’t be denied that it was because of Bobby’s foolish decision to keep running an overmatched, pitiful Norton out there.

i love bobby, but his in-game decisions are often terrible.

By: Joe N

Joe N — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:40:17 +0000

If everyone must know on here, I am the Sonny Clusters. This is my real name but I do the Sonny Clusters routine.

By: JB Wright

JB Wright — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:32:53 +0000

Enter your comments here
Why in the hell would anyone want to watch another Bobby Cox post season? I’m glad that the Braves are gonna miss out… I don’t need the agravation.
Oh yeah, I have lived in several states since leaving GA in the early 90s, and Cox is a HUGE JOKE everywhere. He gets no “National respect”.
So quit believing it’s just an “Atlanta thing”. He has gooten nothing but dis-respect on every media location I’ve been around.
Ahhhh.. but the way he buries that thunb knuckle-deep in his nostril, dis-lodging a nose fruit to flick in the dugout… that is sublime.

By: dub

dub — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:24:47 +0000

If you want to know the truth,Bobby Cox suck like this year started out with a rookie in cf a non playing second baseman in Kelly Johnson a no hitless first baseman in Kotchman jeff having his problem in right and his favor pitch hitter North WOW. NOW IF HE HAD STARTED THE LINEUP THAT HE GOT NOW Braves wouldn’t be fighting for a playoff spot case close.

By: braves70

braves70 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:22:18 +0000

Bobby Cox has often been compared to Earl Weaver. Both men lived and died with the 3 run homer and great pitching. Like Cox, Weaver too had much regular season success yet won the championship only 1 time in 6 post season appearances. The pitching of the 90s Braves and 70s Orioles was as solid as you could get. I think waiting for the 3 run homer is not a winning hand in postseason. Add Cox and Weaver together and you 2 championships in 21 tries. That seems to be an indictment of the big inning strategy. I hope for a new manager who will emphasize the running game and speed, which never slumps.

Also remember how Cox got burned on the LH/RH platoon in the 1985 ALCS with Toronto. Games 6 & 7 of that series, Dick Howser played on Cox’s use of platoons. Howser started RH pitchers which meant that Cox went with his LH platoon guys. After about 3-4 innings, Howser would pull the starter and bring in a lefty. Cox then would take out all of his LH hitters for the RH ones. Howser would then go to his RH reliever, Dan Quisenberry, and there was no one left for Cox to pinch hit with. Besides, most of his best hitters were the LH he took out early in the game anyway.

Finally, Bobby’s idol was his own manager Ralph Houk. Despite all the talent that he had with the Yankees and later the Tigers and Red Sox, Houk won just 2 world championships.

By: wawel78

wawel78 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:22:14 +0000

wow, Sal Governale on the ajc!

sorry as a fan i’m pissed right now b/c the braves are even in this position of catch-up. The game against the rockies before the all-star break, taking out Hanson a few weeks back, losing series to the padres, reds, nats, etc., and the handling of terribly slumping hitters and the OF. Diaz has the highest avg. on the team and he’s hitting 8th in a lot of games.

Unfortunately games in april – july count just as much as august and september and Bobby wet the bed quite a few times during that period.

By: NewYorkBrave

NewYorkBrave — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:34:12 +0000

For us to be in such a critical point of this season, there sure is a lot of negativity surrounding this organization, all of which can be attributed to the fan base. Yes, all YOU, you Bobby Cox haters. We took a lot of flak this off season during that Griffey fiasco because we were such terrible fans. We sure are proving them correct right now. Why don’t you put your hating behind you and root on your team, won’t you??? Idiots… I might as well start rooting for the Mets… At least they will defend their team.

By: sal governale

sal governale — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:57:02 +0000

Bobby Cox a bad tactician? Because of Norton? Absolutely.

See, Bradley, I can cherry pick examples to build an argument too. Try a little harder next time.