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
Aaronfan
October 12th, 2010
2:43 am
I am still waiting for someone to answer why Bobby Cox could yank Andruw Jones from center field (several years ago) in the middle of an inning because he said Jones was not “hustling” enough? And then, this season, let Brooks Conrad stay in the game after error after error after error. Jones had not made any errors. How could a “players manager” embarrass Andruw by calling him to the bench from center field before the inning was over? So how come Cox could leave Brooks Conrad in the game, but not Andruw?
What kind of players’ manager would do that?
TheAntiMe
October 12th, 2010
2:45 am
Look at the haters coming out to bash Bobby Cox like the cockroaches crawling around on their kitchen floors at night. If it wasn’t Bobby Cox, I’m sure these haters would be bashing someone.
It seems that their lives are so meaningless and the anger really shows. There is no making them happy because they are the losers in life and they are damn angry about it and are going to bash anyone they can who just happens to be a winner. Very sad, actually.
Looking Forward to Freddy
October 12th, 2010
2:50 am
Aaronfan. You are correct also, but let me add that leaving Conrad in was worse. I feel bad for Brooks like I felt bad for Andruw. I wish we had never traded Andruw (even though he was slumping badly for a while). He is back to being Andruw, and we lack a good center fielder….though i have a feeling that McClouth has gotten over his funk and has begun to return to his old form.
Aaronfan
October 12th, 2010
2:52 am
And another thing: Why did Bobby Cox take Matt Diaz out of the lineup after Matt made a perfect throw from left field to home plate for an out? Why take Diaz out and put in Melky Cabrera? For what reason? Another thing: How was Gonzalez an improvement over Yunel Escobar? Cox didn’t have to like Escobar, just put him in the lineup. Gonzalez was not any more pleasant to watch than Escobar.
NY Braves fan
October 12th, 2010
2:54 am
Thank you Bobby for all you gave to this team, our fans and the game.
Looking Forward to Freddy
October 12th, 2010
2:58 am
Aaronfan, my friend, you and I think exactly alike.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 12th, 2010
3:05 am
“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? ”
He had no holes in his lineup in the ’90s? Only one Braves team in that entire decade hit over .270. The ‘95 team hit .250 as a team. Yes, he had a Hall of Fame starting pitching staff (not necessarily a great bullpen year in and year out to go with it though) but much like this year’s Braves, those Braves more often than not had a hard time scoring runs. The one year in the ’90s they got beat by a decidedly worse team was ‘98, when they definitely should have beat the Padres. But you can’t tell me the Yankees in the late ’90s or the Blue Jays and Twins in the early ’90s weren’t every bit the Braves equal, if not their superior, in overall talent.
otisnixonsmokescrack!
October 12th, 2010
3:29 am
..that post conf was brutal and sad to watch. even as phils fan i had to feel for the poor guy. the reality though is that the braves should’ve won this series. the giants were the perfect match up for this injury riddled braves team. bobby’s moves were strange the past two nites at best. it’s time for him to leave the dugout. and i respect him for knowing when it was his time. the braves had a good year and really have nothing to be ashamed of except for the obsurd lack of fundamentals. a real shame because if wagner hadn’t got hurt, if the braves played better defense(had bobby pulled the plug on conrad earlier) or had gotten 1 or 2 more clucth hits they would’ve advanced. but we don’t live in a could’ve should’ve world. i really enjoyed lowe’s performance tonite. but bobby left him in 1 batter too long. not a braves fan ,but for some of you on here i felt angry because you had to sit back and watch the braves match the reds’ insane level of incompetence on the field and from the dug out. although dusty managed way better than bobby. the ump also blew that call huge tonite. phils/giants nlcs should be a good one. i’m picking my phils in 5, maybe 6 games.
M
October 12th, 2010
3:29 am
GOOD JOB BOBBY, YOU GOT A RING AT LEAST, YOU ARE A WINNER. LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
3:31 am
Ok the Yankees and Bluejays were but what about the 97 Marlins,98 Padres, Astros who beats em in the first round, the Giants who beat em in the first round, The Cubs who beat em in the first round. As far as the .270 batting avg, that means nothing because they led the league in homeruns and ERA several years.
james
October 12th, 2010
3:34 am
you called it sugar bear blanks. it was pathetic watching a professional baseball player do what gonzalez did in the 8th. not running. bobby did what was right today by keeping conrad out of lineup. with injuries and all i think this was one of the best managed years by cox since 91.
A 'great ride' ends for Bobby and his Braves, and we applaud … | topbaseballreview.com
October 12th, 2010
3:39 am
[...] Continue reading here: A 'great ride' ends for Bobby and his Braves, and we applaud … [...]
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
3:43 am
Ok if Bobby gets credit for managing his worse team talent-wise to the playoffs why doesnt he deserve blame for not winning the big one when his other teams were talent-rich?
YoungerThan ThatNow
October 12th, 2010
3:51 am
MB… I won’t say that this the best article you’ve ever written becasuse honestly, I haven’t read every one… but I read as many as I can, especially those about the Braves. But I will say that this is the most appropriate writing I’ve ever read of yours… kudos. Especially in light of the bashing that you knew was coming. I can’t help but wonder who these bozos will pick out to bash now that Bobby’s gone… and I’ll bet my mortgage that they’ll find somebody, and probably whoever replaces Bobby. Even if it was Jesus himself.
It’s cliche’ed and all that, but it’s never been more true… hindsight is 20/20 and managers, coaches or whoever, can’t see into the future. Maybe some of these people can… well, obviously they can… they’re all perfect and spot on correct on every point. And they’ve got as much priviledge as I do to be able to make their statements… but you would think for one time, only one time… that they would give it a rest and allow those of us who can see beyond the hair between their eyes just, have one last opportunity to honor and respect a man that happens to be the manager of the Atlanta Braves for his accomplishments. Yes, he’s made mistakes and made bad judgements, but he’s a man… flesh and bone, blood and guts… which I assume all of these all knowing, all seeing into the future, surely perfect without a blemish people are as well. They are just special.
I just want you to know that I appreciate your work… even when we may not see eye to eye… and your effort and obvious love for what you do. You are the only one who may post here who is “out”… meaning you aren’t hiding behind a username and a computer… capable and able to take all the venom, poisonous arrows and general bashing that is handed out here. I understand that it’s your job and you are paid to do this, but most here seem to forget that like Bobby Cox, you are just a man, (as DOB pointed out earlier Monday) a human being with a wife, children, feelings and emotions and all that goes with it. I couldn’t do what you do without firing back at times in response to some of the idiocy that is spewed here… and IMO what I’ve read here last night, earlier today and right now is the baddest of the bad. I can’t fathom what Bobby, Brooks Conrad and others must feel after reading some of it. So, thank you, and God bless you and yours.
And if by some miracle chance that Bobby Cox reads this… thank you sir, and I honor and respect you (and your wife and family) more than you know, and I’m sure there are a multitude of others who do the same thing. Godspeed to you and Mrs. Pam, and please know that this family in south Georgia appreciates you and what you’ve done and brought to us for all these years.
Jedi Falcon
October 12th, 2010
3:55 am
Now get Freddy Gonzalez here so we can compete for a World Series again.
Lobosolo
October 12th, 2010
3:56 am
Mitchell, you have got to be the biggest jerk on the block… You have NO CLUE as to what it takes to win a World Series… Now what are you gonna CRY about? I’m sure you do cry about lots and lots of stuff about life… You can cuss folks who call you out on here and drop F-bombs on them all you want, but you still will wake up tomorrow, and the next day, and on and on, still being the biggest know-nothing jerk on the block and a loser consumed with hate… Your MAMA must be proud!
Jedi Falcon
October 12th, 2010
3:57 am
This team wasnt going to get past the Phillies anyway. Better that it ended now. Start over next year.
Fan since 66
October 12th, 2010
4:11 am
Herschel Talker, As a matter of fact…. We have enjoyed every one of our 14 division titles, And our (1) World Championship! Jeez…You must be one Sad & Jealous person! You Sir are the Baby Ruth in the pool! Or more like…Turd in the punch bowl!
Glad he is gone
October 12th, 2010
4:33 am
A baseball manager seems like the most pointless manager position there is. Isn’t it the GM that hires everybody.
Besides his record after all those runs stinks when it comes to the playoffs, right?
Baseball sucks anyway. A oollege football team with a win % of that of a good baseball reeks.
Never Weather Fans
October 12th, 2010
4:45 am
Congrats Bobby for a HOF career!
Also, congrats to the Atlanta fans for failing to sell out a deciding playoff game AND the Braves greatest manager’s last game.
Maybe Bobby should turn to NASCAR or pig wrestling so at least he can get an Atlanta crowd to attend and show him some respect. You people are as shallow and pitiful as your one horse town. I hope your team turns into the Pittsburgh Pirates for the next ten years….selfish tards!
Glad he is gone
October 12th, 2010
4:48 am
The college football landscape is littered with woulda, coulda, shoulda coaches like Cox and that is what they’ll be remembered as. A bunch of good teams but exposed in the end.
John Cooper, John Schneider, Lloyd Carr, the Texas A&M coach, Philip Fulmer (ok 1 NC courtsey of Arkansas), Tuberville, Richt, Frank Solich, Joe Paterno (my god, what 4 or 5 decades and only 2 NC under that idiot, Spurrier 1 NC and a losing bowl record to date (he has had other big wins at USC since arriving. Bama was living on borrowed time.) and there are many more Coxs’ that I can’t think of right now.
Glad he is gone
October 12th, 2010
4:51 am
They didn’t sell ou?. LMAO. Give Atlanta some credit. Appears most wanted him gone too.
How true Cox.
October 12th, 2010
4:51 am
“The Braves are not the best team in baseball” How true is this statement? LOL Have they ever been?
Mike
October 12th, 2010
5:20 am
Thanks Bobby for making me the devoted baseball fan I never would have been with the Atlanta Braves have been for all of your years. I finally allowed America’s finest sport to join football in my life.
Reggie
October 12th, 2010
5:39 am
@Mike..umm have u ever considered dating a woman?
packmule
October 12th, 2010
6:13 am
I hope Bobby Cox enjoys his retirement. He certainly deserves to. As to the Atlanta Braves, they have now lost in the first round of the playoffs five consecutive times which is an indictment of this teams’ front office. I don’t expect anything to change as long as the owners of this team aren’t committed to winning championships and you can bet that they are not. Look for next year to be more of the same from GM Frank Wren and look for the Braves to be a more of the same as well: journeyman players who don’t produce and farm system prospects who don’t either.
Mustapha
October 12th, 2010
6:14 am
Enjoy your retirement. We will miss you.
shaggy
October 12th, 2010
6:16 am
So long coach. Thanks for the great memories. You have been a class act through the highs and the lows. It’s no wonder many players wanted to play for you and would still, if you were staying in the game.
Braves4ever
October 12th, 2010
6:19 am
Mark,
great piece, thanks for sharing. Coach, you will be missed!
Whatever
October 12th, 2010
6:21 am
What a great and fitting end.
collegeballfan
October 12th, 2010
6:25 am
Nice piece of writing Bradley.
This playoff run was special and one to remember. Take two starting position players, a starting pitcher, the set up man and the closer off any of the teams left and what do you have?
Your colleague O’Brien said it well; “(Chipper) Jones, Martin Prado, Kris Medlen, Jair Jurrjens, Eric O’Flaherty, Takashi Saito, and Billy Wagner all were lost to injury in the heat of the playoff run.”
Bye cox
October 12th, 2010
6:47 am
Well lets see SF fan are whoever said the chop is Racist define it bet u can’t.They had all been thru that crap before with AIM folks and cherokee nation n other indians said we find it not racist at all..as for No6 gettin a picture of his 67 wins as a manager in Post season will he get one with 71 lost’s to No Manager has that many not even the greatest manager in all casey stengel( if spelled hisname right) if not correct no make fun.yep when the wildcard started in 1995 we won those after 2000 season we only won one NLDS after so and 2nd time we let SF giants gays win…after all u ones have boxer n Pelosia the biggest fags there and she speaker of the Louse(house)n after Nov4 she not be again.So that u answer SF fan who did that.Now for a Manager who best was accident won in 1995 if seattle not beat Ny yankees in 95 classic at the kingdome there on Griffys slide….well to say Ny yankees would been playin braves instead of indians who mascot is not Racist to.and yanks had beat cox in 95 as in 96 and 99 he had No W.S. titles at all.So he greatest as Manager i agree but in post season his record speaks to its self.and we must remember its oh the umpire did it n miss a call look both teams were playin get over it cox…and to SF fans u may win this but the Phillies will swept u and u Gays into Mccovey cove….in a 4games to zero sweep….and play Yankees again in W.Series under a best manager now jerry Manuel…and this time with Doc holiday n Oswalt and that other fellow…they beat yankees in phillies land 4-2…win the 2010 WS championship now that be for Bobby Cox also it will..ahem n god bless cox and Mike Wren Um he should be fired after WS is over!
Bye cox
October 12th, 2010
6:50 am
Now as for new braves Manager lets get Lou Pinella be are GM and hire cubs former 2nd baseman Ryan Sanberg he did well as AAA major for cubs and since the dummys no want lets get him here…he been a player n fits cox mode prefect to me…..and Go phillies bring a title i be rootin since i in a Natl league city i do…
sugarpikegang
October 12th, 2010
6:53 am
We’ll miss you number 6.
Dan
October 12th, 2010
6:54 am
For too many years Cox had the best talent in baseball and continually fell short in the end. Cox is an okay manager not anything great. Now that he’s gone Terry Pendleton’s none coaching butt will be gone and that’s a good thing
Bye cox
October 12th, 2010
6:56 am
Must forget if Tampa wins series u see Tampa in WS vs Phillies so…now if The Texas rangers win over Tampa rays before there yard sale after all done..if Rangers win be a Yankees victory in ALCS if Rays play it be Tampa vs phillies so there as for the Gay comment i made first start that was dumb can’t remove it so forgive me there okay!
JLH
October 12th, 2010
6:59 am
Attended the 91 Playoffs while 9 months pregnant. Attended the 91 World Series with my newborn daughter in tow. Attended Sunday’s playoff game with my 19 year old daughter, who is a huge Braves fan. Bobby’s Braves is all she has ever known. It was an honor to be there for his next to last game. We will miss you, Bobby!
Indydawg
October 12th, 2010
7:02 am
The most overrated manager of all time. Sell the team to an owner who wants to win.
Ralph
October 12th, 2010
7:06 am
So long Bobby and good ridance, too bad you didn’t leave 5 years ago, now maby we can do something.
s
shaggy
October 12th, 2010
7:13 am
Bye Cox,
Do you even realize that you are writing gibberish?
Any point you might have, gets completely lost in the garble. Go back to English class, and pay attention this time.
Tech Sucks
October 12th, 2010
7:14 am
I’ve never seen such an awful postseason lineup in my life. It certainly tells you what an incredible manager Bobby is. We are going to miss him terribly. Braves management better go out and find some damn hitters this offseason. That was just painful to watch. Miss you already Bobby.
Trade Nate for a Bag of Balls
October 12th, 2010
7:17 am
How do you win just one WS with 3 Hall of Famers in the rotation?
The Braves should have won in 1991, 1993, 1996, 2003. Yankees were too good in 1998 and 1999
Marlins were too good in 1997
Bobby is a great regular season manager but not postseason.
Trade Nate for a Bag of Balls
October 12th, 2010
7:19 am
Can we stop with the Lou P. non sense.
He is a terrible manager and will quit halfway during the season.
Cubs are unlucky. We bring D. Lee and he stinks it up.
jerry
October 12th, 2010
7:20 am
A fashion note. Without the red tomahawks no one would have known what city was hosting the game. Maybe the Braves should go to the red home uniforms entirely and market those only, therefore avoiding a most motley looking audience.
jim m
October 12th, 2010
7:34 am
the comment October 11th, 2010
11:11 pm
That’s right people … “The Greatest Manager of All Time” was 1 out of 15 in winning the big prize. And the scariest part was 14 of them were IN-A-ROW!! And you mental midgets call him the greatest of all time??? That’s that’s rich! And so many of you are saying #15 was “the best manager of all time’s” BEST managing effort yet????? Wow, how come they won’t be hoisting the coveted trophy in 2010?
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
Nice classy comment….must have made you feel good.
John
October 12th, 2010
7:34 am
Love him, loathe him or fall somewhere in between, Bobby Cox is an Atlanta Braves icon – maybe right behind Henry Aaron in significance.
There’s a lot more to admire about his tenure as Braves manager than there is to criticize. He has an incredible body of work that offers all of us the opportunity to do both.
As a casual fan of the 1991 – 2010 Braves, I’m not bound by loyalty or affection to the team – either the players or the manager, and certainly not to the indifferent out of town ownership that’s plagued us since Ted sold the team to Time Warner. But Bobby Cox gave his all for his players and to this damned organization. For that he should only be commended.
Some of us may cling to our resentment for expectations not met – what should have been, that for some reason never was – and hold Cox to account for his share of the blame. As one among that crowd, I’ll offer that it does not diminish my admiration for the man that Bobby Cox is.
And I guess when it’s all said and done, here’s a guy, Hall of Fame bound, who is universally loved and admired by all who know him. Was he a great manager? Some think so. Is he a great man? That question will yield a resounding answer in the affirmative – and it might even be unanimous.
Good luck Bobby Cox. And thanks.
rfgh
October 12th, 2010
7:41 am
HT, how many teams have won NO World Series in that same time period? Those of us in the 70’s and 80’s were just happy not to lose 100 games. A sad pathetic lonely person as yourself routinely refers to others as “clown”, “jerk”, etc.. Finding their peerceived deficiencies improves your nearly absent self-esteem. In the same way going to a public venue looking for those more obese than yourself (I know that is hard) makes you feel better. Eat another gallon of ice cream and settle down.
BOBBY COX WAS FANTASTIC!!!
October 12th, 2010
7:42 am
WE WILL MISS YOU BOBBY!!!!! YOU BROUGHT US MANY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! DONT LISTEN TO ANY OF THESE IDIOTS SAYING NEGATIVE THINGS. THEY ARE JUST DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS YEARS PLAYOFFS. YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB AS MANAGER. GO ENJOY YOUR MILLIONS IN RETIREMENT AS YOU DESERVE!!!!
Lynn Deaver
October 12th, 2010
7:43 am
To Bobby Cox we have watched excitings games that kept us on the edge of our seats Thank you for some of the best games in baseball. The Braves Club will miss you as shall we all. Good like to you enjoy the rest. You will truely be missed. Thank you.
BOBBY COX WAS FANTASTIC!!!
October 12th, 2010
7:43 am
MARK BRADLEY. THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR OUR MANAGER!! AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A POSITIVE FINAL ARTICLE ABOUT HIM. HE WAS SURELY THE BEST.