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.
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785 comments Add your comment
Joseph
October 12th, 2010
12:56 am
Way to sell out the stadium, losers. Even the Marlins can pull in 60k for playoff games
Good riddance, the past 2 months have been painful to watch this team die so slowly and painfully.
mexican brave
October 12th, 2010
12:57 am
thank you, Mr. Cox…let´s rename the stadium into Cox Field
Brad
October 12th, 2010
12:57 am
There were tears in my eyes before the final out. Thanks Bobby for a wonderful ride!!!
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:00 am
Funny how nobody remembers you punching out your wife Bobby…nice to have the media in your pocket…. but there are plenty of us that remember…glad you’re gone you over rated jerk…They never should have rehired you after you got fired the first time back in the 80’s
I Salute You!
October 12th, 2010
1:00 am
Bobby Cox…I Salute You Sir!
Thank you for all the years that you dedicated to the Atlanta Braves, and to the game of baseball itself. You have always been a class act by the way you led your team, by the way you were loyal to your players, and by the way you loved your fans.
In some ways, it will be hard next year, but I will press on in my support of the Braves organization. After all, I’ve been doing it since April 12, 1966 when the very first game was played here in Atlanta. So, although I’ll miss seeing Bobby at the helm next year, I’ll keep on chopping any way!
Go Braves in 2011!!!
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
1:01 am
glad he’s gone
October 12th, 2010
12:46 am
What a dumb fan base…best pitching staff ever…in the history of baseball, and this loser wins 1…1…world series…with 3…3 Cy Young winners and the best talent in baseball and you clueless ‘fans’ glorify him…The National media is right here Atl fans are clueless
AMEN AMEN AMEN…im glad there are people who actually see that Bobby Cox was handed the winning lottery ticket for 14 straight years and only cashed it in once! He should have been gone after the 1998 San Diego embarrassment…so long Booby Cox and take Don Sutton, Terry Pendleton, Mark Bradley and Chipper Jones with you!
Simply an Atlanta Fan
October 12th, 2010
1:02 am
@Falcon66…what you say is true. Ga Tech was co-champion before the Braves run (1991) and the Chiefs dissolved around 1982. In the space of time since 1991 when the Braves made their first World Series appearance as the Atlanta Braves to now, the Braves have been the one consistent bright spot for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. But I believe no team has cause so much excitement year in and year out (even if the excitement wore off in some cases in July).
Regardless, it was Bobby Cox and his teams that finally made baseball a big deal not only in Atlanta or Georgia, but the south…thanks to TBS.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
1:04 am
@mexican brave…please stop smoking whatever is in that your smoking!
mexican brave
October 12th, 2010
1:09 am
@Reggie, in your opinion, which person has had the most positive influence in the history of the atlanta braves?
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:09 am
Been watching the Braves since 1980. Thanks for all the memories Bobby Cox. I remember when the Braves really were a bad team. Then, one day, solid baseball showed up and never left. That is your legacy.
Mike PA
October 12th, 2010
1:10 am
I think this is the season of what ifs. what if bobby pulls derek early. what if brooksy plays flawless d. what if wags chipper jj prado satio dont get hurt. I think Bobby deserved a lot better than a bunch of what ifs yet with all that he still got us this far. Over the years ive seen the hate for Bobby on the blogs here yet we were all to blind to see that bobby was always the driving force us and this team proved that more than ever. Thank you Bobby for the memories and for leaving us to be able to wonder what if……..
EGR
October 12th, 2010
1:10 am
I really thought the Escobar move for Gonzalez was a overall mistake frome day one.I am just saying
Tron5000
October 12th, 2010
1:11 am
From espn.com: ”Asked if Cox set the bar high for future Braves managers, Heyward said ‘He sets the bar for any person I’ll come across.’”
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2010
1:13 am
The PA did play, “Like A Rock,” Gumby. That was a holdover from Bobby Cox Day.
JohnC
October 12th, 2010
1:13 am
Thanks for the memories Bobby. You made the Braves respectable. And in this last season, with a team that didn’t draw much respect, you made baseball in Atlanta exciting once again. You’ll be missed!
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:15 am
I’m mad at Escobar. He forced that trade with his actions. Bobby does not ask for much. He wanted you to be on time, and he wanted you to play like a pro.
Dr. Warren
October 12th, 2010
1:15 am
We won’t ever fully appreciate Bobby Cox until five years from now, when we realize–truly become aware–that a 14-year run in 1st place is a singular achievement, and we’ll never enjoy such sustained success again. In the long run, get used to the playoffs once every four, five, six years, Braves fans, if that often.
mexican brave
October 12th, 2010
1:15 am
Hey Mr. Mark Bradley, how are you feeling right now? I´m sad but very proud of bobby and of this team…tremendous season
dot
October 12th, 2010
1:15 am
Thank you again Bobby you really made the Braves an amazing team!!!! You make the other teams run for their money!!.
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:16 am
count schemula
his legacy is wasting the best talent in baseball.
the players love him because he leaves them alone during the regular season and as we’ve had the best talent, we win over the course of 162 games. But when the post season comes, he always blunders, just like leaving brooks in the game in the 9th inning. on defense..no excuses…a bad move.
JohnC
October 12th, 2010
1:21 am
Forgot to add … what a class act Bobby is. I can’t think of any other manager in the last 20 years that has been so respected by his players as Bobby has.
Rick Grooms
October 12th, 2010
1:22 am
You can tell who the Georgia Bulldog fans are because of the classless comments made here.
Go in peace #6. You are’nt perfect, but you did the best you could do.
mexican brave
October 12th, 2010
1:23 am
We´re gona miss you during this long fall/winter MB…hate this time of the year after braves season is over..
Low Key
October 12th, 2010
1:24 am
If you really look closely at the last two games, we were within a Billy Wagner injury (and/or correct call on Posey’s steal in game 1 or only 2 Conrad errors…SMH) of winning the series without Prado, Chipper, JJ, Medlen, Saito and O’Flaherty aka a team without it’s HOF consideration-worthy closer, all-star 2B, HOF-bound 3B, rotation staple, luckiest starter, primary setup man and top situational lefty. Not a lot of teams could have done that, so you have to give Bobby and the Braves a ton of credit for playing so tough down to the end of the last inning.
And speaking of the last inning, I gotta admit I was sad to see Melky Cabrera come in for Diaz and devastated when he came up to bat with the game on the line. When Infante was up before him I knew the game was on Omar’s shoulders, even with only one out. The Melk Dud’s lazy in the field and not even as good as the fourth outfielder we hoped we were getting from the Yankees, hopefully he ends up as the odd outfielder out next year.
Also, I was a little disappointed to see Lowe not trust Bobby’s judgment towards the end of the game. How are you gonna doubt your HOF-bound manager’s moves in the crucial moments of what ended up being the final game he ever managed? Although I guess it’s just poetic justice that the best player’s manager ever goes out in his last playoff appearance with a pitcher not letting him pull him before surrendering an important walk, after his unrelenting support of 2B who he let try to play through a record-tying defensive (and pretty bad offensive) slump that cost the team it’s second most necessary win of the year.
Oh well, I’m a Braves fan, I can’t say I haven’t learned how to deal with playoff disappointment in my lifetime.*
*Said as a proud lifelong Braves fan. Kudos to Bobby and our boys for another unforgettable season, I can’t wait to see what 2011 has in store.
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:24 am
Mark
It amazes me that everyone ‘forgets’ his domestic abuse period…I’ve been a victim…I have never forgotten what he did to his wife
glad the jerk is gone
Jimmy H.
October 12th, 2010
1:27 am
I’m one of the long time Braves fans from way back (1967 actually) and can remember watching a lot of very bad Braves baseball from 1967 through most of the 1980’s. It was good to see the Braves start being part of the postseason when they started their run in 1991 under Bobby and there were a lot of times during that run that they were just as equally frustrating during the postseason for various reasons. I do believe that they should have won more than one World Series during Bobby’s time as manager and found some of his decisions during those postseasons had me wondering. Even though the Braves often fell short during the postseason I still would take those years from 1991 on playing in the postseason over the period from 1967-1990 without a doubt. I think that the ultimate compliment that Bobby got was that any player that was asked about playing for him would respond that they would love to play for him. This postseason was in some respects one of the best in my mind considering that the Braves literally staggered into the playoffs with all the injuries that they got hit with the second half of the season. I remember thinking at the beginning of the Giants series that defense would probably be the thing that would come back to bite the Braves and that was very true in games 3 and 4 which were games that the Braves should have won. Losing Wagner during Game 2 made me wonder how much more could happen to a team. I thought too that pulling Kimbrel for Dunn in the 9th inning of game 3 was a big mistake. You have to stay with the hot pitcher at a time like that and not be so hung up on matchups. The Giants showed a lot of class in saluting Bobby after they had won Game 4. My thoughts on the future for the Braves in 2011 are that they should line up Fredi Gonzalez as soon as possible to be the next manager, have the owners loosen the purse strings to get a couple of power bats for the outfield (hopefully one of them hits right handed) to replace Cabrera/McLouth, and make Kimbrel the closer to replace Wagner.
It’s been a good run under Bobby and I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
1:28 am
mexican brave
October 12th, 2010
1:09 am
@Reggie, in your opinion, which person has had the most positive influence in the history of the atlanta braves?
Thats easy…Hank Aaron
BravesAC
October 12th, 2010
1:29 am
If, like me, you were a Braves fan long before Bobby Cox, you’d know how much he will be missed.
Happy trails Bobby Cox. Happy trails.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 12th, 2010
1:30 am
I see the ump screwed the Braves again on that force play at 2nd. Fantastic. I was sitting in the upper deck so I couldn’t really see from my viewpoint, but the replay is pretty clear.
Lowe pitched a hell of a game. It’s too bad it ended the way it did. The Braves laid it all on the line, but just didn’t have enough.
Goodbye Bobby Cox. Not a perfect manager but a really good one. Hopefully whoever the Braves get to follow him can be as good.
And for the love of God can they please get rid of Alex Gonzalez. Will Toronto take him back for Escobar?
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:30 am
Yeah, we had Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine. But we also had Lonnie Smith, Juan Berenguer, Brad Clontz, Greg McMichael, Alejandro Pena, Jeff Blauser, Mark Lemke, Pedro Borbon, Tony Tarasco, Mike Mordecai, Mike Bielecki, Denny Neagle, Terrell Wade, Tony Graffanino, Tyler Houston, Danny Bautista, Mark Whiten, Kerry Ligtenberg, Randall Simon, Michael Tucker, Odalis Perez, Keith Lockhart, Rudy Seanez, Russ Springer, Walt Weiss… well you get the idea. Bobby Cox earned his paychecks.
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:32 am
Atl Braves fan since the beginning…pulled up grass from the field in 69 before the Mets killed us…was happy when the fired Cox and Gibson and died when they brought Booby back
Looking Forward to Freddy
October 12th, 2010
1:36 am
Unlike a loud mouthed Philly fan, I do not troll other teams blogs making insulting comments. Tonight, just this once, however, I would like to hop on another team’s blog. i would like to jump on a Giants blog and let them know what a classy team they have. The way they stopped their celebration to applaud and cheer Bobby Cox and the Braves was possibly the most classy and respectful thing I have ever seen any play-off opponent do – especially a one time division rival. I am pulling for the Giants to win it all… As of tonight, the Giants have joined the Red Sox as team I am a fan of when they are not playing the Braves.
In regards to Bobby Cox: Bobby Cox was perhaps one of the greatest regular season managers of all time. He was without a doubt THE BEST players manager of all time. He was also unfortunately one of the worst post-season managers of all time. I am glad to have experienced his rebuilding this club, but at the same time I am looking forward to seeing Freddy take it to the level it belongs.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
1:36 am
Yeah but we also had Fred McGriff,Andre Galarragga,Gary Sheffield,Rafael Furcal,Kenny Lofton,Mark Wholers,John Rocker,David Justice,Chipper Jones,Andruw Jones,Vinny CastillaJavier Lopez,well you get the idea. Bobby Cox was cashing those paychecks wearing a ski mask.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 12th, 2010
1:38 am
22 managers in league history have won more than one World Series. Even if you want to hold it against Bobby Cox that he only won one Series — which I think is retarded, but whatever — he is still at worst the 23rd greatest manager of all time, out of nearly 700 managers in baseball history.
And really, I kinda get the feeling that if he had won in ‘96 some of you would be hating on him for not winning 3. Give me a break.
Matt the Brave
October 12th, 2010
1:40 am
Since being a Braves fan in 1986, Bobby Cox has been a part of this organization. I never realized how important one person could be to a city’s sports. Not only did he help the Braves become who they are today by bringing in the guys to start this magical run in 1990 (when he became manager again) to now, he also helped raise the level of sports in Atlanta where we could have a hockey team come back, a NBA team that is relevant, and a football team that looks like it will be good for a long time. We are no longer ‘Loserville’, and we should heap a large dose of thanks on Bobby Cox.
Now, let’s go get another great manager and win it all next year!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 12th, 2010
1:40 am
Oh yeah, and it’s a minor miracle that this team even made the playoffs with a giant black hole from 5-8 in the lineup for most of the season.
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:40 am
plus Leo coaching the pitchers
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:45 am
They got to the Word Series 5 times. The only really bad one was 1999 – the sweep against the Yankees. The Twins Word Series was epic, and could have gone either way. The Blue Jays were a better team that year. Everyone wants more Word Series rings, but some of you act like 14 in a row was fait accompli. If that was the case, why even play the season, just submit as roster to the league office and let them decide. Some pretty classless comments up in here tonight. Save it for later in the week.
glad he's gone
October 12th, 2010
1:46 am
I’m done. Go ahead and glorify this loser…all that talent for all those years and he backs into 1 championship. He should have been put in jail for beating up his wife but celebrity always trumps justice. You can sugar coat it all you want, but his record speaks for itself. I’m glad I will never speak about him again.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
1:51 am
Ok Najeh…if its a minor miracle he made the playoffs with a black hole in the lineup from the 5-8 hitters, what do you call it when he had no holes in the lineups plus 3 first ballot hall of fame pitchers during the 90’s? Was it a major miracle that other teams managed to beat his teams year after year after year? Would we be “hating” if he won 2? Who knows because he didnt.
PHIL
October 12th, 2010
1:52 am
I think that the first and last games of the series showed that instant replay is needed in baseball. Bad calls cost us the winning runs in both cases. I don’t want to hear the umps “generally” do a good job, it’s just part of the game crap. The game has rules that are not open to judgment or interpretation. And if you tag someone with a ball before he gets to the base he is out. If you catch the ball with your foot on the base on a force play before the runner gets there, he is out. Period. No if’s, ands or buts. And on COUNTLESS occasions in game one the second strike to a Brave was a bad call according to the electronic device used to measure balls and strikes, putting them in what amounts to an impossible situation. I don’t want to hear “they all even out” because they don’t and they didn’t. It was a difficult task with this rag tag bunch anyway. It was impossible to beat the Giants so shorthanded and have the umpires screw up so often as well. I am for full review of close calls and doing away with a human calling balls and strikes. The game has rules that are made to make the game fair to both teams. They should be enforced.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
2:02 am
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:45 am
They got to the Word Series 5 times. The only really bad one was 1999 – the sweep against the Yankees.
Im not just talking about the world series losses …what about all the first round exits from 2000-2005? the lineup he ran out against the Padres in the elimination game in 1998 only to get shutout by freakin Sterling Hitchcock! The loss to the Marlins in 97,Phillies in 93, bounced by the Astros, Giants,The lovable losers Cubs! Cmon
Hannibal Lector
October 12th, 2010
2:04 am
Hmmm Bobby Cox eh? I’d like to eat his kidneys with a nice Chianti and some fava beans fffffff.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
2:05 am
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
1:45 am
They got to the Word Series 5 times. The only really bad one was 1999 – the sweep against the Yankees.
Ok what about getting bounced in the first round 5 straight years to teams like the Astros,Giantsand Cubs…none of which even won the world series. What about that great lineup againg the Padres in 98 that got shutout by Sterling Hitchcock in game 6, The loss to the Marlins in 97…Phillies 93!!! Cmon its a history of failure
count_schemula
October 12th, 2010
2:07 am
The freaks come out at night. The freaks come out at night.
donny ballgame
October 12th, 2010
2:12 am
Juan Berenguer—Senor Smoke!!!
Gawdfather
October 12th, 2010
2:17 am
Whoops, sorry Mark. 0-8 in playoff elimination games at Turner Field.
MJ
October 12th, 2010
2:17 am
No manager in baseball could have done what Bobby Cox did the last 15 years. He lost top players on the team every year because they were either traded or forced to sign elsewhere as team ownership decided to not pay competitive salaries. But every year, Bobby never complained, he just formulated a team that would be competitive with the players he was given. He was the ultimate players manager – always defending them publicly, and with every umpire in the league. He set a record for most ejections as a majpr league manager, which was a result of his protection of his players. He will be missed. I cannot imagine a game without him being in the dugout. What a class act he was – God Bless Bobby – you were an incredible manager – the city of Altanta knows we were darn lucky to have you as our “skipper”
DawgDad
October 12th, 2010
2:25 am
People are entitled to their own opinions, but Bobby Cox’s record as a manager speaks for itself. Best wishes, Bobby, and thanks for the many, many memories.
Enough said about this team – almost. How fitting the last out was recorded by Melky Cabrera. Nothing personal against Melky, but that trade pretty much sealed the fortunes of this team offensively.
Looking forward to next season there will be plenty of quality arms in the bullpen and there should be plenty of starting pitching (depending on how some of the aging and rehabilitating arms fare), but the lineup once again will need major infusions of power and speed and defense, and energy in general. Another Melky Cabrera winter and Chipper Jones summer isn’t going to get it done.
Looking Forward to Freddy
October 12th, 2010
2:36 am
DawgDad you are right on every level of your entry.