Bobby Cox on the 2010 Braves: ‘We can do some damage’
Frank Wren and Bobby Cox greet the young-looking Troy Glaus. (AJC photo by Phil Skinner)
The world’s most optimistic man wants it known that there have been a few times he headed south for spring training without a figurative spring in his step. “You’ve got to have some common sense,” Cox said Tuesday, meaning that not every team has a realistic shot at winning.
His final Braves team, their manager believes, has a realistic shot. “We’ve got a chance to do some damage and compete and maybe even win,” Cox said.
Maybe it does, although it must be said that more than a few Braves-watchers were underwhelmed by the team’s offseason maneuvering. Their closer is Billy Wagner, who’s 38 and who had arm surgery in 2008. Their first baseman is Troy Glaus, who has barely played first base and who missed most of last season due to injury. Their best pitcher from 2009 is a Yankee.
You won’t be shocked to learn that Cox sees the upside of all the transactions. “I think we’re good,” he said. “Our pitching looks good, and I think Troy Glaus at first base looks good. He’s very impressive. He’s a young-looking 33. And when he plays, he [produces]. If he in fact makes it back, that’s a pretty significant deal that went under the radar.”
Perhaps, a visitor suggests, the reason Glaus’ acquisition wasn’t more trumpeted was because it came the day after the Braves traded Javier Vazquez, who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2009, to New York for Melky Cabrera and two prospects. Not surprisingly, Cox defends that move, too.
“It would have been hard to use six starters,” he said. “Somebody would have had to go to the bullpen. And we got a left-handed pitcher in [Mike] Dunn who’s highly thought of, and [Arodys] Vizcaino was the No. 3 prospect in their organization at [age] 19.
“You never like to lose a pitcher, but we were dealing from a little bit of strength. We got a nice return. And Cabrera is a pretty good ballplayer.”
The Braves will open 2010 with a bullpen largely remade — Wagner, Dunn, Takashi Saito and Jesse Chavez are new. “The bullpen looks good,” Cox said. “We lost two excellent guys [Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, both of whom left as free agents] but we got some good guys.”
Is the team done dealing? Said Cox: “I think so.”
A year ago the Braves left Lake Buena Vista with Casey Kotchman as their first baseman, Kelly Johnson as their second baseman, Jeff Francoeur as the right fielder and Jordan Schafer as the center fielder. The first three are no longer in the organization, and there’s no guarantee Schafer will make the big-league roster. But there’s a bigger prospect than Schafer — bigger even than Francoeur — at the ready.
Loading ...His name is Jason Heyward, and he’s the Braves’ biggest non-pitching prospect since Ryan Klesko. Said Cox: “We’re going to give him a chance to compete [in spring training]. Everything we hear about him from upstairs has been great. He’s got a great head on his shoulders. He might not be a guy who has to go through the usual channels. There’s no reason not to give him a chance to compete.”
If Heyward isn’t with the big club on Opening Day 2010, he’ll have other years. For Cox, this is it. He’s retiring at season’s end, and he’s hoping the end arrives in the World Series. And here Cox is asked one of those hoary questions that sports writers love and sports figures hate: Does he expect his men to dedicate this season to winning one for the skipper?
“It’s funny,” he said, and let the record reflect that he was actually smiling, “just how that does not work.”
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162 comments Add your comment
Angus
January 27th, 2010
7:49 am
Early results say that out of 6 voters it’s 4 to 3 that we make it.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
7:50 am
first
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
7:51 am
now somebody can say something negative because I blog “first”.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
7:53 am
disreguard that last statement. and the only damage the braves will do will be done on my digestive tract
Angus
January 27th, 2010
7:55 am
Bank, I will attest that you’re not crazy, you were indeed first.
Looks like someone at the AJC pulled the chair out from under you.
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
7:59 am
Oooh! A controversial “first”? That’s a first.
Mike Jay
January 27th, 2010
8:01 am
Booby looks just thrilled of the signing of Glaus in that picture
. He seems to be thinking “you gotta be kidding me, I came back one more year for this?”
matt r
January 27th, 2010
8:03 am
Sounds like those of us still waiting for a Damon signing should forget about it.
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
8:04 am
I will concede that the photo might not display Bobby’s good side.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
8:05 am
I was wondering, it was there when I sent my send response and then pooff. Anyway it is an honor to have a first, first. Mike Jay, LOL. I didn’t notice the photo but you’re right. I bet Mrs. Cox didn’t sleep well when they made this signing although it could turn out great or aweful.
Mike Jay
January 27th, 2010
8:07 am
Ok read the articel now. Interesting between the line comment by Bobby Cox. I get the feeling he’s not to pleased.
“maybe even win”
“If he in fact makes it back”
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
8:08 am
matt, maybe in a couple of years when he is a little more over the hill
MightyQuinn
January 27th, 2010
8:09 am
Dang it, if I hadn’t watched the sunrise, I could have been first!
Mike Jay
January 27th, 2010
8:09 am
Mark, you choose that picture, didn’t you? Ha!
Even Glaus seems to be saying “First base? What the hell am I thinking, ah crap he’s taking a picture I better smile”
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
8:10 am
I did choose the picture. Perhaps I chose unwisely.
tp
January 27th, 2010
8:11 am
Mike Jay – You’ve got to love the good chemistry Bobby and Frank seem to have – NOT! Is it any more obvious that Bobby can’t stand the guy?
David
January 27th, 2010
8:11 am
Lord, I hope they aren’t done making any deals. The MelkMan ain’t gonna cut it, imo. Go into the season with Diaz-McLouth-Cabrera as your starting OF’s and we could easily be looking at one of the worst offensive OF in the NL.
Why not Damon? Wren really needs to make that happen because his price should at least be within range and if not trade Melky for whatever. We need Nate out of the leadoff spot and put a guy like Johnny there. He could be a real boost to the team.
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
8:15 am
Bobby swears he and Frank Wren are on the best of terms.
falcon 71
January 27th, 2010
8:18 am
Bobby is past history. time to turn the page and say thanks
sansho1
January 27th, 2010
8:23 am
Guess that leaves me to take a shot at Wren in the photo — he smiles like he’s afraid his head is going to crack.
clemkudtlhopr
January 27th, 2010
8:26 am
What the heck does Wren have against Adam LaRoche? I just don’t get it. Oh well, I am excited to see how Jason Heyward does in the bigs. In the picture its just Bobby as Bobby.
David
January 27th, 2010
8:26 am
Why does Bobby get so much grief, or any manager in baseball for that matter? Some criticism is justified, like Cox’s pen decisions and how he doesn’t usually play small ball. But the bottom line is he isn’t playing on the field. You have to have the talent to compete.
I hope that little rumor about the Braves possibly being interested in Edmonds is 100% false. Why in the hell would we need him, another freakin platoon? That’d be the head scratcher of the offseason if they end up signing him. Get Damon!
Tron5000
January 27th, 2010
8:27 am
Damon? As in Johnny Damon? He’s 36, and I don’t really wanna offer a 2-year deal (minimum it will take to get him) to a guy that may be on his last leg. Especially when you have younger, much-cheaper alternatives in Heyward and Schafer. His home/away splits last year were actually very similar (to my surprise), except for HR (17 out of 24 were hit at Yankee Stadium). If we had $6-8 million we could use to get someone, I don’t think he’s the guy I want.
David
January 27th, 2010
8:31 am
LaRoche? Half a year player who wanted big time money is why he isn’t a Brave. Money and years were the main reasons, I assume. I’m sure had the Braves known Adam would’ve ended up settling for that one-year, $4m contract, or whatever it was, they probably wouldn’t have signed Glaus. Adam screwed himself not taking SF offer the first time. Don’t blame Wren for that.
Bryan
January 27th, 2010
8:32 am
Am I the only one who thinks this team will be better? Pitching should be nearly as solid as 09′ and they cant start off any worse offensively this year…can they?
Angus
January 27th, 2010
8:33 am
Wow, optimistic crowd here – voting’s better than 2 to 1 that we make it.
I guess part of the beauty of baseball is that we do have a legit shot and we’re right to think so until we’re mathematically eliminated (or the team quits with 6 left to play).
I don’t think we’re very different from last year – lost a little SP, not sure about BP, should hit better out of the gates, added a little D here, lost a little D there, still slow as molasses overall.
Flip a coin……..my Montana quarter just said we don’t make it.
David
January 27th, 2010
8:33 am
Tron5000- who would you want then? Jermaine Dye? Thing about Damon, as I mentioned, is that he could hit leadoff while moving Nate lower in the order. That would definitely improve the lineup. He’s a good team guy from everything I’ve read and he can help the younger guys.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
8:34 am
Mark, don’t beat yourself up over the photo. Bobby doesn’t have a good side. The thing I will miss most about Bobby are the imaginative nick names he came up with. He missed his calling in comedy with his quick wit and his ability to pick up on someones self-consciousness.
DawgLink
January 27th, 2010
8:34 am
Damon has a weaker arm than all of our other outfielders. It would be almost as bad as Garrett Anderson last year. He gets more hits and runs better, but come on! He sucks.
Tami
January 27th, 2010
8:35 am
I voted “miss the playoffs”. So now, I truly hope that the Braves prove me wrong. This will be one time I don’t mind being wrong! I’ll still root them on as usual, of course.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
8:37 am
If everybody had an -ie added to their last name,(like Limie, Jonesie, Frankie, Greenie), then Mark I have two questions. Did Bobby ever coach Bob Horner? And what was his nickname for him?
Ryan
January 27th, 2010
8:40 am
Biggest prospect since Klesko?
I’m pretty certain that Franceour was a significantly bigger prospect than Klesko.
The hype behind Franceour might even have been bigger than it was for Chipper and Andruw when they were coming up.
curtis jones
January 27th, 2010
8:41 am
The photo is hilarious on so many levels. I showed it to my wife, who does not keep up with baseball, at all. She wondered if the little old man in the background, to the right was the janitor.
yunel asscobar
January 27th, 2010
8:45 am
Mark,
60% of the people thinking the Braves will make the playoffs shows would indicate that Bobby isn’t the only person afflicted with spring training optimism. I hope they’re right, but I remain totally unimpressed with Wren’s moves this off season. Glaus out of position, off injuries; Wager’s age, and injury history; so much hanging on the development of rookies; so little in return for Javy. Jury’s out, but I find Wren guilty of GM malpractice.
kelly&carriefan
January 27th, 2010
8:46 am
“We’ve got a chance to do some damage and compete and maybe even win,” Cox said.
Doesn’t that say it all? “Maybe” win? *sigh* I miss the days where winning wasn’t really a “maybe” but “likely.” This band-aid roster is more like a post-surgery unit than a Braves team. Where/when do we start a “Ted buy back the Braves” campaign? Heck, I’d settle for Arthur Blank.
When Chipper retires, I just might be going with him…
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
January 27th, 2010
8:46 am
Play freakin’ ball. Is it spring training time yet?
Chazs
January 27th, 2010
8:47 am
It is a long season. Today’s projected line up will be different from what we see in July. And if history teaches us anything, the Mets will again fall apart. Braves at least the Wild Card.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
January 27th, 2010
8:49 am
By the way is Wren trying to do his Dick Cheney impersonation? Looks like a lizard sitting on a rock waiting for a fly to land
blazerdawg
January 27th, 2010
8:49 am
90 wins for the Bravos this year, but that will not be enough in the NL East. Hope for the wildcard.
sansho1
January 27th, 2010
8:50 am
I’ve already dressed for work, but now I have to go back and put on my unbuttoned yellow Izod/blue v-neck sweater/black leather jacket combo. Because that is MESMERIZING!
ATLFan
January 27th, 2010
8:53 am
What Wren had against Rochie was his agent, Boras, who wanted a 3 or 4 year deal. Wren didn’t want that with Freeman maybe being ready next year.
DAVID:::AJC Truth detector
January 27th, 2010
9:00 am
DAMN SILLY TO EVEN BE DISCUSSING THE 2010 BRAVES in JANUARY..before our first SNOW of the season….before the SUPERBOWL….
Curt
January 27th, 2010
9:00 am
To me, the NL East is the most competitive division in baseball with at least three of the teams (Phills, Mets, Braves) having a legitimate chance of winning the division. At least on paper it appears that both the Phills and Mets have made changes to their rosters that would compel most people to say that the division title will end up a race between those two teams with the Braves vying for a wild card shot. I would have to agree with this ascertion. But, it is a long season and anything can happen. The Braves team could be one of those that just gell. Chipper could be back to form. The pitching staff could (should) be very strong. Glaus could be very good (as Mark suggests), Heyward could produce right away in the majors. And, the Mets and Phills could have problems. Bottom line is that it could be a good year. I am looking forward to it
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 27th, 2010
9:01 am
The beauty of baseball, each spring every team thinks they have a chance. I am surprised at this point 59% of the poll results think the fanbase does to. IMO the offseason moves were very underhelming. Nowhere did they truly make an attempt to give BC a chance to truly go for the World Series. To many gambles on suspect players in the twilight of there careers.
Prediction 81-81. This is at best a .500 team on paper. Glaus, CJ, Wagner, Hudson, Saito all will see the DL and they Braves unfortunately lack sustainable depth to offset any lengthy DL stays.
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Cox did manage Horner. I believe — can’t swear to this — that his nickname was “Horns.”
Space Monkey
January 27th, 2010
9:05 am
At least 100 losses. Hudson is not the pitcher Wren thinks he is. Lowe throws batting practice. And our offense is spotty. Worse, in the post-steroid era, we have no speed. This team couldn’t outrun the 1927 Yankees and they’re all dead. This is a joke.
LFP6
January 27th, 2010
9:09 am
If we do try to get Damon, it should only be for a one year with a team option of one more year, pending on both health and performance. But thats just me.
As for prediction: Wild Card is a real possibility, but we’re not unseating the Phils yet.
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
9:12 am
I still wonder about Philadelphia’s pitching, even with Halladay. I thought the Phils would have better been off with Cliff Lee.
Bill
January 27th, 2010
9:19 am
It would take a MIRACLE for Braves to make play-offs. To many “IF” on this team and then you still have “Bobby Cox.” Pray for a Miracle!
Damon could be had for 1/4 of what he was asking Yankees (ESPN) which would be $4 or $5 million?
Bobby was hurting in that picture.
Paddy
January 27th, 2010
9:20 am
Eddie Haas had alot to do with Bob Horner’s success while he was the Braves skipper. You can look it up!
AndyC
January 27th, 2010
9:22 am
In that picture it looks like they just rolled Bobby out of bed and he looks a little disoriented.
Willy
January 27th, 2010
9:26 am
Mark – Are you sure Cox never managed Horner? Horner was already there when Torre arrived. I think he did.
Willy
January 27th, 2010
9:26 am
Nevermind
PMC
January 27th, 2010
9:28 am
well, I hope Glaus can be the hitter they wanted in the middle of the order. He’s hoping for a poor mans Texiera while getting better defense out of left than you got last year. Diaz is a nice piece to have on the team but until he starts hitting both armed pitchers really well he’s probably going to be a platoon guy. Nice pinch hitter though and I love the way he plays. The opening day roster is better than last year so maybe they can sustain some win streaks with this terriffic staff. I just hope Bobby will leave these inning eating guys in more. 100 pitches… so what. Let them get to the 8th. Don’t wear out the pen. If Wagner works he’s better than either of the guys they had last year. Schaffer could play some this year too especially if healthy. The defense has got to be much better this year (looks to third base) because they are still going to struggle to score. If the pitching will keep them in games I think this team is highly capable of winning the close ones and they tend to play lots of close ones. Philly is one of the best teams in baseball so I think realistically the wild card is the hope in on of the toughest divisions in baseball yet again but it would be nice to make a run this year.
collegeballfan
January 27th, 2010
9:28 am
I have always liked Cox as a manager. Did I agree with his every decision? No. But then he probably disagreed with some of my decisions as a commercial lender.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:28 am
I’m a critic of the offseason and Frank’s haste to make deals.
But if anyone can bring it together, that has been Bobby’s greatest stength; getting guys to do their best.
Elmore Spencer
January 27th, 2010
9:30 am
At least 100 losses. Hudson is not the pitcher Wren thinks he is. Lowe throws batting practice. And our offense is spotty. Worse, in the post-steroid era, we have no speed. This team couldn’t outrun the 1927 Yankees and they’re all dead. This is a joke.
Ahh spring optimism. Your cup runneth over.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:31 am
Eddy Haas?
I thought he was one and done.
The guy who didn’t even make it thru one year.
T-Bone
January 27th, 2010
9:32 am
I don’t see any way this team, as it stands now, is better than the one that closed out last season. Mark, you said it well. “Their closer is Billy Wagner, who’s 38 and who had arm surgery in 2008. Their first baseman is Troy Glaus, who has barely played first base and who missed most of last season due to injury. Their best pitcher from 2009 is a Yankee.”
From the end of June, we were about the best team in Baseball last year — and almost made the playoffs. Why not just keep that same team intact? I know, I know. Money, salaries, ownership restrictions, blah, blah, blah. In my ipinion, all they had to do was re-sign LaRoach and trade one of the 6 starters for an outfield bat.
Too bad for Bobby that he has to go out with a team like this.
Marko
January 27th, 2010
9:32 am
Braves will have a similiar type year in 2010 as they did in 2009 and probably narrowly miss out on the playoffs.
Is that doing damage??? I don’t know.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:33 am
Fuuny Bill.
I noticed the same thing in the picture.
PMC
January 27th, 2010
9:34 am
The Marlins could legitimately challenge for the division too. There are 4 teams in this division that could possibly win or take a wild card.
Dawgie Bowser
January 27th, 2010
9:37 am
Sometimes a little shake up works well and helps the team chemistry. I feel good about the Braves this year. Bobby has been a gem and we’ll hate to see him go. I do miss ‘ol Dave Pursley who kept a little can of spray in his hand which was snake oil for any injury and he didn’t hesitate to use it in an unsparingly manner. I recall one particular game which a player had suffered a grion injury. As Dave trotted out of the dugout to see about him, a half drunk guy 3 seats down from me yelled: “SPRAY SOME OF THAT STUFF ON HIM DAVE.”
All I'm Saying Is...
January 27th, 2010
9:37 am
Horner was with the Braves from 1978-1986 and had Cox (1978-1981), Torre (1982-1984), Haas (1985 first 130 or so games), Bobby Wine (1985), and Chuck Tanner (1986-1988) as his managers.
Bobby can only deal the hand that he is dealt so unless 2010 brings up the reincarnation of the Miracle Braves, then, while we have a strong shot at making the playoffs via the wild card, I’m not so sure about winning the World Series given what the AL will likely have to offer.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Art Vandalay
January 27th, 2010
9:42 am
This team was in the hunt in late September, and they haven’t gotten worse. Worst case scenario this team puts up similar numbers to the second half team of last year BUT they won’t have Schaffer, Francoeur and Kotchman digging them into a 10 game below .500 hole in the first half thats worth being optomistic about right now. Everybody on hear is so negative but I guess a lot of Braves fans are UGA fans, if I had to watch that i’d be jaded by sports too.
Greg
January 27th, 2010
9:45 am
Everybody seems to be forgetting that this club went something like 50-30 in the second half. I’m no Copernicus, but that works out to a 100 win season if they are as good as they were in the second half.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:48 am
Art we are not spending at all like our glory years.
When I was young, being competitive was good enough but now I’d like to see that we can win it all.
A whole lot has to go right for that to happen.
I’m a Tech fan.
I also don’t want Bobby to go out with a loser.
I hope Glaus can still hit.
He is one of the big ifs; whether he can be a cleanup hitter again.
Steve From Dalton
January 27th, 2010
9:48 am
Mark- It seems that the Braves would be trying to groom a replacment for bobby. Have you heard any names being thrown around?
Also, I remember Horner being called Horns. I did not know that came from Bobby.
Curt
January 27th, 2010
9:51 am
Not only does this team not have Schaffer (or the same Shaffer they had), Francouer Kotchman or Johnson all of whom did not help the offense, there is hope that this team will not have as many errors (chipper) as last year, be more consistent at the closer position, generate more power at the plate and (hopefully) have the real Chipper at the plate. They also will be better off the bench and in pinch hitting. All of this should be enough to make the Braves competitive. Weather it puts them in the play-offs; we will just have to wait and see. just as things didnt work as well last year, things could work this year. I am all for (realistic) optimism.
seeing eye single
January 27th, 2010
9:52 am
Do some damage ??? The playoffs used to be a foregone conclusion…Now there a long gone reality. The Braves will be 77-85. Chipper, Glaus, Wagner, McClouth,Hudson…and Chipper (yeah I know I said it twice).Hopefully, twice is all he’ll BE on on the DL. Reagrdless, I’ll still root for them. I’ve been doing it since ‘73. P.S. I think Bobby should get himself tossed the last game of the season…
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:52 am
Even if Frank could have pulled the wool over the Yankees’
GM eyes and done a deal that robbed them blind, we couldn’t do it.
We could not afford any of their stars.
Melkey was all we could afford and his price just went up too.
frosgrim
January 27th, 2010
9:53 am
Every team in the East has questions.
Philly has no pitching depth and who knows what is going on with Lidge
Mets have significant injury problems. Bay is a poor fit with the Mets, and they have no starting pitching
Braves have questions on offense, and age in the pen
Marlins have questions around offense and bullpen
Washington- ’nuff said
In all, I don’t see Philly as anything more than a front runner. They are good, but the Brave can catch them if the offense comes togehter. The Phils can hold off the Braves if their pitching comes togehter. In all, a bunch of IFs until the season gets going.
Art Vandalay
January 27th, 2010
9:54 am
But who was out there that was better? Honestly, though the trendy names this off season Jason Bay has never been overly impressive batting in a stacked Red Sox line up and Matt Holliday made his name in the 2007 World Series and is pedestrian since so paying them what they were asking is as big a risk as Glaus. The Rockies lost Holliday and didn’t miss a beat last year. A healthy Glaus is a better hitter than Bay or Holliday, and you risk them having a bad season as much as Glaus all Frank Wren did was minimize the risk and maximize the potentially reward. You could have signed Jason Bay, had him have a bad year and be stuck with the bill OR keep a little money in the bank and if Glaus struggles you have flexibility at the deadline. Deadline deals always energize a team and have more impact on a single season than off season moves. If this team can stay in the top two in the NL East through July Frank will find another piece, and it may be Schaffer or Heyward.
Elmore Spencer
January 27th, 2010
9:55 am
Everybody on hear is so negative but I guess a lot of Braves fans are UGA fans, if I had to watch that i’d be jaded by sports too.
Tech sucks
TomB
January 27th, 2010
9:56 am
I will venture to say that if this organization is done dealing then the only damage will be at the turn stiles. Who wants to see this team? What’s the draw? Chipper? Instead of saving money here and there, they should have brought in a big bat with a big name. That’s what the Braves of yesterday would have done. Say to the fans and Cox that you mean business about winning. This organization is trying to win on the cheap. Continue down this road and you will end up being the Pirates.
Winning is about choices made. Vazquez or Hudson? Time will tell right, but I might add that Vazques was my daughter’s favorite. I made a trip or two to the ballpark to see him pitch, not Hudson( I like too, tough call).
Maybe I get rid of Soriano, but no way on Gonzalez. A hard throwing lefty is a necessity especially one who can also close ball games.What if the Yankee and re-treads don’t work out? No back up plan? This is where the Braves are trying to win on the cheap. Bad business in my opinion. Sorry for Bobby that they didn’t do more for his last season.
Branch Rickey
January 27th, 2010
9:56 am
I hope Chipper has more on his mind in spring training than Hooters and fishing trips !
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:56 am
Just think how different this team would look if Blank bought it.
Blank’s money couldn’t fix the Falcons because they have not had, even now, a great GM.
TD thinks he is but last year’s D says the third pick made it a lot easier to look smart.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 27th, 2010
9:57 am
Lets see here
1B and 3B are your prototypical run producing positions. They are manned now by often injured vets.
2B and SS are, outside of McCann, your two best hitters. Each are .300 12-18 homer, 60-70 RBI guys.
RF and LF again typical power positions in the OF are going to be manned by a rookie in RF and a middle of the road platoon in LF.
CF is going to be manned by a plus CF who unfortunately is going to be hitting out of place in Leadoff.
Sorry not excited about this teams potential. Couple that with the bullpen taking a step back and the rotation now being more dependant on JJ and C-Hanson.
Where are the runs going to come from consistently? People point to the 2nd half surge? Well that just happen to come with the aqusition of Roache and he is in ‘Zona.
Bill
January 27th, 2010
9:58 am
Melkey I believe will be a better player with the Braves.
Still no power hitter after two years of promises by Wren.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
9:58 am
Can we have a discussion of our pro teams without the usual Tech-Ga hate?
Yea I know.
The other side started it.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 27th, 2010
9:59 am
A healthy Glaus is better than Holliday? Really? WOW! Thats good stuff!
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:00 am
Melkey’s name makes him either lovable or an object of redicule.
If he can produce, he’ll be the former.
Bobby Cox
January 27th, 2010
10:00 am
With guys in the bullpen as old as I am, I expect it’ll be torched by July the way I use those guys. Can’t let our starters go more than 6 innings, you know. That Melky/Diaz platoon I have in mind should excite the fans. Too bad Kelly isn’t here anymore. I begged Frank to keep him.
Tom in ATL
January 27th, 2010
10:02 am
This team really took off last year once Hanson got the ball every 5th day, and we traded for Adam Laroche – he gave the Braves a Legit power threat they needed – and was incredibly productive in the 60+ games we had him. The reason we didn’t resign LaRoche was becuase he would command a 3 year committment – 10 mil a year – and we felt Freemean would be ready beforehand…… And Laroche signs with Arizona for 1 year – 4.5 million. Haven’t seen it mentioned – but this is a colossal blunder on Frank Wren – I know Adam’s a second half player – but dude hit like .320 with 20 bombs in the half season he was here -he was good in the clubhouse – Why in the world would Wren not sign Roche for 4.5 mil??? Instead signing an injury plagued 3rd baseman to come try to play 1st?
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
10:02 am
Everyone needs to just let the Damon idea go. His offensive abilities are just ok when park adjusted for Turner Field against Yankee stadium. But the main problem is his defense. His -12 UZR/150 defensive numbers are downright horrible. His WAR number is about 1.5 or 2 which is decent but certainly not worth risking that defense or offsetting a salary of over 5 mil. Plus he’s on the wrong side of 35. The conservative projections have all 4 of our outfielders (Melky, Nate, Matt D and Heyward) with WAR numbers greater than 1.5 and they are already on the team.
MightyQuinn
January 27th, 2010
10:03 am
Regarding pic: Wren: “Boy Troy sure has some tight buns!” Glaus: “Why does my new GM has his hand on my arse?”
Don
January 27th, 2010
10:04 am
“It seems that the Braves would be trying to groom a replacement for Bobby”
Just pick almost any fan out of the stands.
You are right though – It will be difficult to find anyone interested in baseball who has so littile understanding of what to do and not do relating to the most simple and basic fundamentals of winning.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:07 am
Quinn what brought that on?
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
10:07 am
Tom in ATL – You can’t look at what LaRoche EVENTUALLY signed for. You have to look at what he was asking for when the Braves were considering him but took Glaus instead. It’s unfortunate that the market dried up for LaRoche but there is no way Wren could have known that would happen. It also says something that he had to settle for 1 yr at 4.5 mil. To me it says that 30 other teams also felt the same way the Braves felt. Can’t pin this one on Wren.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:12 am
BSI, as Mark noted, why did Frank have to be in such a hurry?
Wait and find some team more desperate and get a better deal.
The Angels agreed to pay 95% of Mathews Jr pay for two years and the Mets only gave up an average to poor middle reliever.
That spanks all of Frank’s deals made in too big a rush.
Herschel Talker
January 27th, 2010
10:14 am
There is zero chance with this boob as the manager. Zero. This is not up for debate.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:15 am
Concerning LaRoche’s pay.
That exhibit A why Frank should not be in a rush yet has been two years in a row.
joel marable
January 27th, 2010
10:17 am
are the braves kidding us.this lineup wont whip anyone.no speed,not much power.unrelible closer.what bench?this will b the leagues worst starting outfield.by game 40 the braves will have no one in the stands.seems like the front office just wants to get by.well if we r out of it by game 40.what a long empty summer at turner field.the braves return to the bottom of the celler
Art Vandalay
January 27th, 2010
10:20 am
If all of you are so capable of being talent judges and managing a multi million dollar pay roll, why do you have the time to comment on the AJC blogs everyday, your sort of capabilities should be very in demand. To think you know something Frank Wren doesn’t is ignorant, oh wait I forgot who comments on these, people outside the city of Atlanta.
seeing eye single
January 27th, 2010
10:20 am
Bobby isn’t even in that picture…He was photo shopped in. We were at El-Pueblito Restaurant in Adairsville when that photo was taken…THe Braves will not be a playoff team until they get a owner, not an ownership group
TomB
January 27th, 2010
10:23 am
BSIATL: I couldn’t disagree more. LaRoche’s agent had to have known early in negotiations that not many offers were coming in. The market is pretty fluid so players in demand usually attract early offers driving their price up, and the opposite for players who are not so hot. The Braves knew this and could have made a one year offer but chose not to. The Braves just decided to go in another direction.
Kashi
January 27th, 2010
10:23 am
Sorry Bobby we have NO chance to make it unless we get Damon or Uggla. I hate to see empty Tuner Field on Bobby’s last year. Frank, stop scraching your head and get Damon or Uggla. I am wanting to know what Marlins want from Braves for Uggla?
alan
January 27th, 2010
10:24 am
So Jayson Heywood is the Braves biggest non pitching since Ryan Klesko, and where is he today? Certainly not with the Braves. Braves fans, stop kidding ourselves, the biggest problem to overcome is not the Phillies, Mets or Florida, it’s the OWNERS. They don’t really give a s**t about the team or the fans. They became owners by defauult. Time-Warner owed them money for their share of the corporation and gave them the Braves to settle the issue. BC, FW et al are just blowing it out of their asses the bs that the braves have a shot. The only thing that counts is going home with all of the marbles.
Kel Varnsen
January 27th, 2010
10:25 am
agree with seeing eye, but who out there with ATL ties has the business sense and money to that anymore, Blank already has the Falcons the only other option I can think of is someone in the entertainment industry but we see how that is working out with the New Jersey Nets, and i’m not even sure they have the money to buy a team solo anymore.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:32 am
Alan I agree.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:36 am
What if Vazquez was your favorite player?
I tend to like guys who produce for us and want to be here.
Not every likes Atl enough to stay, like the numerous rentals we have had..
Lowe did average for higher pay and gets to stay.
The guy who was a Cy candidate loses out because he is our only trade bait.
joel marable
January 27th, 2010
10:37 am
BRAVES FANS TAKE NOTE.WE HAVE NOOOOOO CHANCE.EVERYONE IN THE DIVISION INPROVED,AND THEY WERE ALREADY BETTER THAN US.WE WILL SUCK BIG TIME THIS YEAR AND THE FRONT OFFICE KNOW THIS DONT LET THEM TRICK U INTO THINKING WE HAVE A SHOT.LOOK AT THAT LINEUP ARE U KIDDING.WITH THAT OUTFIELD THEY MAY LOSE THOSE COLLEGE GAMES THEY PLAY B 4 THE SEASON.ITS GONNA B BAD THIS YEAR TRUST ME.
Russ Minshew
January 27th, 2010
10:37 am
I have a thing for young boys.
rico43
January 27th, 2010
10:39 am
For the record, the only reason Eddie Haas wasn’t the worst manager the Atlanta Braves ever had was because Ted supplanted Chuck Tanner for a game. Eddie Mathews, God bless him, wasn’t a whole lot better.
rico43
January 27th, 2010
10:40 am
Joel, do you not realize that SHOUTING all but guarantees that no one will read your post?
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Speaking of Eddie Mathews, they should have kept him just to have #500 in Atlanta. He remarked no one in Houston cared when he hit it.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
10:47 am
I think Ted took back over during the playoffs
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 27th, 2010
10:50 am
they should have kept Dale Murphy for #400 too……..oh, never mind
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:51 am
agreed bank walker. did we get anyone good either time?
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:52 am
No we could have gotten the Hawk when the Cubs did and he signed for only 500,000.
Then Murphy would have had some lineup protection and his hitting would not have fallen off.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
10:53 am
Our best hope is that Glaus is another Hawk.
What the Hawk’s name?
damn it.
After injury dropped his value, he went on to have some very good years.
Mafia_Madness
January 27th, 2010
10:54 am
Lord, I hope they aren’t done making any deals. The MelkMan ain’t gonna cut it, imo. Go into the season with Diaz-McLouth-Cabrera as your starting OF’s and we could easily be looking at one of the worst offensive OF in the NL.
————————————————————————
David, I’d sure as hell would rather have that trio as our opening day outfield than the one we had last year with Anderson-Schafer-Francoeur. Atleast there aren’t 2 automatic outs in that setup like there was in 2009.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:02 am
And remind me why we traded the guy who jumped right into Detroit’s starting lineup and did hit.
Probably moeny as always with these Braves.
The Time Warner AOL deal killed the Braves.
Ted should have demanded the Braves back for some of hisstock.
Too late now.
Curt
January 27th, 2010
11:03 am
I really like that some here have played the 2010 season already and know just what is going to happen. That means I don’t have to actually go to games or watch them on TV.
Really, there are so many things that go into making a succesful team and a winning season and in turn there are things that can affect a team negatively such as chemistry and injuries or someone have a just plane bad year. After all, who would have thought that Chipper would have had such a bad year in 2009?
People on this board are not going to change what happens on the field this year and I doubt we can change or affect what Wren has or is going to do. Right now the roster is what it is and while I would love to have the Yankees line up or just their budget, the Braves just do not.
It seems to me that being optimistic is the best way to go…..at least until the 2010 Braves have prooved themselves one way or the other on the field.
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
11:03 am
Also remember that right before LaRoche signed a 1yr/4.5 mil offer he turned down 2 yrs at 17 mil from the Giants. It is conceivable that he simply didn’t want to come here but it also shows that even if Wren had been more “patient” as some have suggested he still would have been priced out by the market at the time he signed. And while waiting to be patient Glaus signs with someone else and we’re left with who? So it is a high risk/high reward concept. Do you sit and wait for your guy to come down in price and risk losing your Plan B? I don’t know but I think Wren made a decent move while saving money for other signings/arb eligible deals and not blocking Freeman. It’s simply not accurate to look at two deals in a vacuum and assume that we lost out on getting LaRoche at 4.5 mil. Aside from the timing issue there still is the performance issue. LaRoche’s UZR rating puts him just about at the league average for first base and his WAR rating is about 2/2.5. Those are good but not great numbers and Glaus (if healthly) will produce roughly the same 2.5 WAR at a significantly lower cost.
todd grantham
January 27th, 2010
11:10 am
dadgum Mark. That’s a worse picture of Bobby than you took of me the other day.
are all the AJC photogs down to using their blackberrys to take pictures?
Marko
January 27th, 2010
11:11 am
The Braves had a great second half of 2009 despite issues in the lineup.
I’m hoping that continues.
Not counting injuries, the only strengths of the offense is 3B, SS, & C.
1B & 2B are question marks. Will Prado’s half a season translate into a full season? The entire OF sucks. Diaz is the best guy and he for whatever reason can’t be given a full time spot.
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
11:14 am
Observation1002 – Your earlier comments regarding the “non-signing” of LaRoche are simply not accurate. I’m sure the Braves made an offer to LaRoche’s agent and it wasn’t what he thought his player’s value was. So they turned us down and we moved on. Wren had NO way of knowing that the market for LaRoche would come down to 4.5 mil and quite frankly the market didn’t come down to 4.5 mil. It came down to 2 yrs at 17 mil which is what the Giants offerend him that he turned that down to sign with Arizona the next day. His thinking is that one year in a hitters park such as Arizona’s will pump his numbers up enough that he’ll get the 3 yr 30 mil he is looking for in 2011. Apples and oranges there. He played here and had relative success but obviously not enough succes to get him enough suitors willing to meet his price of 3/30. He feels that Arizona will do that. Not Wren’s fault nor does it have anything to do with patience or lack thereof.
todd grantham
January 27th, 2010
11:17 am
Wren’s moves may pan out, but as you’ve said that guy is absolutely tone deaf when it comes to PR.
it was time for Smoltz and Glavine to go, but it was terribly mishandled. Now you can see Wren is pushing Bobby out the door.
I guess he is determined to remake the Braves in his image.
Fire Frank Wren
January 27th, 2010
11:22 am
Any chance we could convince Frank Wren to retire at season’s end and convince Bobby Cox to stay?
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
11:25 am
One more thought on the Glaus over LaRoche deal. It is also conceivable and likely that we would rather have Glaus for reasons other than what we assume. What if we are more or less out of the hunt in July and Glaus has had a realtively decent first half and remained healthy. We then offer him up to some contender in the AL (Mariners come to mind) that needa DH for the stretch run and we get two good prospects back from a team willing to overpay for a half year rental. We get through the 2nd half with Hinske at 1B and then Freeman comes up in 2011. Win/win for the Braves!
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:26 am
No way of knowing?
No not if u r in such a big hurry.
Waiting gets the Mets Mathews Jr for one million a year with the Angels paying the rest.
They had no way of knowing that deal might pop up but if u play all your cards before then you can’t offer a middle reliever and make the deal instead.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:27 am
Maybe Glaus will hit for us.
I hope so.
But roids players come with lots of risk.
Giambi for example.
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
11:30 am
We should all be dancing a big happy dance right now that the Mets were “patient” and got Mathews Jr. He is downright HORRIBLE in EVERY sense of the word. There’s a reason players like him come so cheap. The Mets downgraded their team offensively and defensively by adding Mathews Jr. to their team. If that’s what “pateince” gets you then count me as imaptient and very, very happy! Mathews had one decent year and that was PED aided. When not on the juice he is ranked as one of the worst players in MLB. He is one of the players in the MLB that actually manges to have a negative WAR rating and that is really hard to do!
Bill
January 27th, 2010
11:32 am
We have the makings of a good team that could have a chance at the Division or at least the wild card. We also have a lot of ifs and almost all of them will be needed to have a good season. Damon is not an answer for the outfield. He would not be a total waste but I do think he is overated, especially after this past season. Almost any one would have been successful hitting in that Yankee lineup. If all the pieces do fall in place it will probably take Bobby half the season to figure it out (remember last season) and field the best lineup every day. Bobby will cost the team at least 10 wins. He has been a good mgr but should have retired about 4 years ago. The Braves would be beter off if he decides to take a hike during Spring training.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:33 am
Sounds like Glaus.
My real point is the same as others today.
Without Ted or some individual who cares, we are not going to win it all.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:38 am
well BSI.
I hope u r right.
I want Bobby’s last year to be a good one and not a frustrating one.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:39 am
Lowe’s contract, not to mention, Karakami’s, hamstring Wren.
Observation1002
January 27th, 2010
11:39 am
General managers in sporting news survey rank Wainwright’s curveball as the best in baseball.
He’s a product of our farm system given away to the Cardinals.
Without him to close in WS, they don’t win it all.
Now he’s a great SP for them.
It was the reverse of us stealing Smoltz form Detroit.
Don
January 27th, 2010
11:51 am
The one good thing about Bobby Cox being back is that Braves fans do not have to “WORRY”. We do not have to worry about the linup, or the batting order, or the starting pitching, or the bullpen, or the overall hitting, pitching, and defense because with Cox back, the 2010 season is already over. For Cox to win has always required Pitching so far far superior to the other teams that it overcame his incompetencey over the long 162 game regular season schedule and enabled the Braves to win in spite of him. For 2010, our Pitching is probably going to be good but not great enough for that.
tree rollins
January 27th, 2010
11:58 am
All the Braves really did was churn the roster as they have been doing for the past few seasons. This time it’s Vazquez for Cabrera (good value for average value). Over the hill new closer Wagner. Unknown quantity in Glaus. Chipper Jones now getting too old. And what is it we like about this roster again??
kreedham
January 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
I agree that if we get ownership that is an individual or small group of individuals rather than a corporation then ATL will benefit. If I understand correctly, Liberty Mutual has to keep the time for a certain amount of time before they could sell. If someone knows how long please enlighten us. I believe they would probably be glad to get rid of the team as soon as they can!
Mark Bradley
January 27th, 2010
12:07 pm
That’s correct, Observation1002. But Wren signed both, let’s note.
tree rollins
January 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
The Atlanta team that has the best roster now is actually (gasp!) the Hawks – a statement I thought I would never make! The rosters of the Braves and Falcons are both very sketchy. The Braves pitching reminds me of the Falcons offense going into the ‘09 season. But then the Braves hitting reminds me of the Falcons defense going into this past season. And I predict the results will be the same – relatively boring hum-drum teams that will win more than they lose but make no impact on the playoff scene.
Ted M
January 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
I was so glad to read O’Brien’s piece on Schafer. He deserves the shot and another one for that matter. Lets see Jason, Jordan, Nate and Matt in the outfield.
Tom in ATL
January 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
BSI – agree to disagree – I have no problem with signing Glaus – super cheap – big upside – plug him in at 3rd if/when Chipper breaks down and work him in at first and let him be your primary PH and DH when facing AL teams. Before Laroche signs that deal with AZ – I can’t beleive he wouldn’t have signed a similar deal with Braves. And sure – he’s no Tex – but in the 2nd half of 2009 – his numbers were actually very Tex like. 57 games – .325 – 12 HR and 40 RBI. Just at 20 percent of the cost. I hope Glaus is every bit as good or better – but for 6 mil you have both of them.
BSIATL
January 27th, 2010
1:44 pm
It wasn’t Glaus over LaRoche. It was Glaus (plus the money we saved by not paying LaRoche which got us Hinske) over LaRoche. Hinske plays both corner infield spots and can fill in to keep both Glaus and Chipper healthy. Both Glaus and Hinske together stills is cheaper than what the D’backs paid for LaRoche. And whoever said it was Vasquez for Melky is just wrong. It was Vazquez, 2 strong minor leaguers, Glaus and Hinske for Vasquez. Pretty good trade if you ask me.
HamBone
January 27th, 2010
2:05 pm
I too think that the braves should have added a little more offense, and perhaps the Vazquez trade was questionable, but apparently they didn’t have many other options. I like the Glaus signing… it could turn out to be a heck of a deal if he stays healthy. I also like the fact that the braves aren’t giving up the farm system. I know they say ” The Future is Now” but does anyone else remember the Texiera trade??? Anyways, these braves look just as good as last years and could possibly be better if Glaus does anything. The pitching staff is still one of the best in baseball (and Jair and Tommy should only get better) and I don’t think that McCann will start off as bad as he did last year, because of the surgery he had, and I also think Chipper will bounce back… he might not hit .364 like two years ago, but ill take an average of last year and that year which would put him at about .305… plus the phillies and mets staffs dont come close to the braves. This team should win at least as many games as last year’s
alan
January 27th, 2010
3:32 pm
Freeman, Freeman Freeman, Heywood, Heywood, Heywood that’s all I ever hear from the blithering idiot sports writers, Frank Wrenn and anyone else who knows about them. They have not even played one game in the major leagues and the braves and their ass lickers calling them the two best players to come down the pike in years. Let them play in the majors. Why hide them in the minors, if they’re so good. The excuse is to give them another year to be seasoned.. I also have the same question as someone else did, why doesn’t BC like Matt Diaz. I’m sure if he likes hime he would have played him as often as Kelly Johnson. He was forced to take KJ out, otherwise he would have been as awful throughout the entire system. Until Liberty Media. sells the team and FW gets canned this team will suck. Boycott the Braves, until the attendence is so low that Liberty Media will sell the team to local owners.
Tom in ATL
January 27th, 2010
5:00 pm
BSI – that’s connecting some imaginary dots to say we got Melky, Glaus, Hinske and 2 prospects for Vasquez. Using that logic – then we also threw Ryan Church in the deal, and I guess Jeff Francour too. When the Vasquez deal was made – Braves shed nearly 10 mil of payroll for 2010. They added about 3 mil with Glaus and Hinske. That leaves 6 or 7 – Laroche signed for 4.5. My point being I’d rather have Laroche and Glaus rather than Hinske and Glaus – and I think it was doable. I’d also rather have Soriano at 7 mil rather than Wagner for same price. But that’s another story -
Skeezix
January 27th, 2010
6:57 pm
Mark: Have you made your prediction yet? Last year you were high on the Braves chances, I wasn’t (predicted third place). This year I think our chances are a little better, so I’m predicting a second place finsh. Phillies are still the team to beat.
Bobby’s expression in that photo tells all we need to know about his opinion of the Glaus signing.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 27th, 2010
8:28 pm
I agree with Bobby…..if Glaus stays healthy, ditto for Chipper, if McLouth can reclaim his stature as a lead off hitter, if Derek Lowe can rebound, if Kawakami has the stamina to hold up in a five man rotation, if Martin Prado is for real, if Schafer stays healthy, if the rebuilt bullpen holds up……if-if-if-if-if-if-if-if pigs can fly. Yea, it all has to go right and IF even one or two of the above mentioned don’t, it could be a long slow walk off a short plank for Bobby Cox.
Tweets that mention Bobby Cox on the 2010 Braves: 'We can do some damage' | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Jason Fulton. Jason Fulton said: I sure hope so…Bobby Cox on the 2010 Braves: ‘We can do some damage’ – http://shar.es/aVY1Z [...]
Tweets that mention Bobby Cox on the 2010 Braves: 'We can do some damage' | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 27th, 2010
10:09 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc dot com, Mark Bradley and NikkiKayUGA, Whitney. Whitney said: Hopefully not referring to damaging my enthusiasm RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Bobby Cox on Braves: ‘We can do some damage.’ http://bit.ly/cyuvEE [...]
Dave S.
January 28th, 2010
12:42 am
I will be an Atlanta Braves fan this year. Troy will lead the team in doubles and maybe H.R.´s.
The man won a World Series MVP for a reason.
deriter
January 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
F. Wren & B. Cox have sold the Braves down the river. The trades & signings have vitually eliminated any chance the Braves might have had. All of this was done to give B. Cox one more year as manager.
The results for the upcoming season are very, very, bleak.
Robert
January 29th, 2010
1:44 pm
“We’ve got a chance to do some damage”
I have no doubt that Bobby Cox will, in fact, do LOTS of damage to the 2010 Braves.
Robert
January 29th, 2010
1:47 pm
Don – your post is right on.
And someone said – “We have the makings of a good team that could have a chance at the Division or at least the wild card.”
COULD is the key word. If Cox werent managing, then what could, would.
Robert
January 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
“It seems that the Braves would be trying to groom a replacement for Bobby”
Here’s how they are grooming Cox’s replacement
1. Remove the candidate’s brain surgically
2. Weld the candidate’s left forefinger to his nasal septum
3. Superglue Chipper Jones’ lips to the candidate’s gluteus maximus
4. Swaddle the candidate in a soiled diaper
Chief pitchanono
January 31st, 2010
11:39 am
I think this being Bobby’s last year the players need to concentrate on keeping close to philly and bringing the NL East title back home to Bobby & Atlanta where it belongs. They can say all they want about Bobby, but the numbers speak for themselves, 14 straight titles plus some in Toronto proves that over a 162 game season, no one is better at leading a team than him. We all know the playoffs are a crap shoot and the best team doesnt always win. Over a 162 game season the team on top at the end is always the best team, and nobody has been better guiding a team over the longhaul than Bobby. So send him off right 2010 Braves, riding off into the sunset on top of the NL east where he belongs. Whatever happens in the playoffs after that is just gravy on the biscuits, but the man deserves to go out on top of a division that he has owned for the better part of twenty years. (yes, i know the braves havent done much in the last few years, but you gotta look a the big picture when someones about to retire, and 14 division titles out of the last 19 sounds pretty good. 15 would be perfect. Go Braves!
Chief pitchanono
January 31st, 2010
12:32 pm
Oh and on the Glaus thing, bobbys grimace in the pic is great! ha ha, but i agree with taking a chance on him over Laroche. The braves know from last year they cant wait until june or july to get the offense going, and for whatever reason Adam’s bat can’t be relied on in the first half of the season. Plus if its gonna take close to 90 wins to just get the wild card they have to start hitting as a team right out of the gate, we have no one to pick up the slack for a second half guy. Yeah Glaus may be a complete bust, but I take my chances on him being the difference maker over the whole season vs. trying to play catch up waiting on Laroche’s second half surge. Glaus doesnt even have to have a great year to make a huge impact on this lineup, just staying healthy and being in the lineup most of the year with the protection he will give to chip & mac & company could make this a very dagerous offense.
Robert
January 31st, 2010
1:01 pm
“They can say all they want about Bobby, but the numbers speak for themselves”
Let’s just set straight what the numbers say. They say that if you give Bobby Cox the best team in baseball ten times, then he will manage to win one championship.
That’s – well, I dont know what it is, but impressive certainly isnt the word
And let’s settle another issue. The playoffs are NOT, a priori, a crapshoot.
Putting a superior team under the guidance of an idiot can TURN a playoff series into a crapshoot. The Braves had this happen pretty much on a yearly basis for over a decade. But it doesnt have to be that way
The all-time playoff crapshoots were the 1995 World Series and the 1999 NLCS.
Watching Cox match “wits” with Hargrove and Bobby Valentine – that was something straight out of Spy vs Spy
Robert
January 31st, 2010
1:05 pm
“Over a 162 game season the team on top at the end is always the best team, and nobody has been better guiding a team over the longhaul than Bobby”
You give them Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and the supporting casts those three had, an you, me, the crack dealer on the street corner, the poster child for the Special Olympics, the dead dog in the middle of Lawrenceville Highway, and the moldy piece of pizza in the back of my refrigerator could all also have won those division titles. Those teams were consistantly at the very least fifteen games better than the competition. All Cox had to do was NOT blow fifteen games outright. Just having those three pitchers eliminated enough potential decisions to keep his tally under fifteen
Not that he didnt lose some games in memorable fashion even with those teams.
Robert
January 31st, 2010
1:10 pm
““Over a 162 game season the team on top at the end is always the best team”
Yes. And 95 times out of a hundred, who is managing has no bearing on that.
Shorten the season – make it where player talent cant overcome tactical errors, such as in a short series – and then who is managing starts to matter
And, not coincidentally, that’s where the Braves go from dominant to laughable
Cox could beat (notice I didnt say outmanage) Mike Hargrove and Bobby Valentine WHEN Cox’s team had far superior talent.
Boy that there is a managerial legacy to be proud of.
Hargrove and Valentine are to managing what Varisyt food is to haute cuisine, but if they had had the talent Cox had, they wouldve run rings around him.
Equal talent, equal situations, there is not a human being on the planet who couldnt outmanage Bobby Cox at the game of baseball
mike
January 31st, 2010
4:07 pm
(braves) quit losing those one run late games….need mccann 100%…all year….need
glaus to hit 285 23 hrs 95 rbi and he can do it ….monster bat when healthy..also a great leader…
chipper needs to back up words he is quoting..starters are solid….bullben is good not great…
and our shortstop is as good as any…outfield deeper than ever….get ready we are back……
wish bobby would quit pitching to howard….but he will not….mets will be fourth in east
SP
February 3rd, 2010
9:32 am
Mark,
I’m a little late reading this one but don’t you think Heyward is the best non-pitching prospect (actually, simply “best prospect”) since Andruw Jones – not Klesko. I realize Klesko was a fine prospect but Andruw came after him and was Baseball America’s Minor League POY two years in a row – the only player in the history of their award to do so.
abudefdef
February 5th, 2010
10:48 am
a little late reading this as well, and I for one am excited about the upcoming year! A lineup that goes:
McLouth-CF
Prado-2b
Chipper-3B
Glaus-1B
McCann-C
Escobar-SS
Diaz/Heyward-RF
Diaz/Cabrera-LF
Pitcher
Seems like a pretty potent lineup, providing they don’t succumb to theinjury bug. 5 guys capable of hitting 20+ HRs (Chip, Glaus, McCann, Yunel, Diaz/Heyward) and a couple of them could go 30-40 if healthy! Starting rotation I think is one of the best in the Majors, With Hudson back, JJ awesome, Hanson (we’ll see how the sophomore year goes), Lowe returning (fixed mechanics?), and Kawakami (remember he beat some of the best pitchers in the game this past year), they has a chance to do something really special-provided the offense can support em! And the bullpen additions are going to go well too, Wags is a bonafide shutdown closer, and the setup guys look good! Losing Vazquez made me sad, but the two prospects we got in return hopefully end up making it a much less painful deal. Again, provided the Braves don’t get riddled with either the injury bug or the Greg Norton bug, I believe they’ll have a banner year and take the NL East, win the NL Pennant, and give Bobby another W.S. Ring in his last year!
KEEP THE FAITH BRAVES NATION!!!
Keep the Faith!!!
***WHOOOOOAAAAA OOOOAAAA WHOOOOOAAAA OOOAAAAA!!!***
***TOMAHAWK-A-CHOPPIN***
Bill
February 6th, 2010
2:32 am
Whatever the outcome, Booby will be gone finally, 10 years too late.
Hymie
February 6th, 2010
2:36 am
Bobby sux cox.
Robert
February 6th, 2010
2:36 pm
“Whatever the outcome, Booby will be gone finally, 10 years too late.”
Ten? He should have been fired after the 1993 season.
Truth be told, he should never have been allowed to manage in the first place.
OldTimer
February 6th, 2010
5:52 pm
The Braves are turning into the Thrashers.
BravesWillStinkAgain&IWillWatchEveryGame
February 8th, 2010
3:17 pm
It is high time that Bobby was put to pasture in Cartersville. Actually was high time
about the time we moved to Turner Field. Worst handler of bullpens ever in Atlanta.
I don’t want a manager all the players like. I want one that is tough on the players, yet
gets them to win. Come back Joe Torre! Ok maybe not. We need to start a drive for Liberty to sell the team, big time. Then the new ownership can clean house, all the
way down to the box office staff, who I HATE! BTW, just to throw in a lil positive,
Huddy is a class act, & Chipper has NO CLASS.