A ‘great ride’ ends for Bobby and his Braves, and we applaud
We'll never see his likes again. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The great manager said it after Game 3: “We’re not the best team in baseball, OK?” But you know what these Braves were?
Pound for pound, they were the most entertaining aggregation we’ve seen around here. And you know what the great manager also called this band of Braves? “The hardest-working team I’ve ever had.”
It ended for both parties Monday, for Bobby Cox and his final ballclub. It ended because these diminished Braves weren’t good enough to deliver big hits or field their positions in the crucible of October. It ended not because they didn’t give it the ol’ professional try after the abject disappointment of Sunday’s Game 3. On the contrary, it ended because a true professional pitcher talked the departing manager into letting him go a batter too far.
Seventh inning, one out. Working with a one-run lead, Derek Lowe walked Aubrey Huff, then yielded a swinging-bunt single to Buster Posey. It was just the second hit the Giants had mustered, a point Lowe surely made to Cox when the manager paid a visit. Indeed, Lowe had begun lobbying when Cox was still on the infield grass. After a short dialogue, the manager patted his pitcher on the flank and let him stay.
And Lowe walked Pat Burrell on five pitches to load the bases.
That was it for Lowe, and that one final walk was enough to lose the game. Such was this team’s margin for error. Speaking of which …
Alex Gonzalez threw high to second on Juan Uribe’s RBI grounder, enabling the bases to stay loaded with the game tied. And then, after Jonny Venters struck out Aaron Rowand, the No. 8 hitter Cody Ross — considered a target of interest for the Braves back in July — drove the go-ahead single into left field.
Being the Braves, they tried to give us a finish, as Ernie Johnson Sr. would say. Rick Ankiel walked with one out in the ninth. Then Eric Hinske, who was very nearly the hero of Game 3, walked. The winning run was aboard. But Omar Infante struck out, and it was down to Melky Cabrera, which tells us something about this season and this roster. Cabrera grounded to Juan Uribe at third, and this fighting club was finally finished.
And then something wonderful happened. Even as the Giants were celebrating at the center of Turner Field, the crowd started chanting, “Bobby! Bobby!” And the great manager, his heart surely breaking, emerged from the dugout to tip his cap and acknowledge the cheers, and then you looked back at the happy Giants and you saw them …
Standing and applauding Bobby Cox.
Said Chipper Jones, who has seen many things: “That was classy.”
People on the outside don’t understand the reverence in which this manager was held in this game. His critics see him as the guy who only won one World Series, but there can be different levels of success — yes, even in professional sports. And Bobby Cox’s last act was his greatest.
He took a team that lost Chipper Jones, Martin Prado, Kris Medlen and Jair Jurrjens along the way and led the National League East for 99 improbable days. He squeezed 91 victories and a wild card out of one of the weakest rosters ever to grace a postseason diamond. And he made the Giants work like crazy to win three games by one skinny run apiece. If you don’t think that’s managing … well, I don’t know what to tell you.
But his team knew, and the winning team in this Division Series knew, too. These Braves weren’t the best team in baseball or even, in terms of aggregate talent, the 12th-best, but they got to October and they gave it a go, and they gave us 26 wins in the final at-bat along the way.
Afterward Cox addressed his final team, or he tried. Said Chipper: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Out of all the teams he’s had, he’s got a soft spot for this club.”
And what did Cox actually say? “Maybe 10 words. He couldn’t get it out. He started to break down.”
Before the game, I was talking with Reid Johnson, a fan from Smyrna, and he called this whole season “a great ride.” And that’s what it was, from Jason Heyward’s Opening Day home run to the final out of Game 4. It was a great ride, a wild ride, a sentimental journey with the best manager we’ll ever see. That it ended Monday night changes nothing. It was, and will forever be, a season to remember and cherish.
Thanks, guys. Thanks, Bobby. Go in peace.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
785 comments Add your comment
stendek
October 12th, 2010
10:32 am
Hey delusional ones. Braves led division from almost day one. Choked away division title. Lost five of six to Phillies to end regular season. FIVE OF SIX! Damn Phillies. Backed into playoffs after gag job of monumental proportions. Any of you sheep really believe the Braves could have won elimination playoff game against either Giants or Padres? No chance in Hell! So spare me the selective amnesia. Season was wash once slide began! Truth is truth. So praises are not only empty but false. Bye bye Bobby Cox. Good riddance! Apologists can go flush themselves. STENDEK
JD
October 12th, 2010
10:33 am
I have watched and listened to the Braves since the 70’s and have yelled at Bobby on occasion when I thought he made a mistake for leaving a pitcher in too long or taking one out too soon. I can only say that overall he is just a d*** good manager. This year was the best coaching job by a manager in baseball history. He took a subpar team to the playoffs with grit and determination even after losing major parts of the team to injury. Thank you Bobby for a memorable final year.
guy
October 12th, 2010
10:33 am
This season was his best job of managing,especially with the talent on this team. Give him credit!
Herschel Talker is like a catfish,all mouth and full of _ _ _ t!
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2010
10:35 am
Fredi Gonzalez, KD. Also Fredi Gonzalez. And then Fredi Gonzalez.
Lobosolo
October 12th, 2010
10:35 am
StenDICK… Still waiting to hear of your winning ways… thought so…
Anything???? Have you been a winner at ANYTHING????? No advice for all the sheeple on being a winner???? C’mon, big man, let us all in on your secrets…
voice of reason
October 12th, 2010
10:36 am
i will also be pulling hard for the giants kick the classlesss sillys ass please the giants are pure class and with that pitching i think they have a real shot
Jim Thompson
October 12th, 2010
10:37 am
Well, he’s gone. Five years later than he should have (look at the record–no divisional wins since 2005). Good riddance.
eddie willers
October 12th, 2010
10:37 am
I still have my ticket stubs from April 12, 1966 and this season ranks with the best.
Thanks, Bobby……you did good.
Brave forever
October 12th, 2010
10:37 am
From worst to first, from dull to so much fun. Thank you Bobby!
voice of reason
October 12th, 2010
10:39 am
anti me trade that crew for an unwashed jock strap thats all there worth ill pay for the dry cleaning then throw it in the garbage with there deleted blogs lol
P Rose
October 12th, 2010
10:40 am
Someone earlier posted that both Joe Torre and Jim Leyland are better managers than Bobby Cox. Here are their 2010 statistics:
Jim Leyland, Tigers: payroll =$122,864,928. 2010 record = 81-81.
Joe Torre/ Dodgers: payroll =$95,358,016. 2010 record = 80-82.
Bobby Cox, Braves: payroll =$84,423,666. 2010 record = 91-71.
Michael C
October 12th, 2010
10:42 am
Mark Bradley, do you think the Braves and Fredi G. already have an agreement in place that just isn’t public yet?
how2fish
October 12th, 2010
10:42 am
Been a Brave fan since they got here…I’ve seen every manager to wear a Brave uni…Bobby Cox is the best period…I don’t give a crap about only one WS championship I remember the 100 loss years I remember decades of being the armpit of baseball and I remember 14 division titles in a row NO ONE will ever match that feat…and folks I will always remember and thank Bobby Cox . To all the tools that think winning championship is all that matters in baseball I truly pity you I truly do.
gapatriot
October 12th, 2010
10:47 am
Thanks for the memorys, Bobby. .. From Sid Breams’s improbable scoring to last nite. Thanks
Braves Fan Since '66
October 12th, 2010
10:48 am
I thought Bobby Cox did a Hall of Fame job this year getting the most out of a team that had aqll too obvious vulnerabilities. Watching them play the last few days has been painful though and I’m glad I’m out of my misery. I hope the GM will get a couple of new bats in the line up next year and not wait to pick over the left overs after the bigger budget teams have signed the best hitters. It’s time for some offense.
Braves are Bobby
October 12th, 2010
10:53 am
When BC came back in 1990, I was 12. He is the Atlanta Braves. Last night was must see for me, and I rarely watch entire Braves games anymore due to now being a husband and father, but I cannot imagine how next season it will be with a new Coach in the dugout. Well over half of my life I have enjoyed BC leading this franchise and he will be missed.
Ken Stallings
October 12th, 2010
10:54 am
It’s not often I cry, but when I saw Bobby tear up it sent me over the edge. Cal Ripken said immediately thereafter on the TBS analysis show that he started tearing up before Bobby did!
It heart and desire won championships this Braves team would have steamrolled through the playoffs to win the World Series. They were so undermanned by injuries that it was a miracle they made it to post season. No doubt, they were motivated to sell out for Bobby Cox and I think that made a difference to how they played, perhaps in some cases to the extent they played too hard.
But, they hung a banner at Turner Field, and considering what they had on their roster relative the Phillies, that’s saying an awful lot! They should be proud of themselves — it was a hell of a season!
Chief Pitchanono
October 12th, 2010
10:54 am
What a great season and playoffs, Bobby and his Braves gave the Giants all they could handle, with a very depleted roster, and again turned in another great playoff series. This series was a perfect picture of what playoff baseball is all about and it had you bitting nails with every pitch. I think you can say that Bobby and the Braves gave them all they had, and with a couple of breaks this patch work team could have easily won this series – as a fan thats all you can ask for. This team should be proud of this season, and they have a very bright future ahead, this can be a huge block to build on. As far as the off season goes, Wren really only has one obvious area for improvement and thats of course the outfield. He and Bobby have done a great job rebuilding this team from the ground up and I believe we have just began another great run of postseason apearances.Heyward will be a great player, and I am very excited about Freemans up coming rookie year. Wren just has to go out and find and good solid hitting outfielder. Lowe’s turn around is also very encouraging, he really looked like the ace we are paying him to be the last 5 weeks of the season, and the bullpen is loaded with great young arms, Huddy, Hanson had great seasons and hopefully jurgens will get healthy next year. Prado and infante really showed us they shoud be starters. Mac is truly an allstar and shined by himself in the postseason. We have a terrific bench, Like I said, this team looks poised for another great year next year and if the outfield is properly addressed in the off season, we will be World Series conteders. Thanks for one of funnest season ever! Good luck Bobby!
Ken Stallings
October 12th, 2010
10:55 am
And if there is any justice in this world, Bobby Cox will win the NL Manager of the Year award. I would think it a shock beyond words if he did not. I’m sure any of the other viable candidates would feel rather ashamed to win the award in lieu of him!
Bobby Who?
October 12th, 2010
10:56 am
I’m glad he’s gone because he don’t know how to manage playoff games. Just look at Game 3 he brought in Craig Kimbrel and Mike Dunn insted of Kyle Fransworth. Craig Kimbrel and Mike Dunn are rookies and he should brought Kyle Fransworth in because he got playoff experience. I hope we don’t get another manager like him. I look at all of the talent he has had only one championship. Everyone talks about 14 straight divison titles but he won only one chamionship during that times. He should had won about five or six during that times. The truth is no playoff manager. I know the Braves were going to lose because everyone would like to see the Giants and Philles pitching staff go at. This playoff is all ready play out. The Yankees win win because George Steinbrenner die and it would be a good story. I might be wrong but watch it. I be around a long time and I know this stuff. The Braves only got into the playoff because this is Cox last year. I know y’all don’t believe me but I know what I’m talking about.
Ken Stallings
October 12th, 2010
10:56 am
Final comment, when do the Braves make it official that Freddie Gonzales is the new manager?
Michael C
October 12th, 2010
10:56 am
How2Fish, I completely agree with your post.
Dawgs88
October 12th, 2010
10:57 am
Thanks Bobby! You will be missed.
Tom
October 12th, 2010
11:00 am
It’s interesting that folks can say most anything about Bobby or post detrimental comments about other’s intelligence or lineage, but mention Bobby’s drunken wife beating episode and…boom, one’s comments are gone. This little episode says more about him than anything he ever accomplished in baseball. I’m just saying.
Counting the seconds
October 12th, 2010
11:03 am
… until Boom, Tom’s comments are gone. Can’t come soon enough.
stendek
October 12th, 2010
11:03 am
zzzzZZZZ! STENDEK
ThePriceIsWrongBitches!
October 12th, 2010
11:03 am
Thanks Bobby! Class act all the way! This was your best managing job by far! We shouldn’t have made it to the playoffs considering all of the big injuries this year, but you brought playoff baseball back for us Braves fans.
Best of luck to the Skipper!
stendek
October 12th, 2010
11:05 am
Drunkard? Wife beater? This right Tom? Definite Hall of Fame material pal! Real Mark Wretch recruitee also. STENDEK
droopydawg
October 12th, 2010
11:06 am
It is crazy to think that last night is the last time we will see Bobby with an arm on the rail and one foot on the step yelling encouragement. He has been a real class act and the MLB is poorer for his absence.
THANKS BOBBY
Ekim
October 12th, 2010
11:06 am
Well Tom, do you have anything to actually say about the incident? Do you have any new information or insightful social commentary? Because if I were Peggy and afraid of my husband, I sure as heck wouldn’t want to be going on two cruises with the guy. Maybe they made up in the past ten years.
stendek
October 12th, 2010
11:07 am
Bobby Who? Hate to tell you but all professional champions are selected well in advance. Anyone think Saints was miracle feel good story? Uh huh! STENDEK
Mike
October 12th, 2010
11:07 am
Magnificent season that celebrated a magnificent career.
Thank you, Bobby Cox and the 2010 Atlanta Braves.
Bill Hulsey
October 12th, 2010
11:08 am
Well shucks. I’ve always liked and sorta kept up with baseball and the Braves, but since I retired I began watching the Braves on tv and listening on the radio. I used to think Pete Rose was a very good ballplayer along with being a “hotdog”. But now, after watching ballgames most every night and seeing how many players loaf down the base path from home to 1st, I know why Pete Rose ran full tilt, even on walks. He knew how important it was in case of some booboo by the opposing team and he could maybe get an extra base. Plus he knew how very lucky and blessed he was to be one of a handful gifted enough to be a major league player. I watched in amazed shock how lazily Gonzalez trotted to 1st base only to watch Renteria make an error and throw him out by 30 feet anyway. What a BUM! I hope someone in Braves management issues an edict next year that all players will run full speed on base paths at all times or be heavily fined. And Frank Wren, make better deals. Derrick Lee was supposed to be a huge BAT, NOT. Why couldn’t all the Braves players instead of a very few motivate themselves to “RISE UP”. I know they were not the best team and had a really good year with their talent level and the many critical injuries, but except for the bonehead errors, they outplayed the Giants and should be on the way to Philly. Looking forward to next year anyway. GO BRAVES!
stendek
October 12th, 2010
11:08 am
Know it all Ekim! Enlighten us. Miserable jerk! STENDEK
Ekim
October 12th, 2010
11:10 am
Still haven’t figured out the essay question, stendek? How you as an individual show to a major league sports franchise that their performance is unacceptable?
Bill
October 12th, 2010
11:10 am
Bye Bobby ! Hope you and Pam enjoy the new Lexus and the vacation……Wish some of the guys you were loyal to could have returned the favor and played baseball for you in the last game. I still have a picture in my mind of Alex Gonzales standing at home plate, watching the ball booted by the short stop and not running to first base until seconds later. That was a big game, and he didn’t even try, he gave up, he showed the world what a lazy player he is ! Heyward hits the ball down the left field line and stands there looking up to see if it’s a pop up, no clue where the ball is ! Thank you for being loyal to Melky, and thank you Melky for being unloyal to Bobby. If you gave your best for Bobby this year, then you better be checking out senior care homes for the future! You cost Diaz a chance to play some good ball, and gave Atlanta 0% in your efforts. Overall, I think this was Bobby’s finest managing year….he put up with some players who seemed to have dead lice falling off of them all season and made it to the playoffs…..Melky, Alex, Ankeil, Nate, you guys should be ashamed of yourselves, you took fans money and never worked for it….that should be a crime….
Doctober
October 12th, 2010
11:10 am
Voice of reason…i’m sure you’ll be “pulling hard” for the Giants. They have about as much chance of beating the Phillies as your Braves would have had, ZERO. SF has Lincecum, but the Phils have Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt…plus Lincecum will be smoking spliffs before the game Saturday, and be way too stoned to be effective…Phils in 5…
Tom
October 12th, 2010
11:11 am
Ekim, getting tanked and slapping a woman stands on its own as “social commentary”; no further exposition required. The simple fact that it happened indicates what’s really in this guy.
Ekim
October 12th, 2010
11:12 am
No Stendek, don’t know it all. And more importantly, don’t pretend to.
Sid
October 12th, 2010
11:12 am
stendek
October 12th, 2010
9:34 am
**********************************************
I can’t tell which one of you is rowing but you are in the same boat as 1 out of 15. No doubt you will continue to swim in your idiotic and moronic cesspool of self, simple fact is “Your Wrong”
You attempt to make an analogy using Vince Lomabardi………..first of all, you dolk, this is baseball, not football. Vince Lombardi, in a time before parity, had a lifetime .730 winning %. Excellent, and he won “96 total games”. Bobby Cox ranks 4th in the All Time Managerial Wins, only behind Cornelius McGillicuddy, John McGraw, and Tony La Russa. So with about 5,000 managed games he won over half. By the way, the Green Bay Packers won more than 3 times the Championships that Lombardi ever did before he got there. In an era when football was becoming a media darling Lombardi was lifted to a status way over what he deserved. (Don’t get me wrong, Lombardi was one helluva coach and having a few great athletes didn’t hurt, ie Jim Taylor, Forrest Gregg, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Herb Adderley, Willie Davis, Jim Ringo, Paul Hornung, Willie Wood, Henry Jordan to name a few)
You go back and look at the teams and you will find Cox got more out of average players than you can ever give Lomardi credit for.
Anyway, you too are entilted to your opinion but time will prove Bobby Cox as legendary as any of them. One day you will probably agree.
Ekim
October 12th, 2010
11:13 am
Good answer, Tom. I respect that.
Jeff
October 12th, 2010
11:13 am
This team was the most fun to watch of any Braves team in my entire lifetime. To see it end hurts like hell but I’m so happy that I was privileged enough to enjoy the ride with these guys this season. Thanks Bobby and thanks to the whole team for some great memories…I’ll especially never forget Conrad’s walk off grand slam. That was really something.
South Georgia
October 12th, 2010
11:13 am
Frank Wren-Please get a manager who allows bunting, base stealing and demands discipline and clutch hitting at plate. This old “waiting for the three-run homer that does not materialize in post-steroid era will not get it!!!
fsd
October 12th, 2010
11:14 am
Are you people serious? They should have fired him after the 5th WS loss in 1999! Now maybe the Braves can actually hire someone who manages!
bucky oneil
October 12th, 2010
11:14 am
stendek
Bobby Cox = Class act
stendek = Just an act no class
Gary
October 12th, 2010
11:14 am
Thanks Bobby for a great ride. You will be missed and this team was one of the most fun to watch. It’s been awhile since I cared about baseball in September and October, but this year kept me on the couch cheering the team on.
To the SF Giants and their fans, a tip of the cap for being a classy bunch. I probably go to more Giants v Braves games than any other and the fans are always fun to be around. You played a tough series and were the better team this time around. Good luck against those Phillies. You are the underdog, but I will be rooting for you to topple them. If anyone can beat the Phillies, it has to be the Giant pitching staff.
Phillies, Class of the NL
October 12th, 2010
11:14 am
Bobby was an old-time baseball guy and he will be missed by all baseball fans.
plop
October 12th, 2010
11:17 am
fsd, OR… they could go 20 years without a winning record a la the Pirates. It really could go either way.
How can anyone in the Braves organization evaluate a managerial candidate on whether or not they are going to blow a WS game ten years hence.
stendek
October 12th, 2010
11:17 am
Will break it down so even you can understand Ekim. First off boo the Hell out of players at all home games. From pregame warmups to exit from playing surface. Vent constantly on radio and television call in shows. Never ever volunteer excuses for defeats. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR DEFEATS! Never fawn over players or request autographs from them. What is a Jeff George autograph going for these days anyway? Flood offices of team owners with messages of dissatisfaction with product being served up. Let players know their lack of concern over performances are not appreciated. If all else fails just stay away from games. Loss of ticket revenue often sends message even owners will not ignore. For long! Simple enough Ekim? STENDEK
Phillies, Class of the NL
October 12th, 2010
11:18 am
Doctober, I would have much rather faced the Braves, the Giants scare me. They don’t just have Lincecum, they have Cain and Sanchez too – Sanchez scares me the most with his nasty lefty stuff. Will be a good, maybe great series, but the better team, the Phillies, will prevail.