Why Bobby Cox can’t (and won’t) start Conrad in Game 4
Managerial mercy required. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Well, I’ve slept on it (though not well), and I’ve decided: Bobby Cox cannot start Brooks Conrad in Game 4 of the NLDS tonight. This has nothing to do with baseball strategy. It has everything to do with human kindness.
Brooks Conrad is a journeyman whose journey has led him into the wilderness, and he can see no way home. It’s incumbent on someone (meaning Cox) to come rescue him. It isn’t that Conrad has developed Steve Sax/Chuck Knoblauch Disease, where he can’t throw straight. Poor Brooks is so confused he can’t even think straight.
We saw it last night even at those times he wasn’t making an error. He looked to second base before throwing — accurately — to first base, and in the game’s strangest moment he called off Derrek Lee to run over and catch a pop that should have been the first baseman’s all along. It isn’t that Conrad isn’t trying. On the contrary, he’s trying so hard he can barely remember where to stand.
Credit Conrad for facing reporters after the worst postseason game any Brave has ever had. (Let’s recall that Lonnie Smith ducked out after stopping at second base in the Metrodome in 1991.) But now it’s up to Cox. He has to do the right thing: He has to bench Brooks.
If that means playing Troy Glaus at third base and letting San Francisco bunt three times an inning, so be it. (The Giants are starting Madison Bumgarner, who’s a lefthander, so having Glaus at third — as opposed to Eric Hinske — makes a bit of tactical sense.) Omar Infante can move back to second, and Conrad can go back to being a pinch-hitter.
The important thing is to get Conrad in the dugout. He’s doing no one any good at second base, himself least of all. (His evocative postgame words: “I wish I could dig a hole and sleep in it.”) And there’s no percentage in inflicting further indignity on the tough little guy whose big hits helped get the Braves beyond Game No. 162.
He’s doing his best, but at the moment his best isn’t very good. I’m not certain what Bobby Cox will decide, but if I’m anything of a Bobby reader after 25 years of study, I’d say he’d made up his mind last night. This would not be a punitive benching, a Charlie-Finley-trying-to-deactivate-Mike-Andrews-in-the-World-Series thing. This would be an act of mercy.
Update: The Braves have announced their lineup for tonight’s game. Glaus is starting at third base. Conrad isn’t starting.
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800 comments Add your comment
Larvell Blanks
October 11th, 2010
9:53 am
I feel sorry for Conrad, but I can’t forgive Cox. There’s not a major, minor, or little league manager who would have left Conrad at second base in the ninth with a one-run lead – except ours. I was at the game, and as the ninth inning started, I said, “Well, at least he’ll put Hernandez in for Conrad now” — then I saw Conrad come out onto the field and my head exploded. And then in the post-game press conference, Cox said he never thought about taking Conrad out because “we were down to one [position] player on the bench with Hernandez” – I suppose he was saving him for sometime important? Hell, Les Miles would have handled the endgame better than Cox. Bobby is dead to me.
siskel_god
October 11th, 2010
9:54 am
Is Diory in the doghouse or something? I do remember watching him jack a homerun to give us the lead as a pinch hitter at some point this season and he definitely has a good glove.
Phillies, Class of the NL
October 11th, 2010
9:54 am
How about that Cole Hamels last night? Just business as usual for the Juggernauts…
southern hope
October 11th, 2010
9:54 am
At this point, I’m a shadow of my former self…these Braves have literally drained me of every drop of emotion over the past 44 hours.
But with my last moment of clarity: Pull Conrad. Put him in as pinch hitter. Make sure he hits the winning run in the 8th. Then somehow drag our sorry butts back out to SF …..
Phil
October 11th, 2010
9:54 am
Herschel Talker,
Bradley and Schultz have been covering for Cox for 20 years. Why stop now??
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 11th, 2010
9:55 am
I may stick around another week in Athens. Looks like we may be short of running backs. I run close to the ground and am hard to knock off my feet and I can help this team. Bobby Cox is another that is hard to knock off. It will be interesting to see if a younger manager can come in and relate to the younger players and help them develop rather than discarding them because they don’t conform in all respects. If UGA discarded all the lawbreakers we couldn’t field a team.
Steve-o
October 11th, 2010
9:56 am
Right-o, Mark Bradley. I criticized your column of last night – but you’re spot on this morning. The options aren’t great, but even Glaus with his injured legs gives the Braves a better chance. Taking Brooks Conrad out is both a humanitarian gesture and the right sports move. Le’ts hope Bobby agrees!
billy shears
October 11th, 2010
9:56 am
booby please put troy at 3rd and infante at 2nd. we’re down to the wire.
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE WILL BE BROKEN THIS YEAR
October 11th, 2010
9:56 am
DAWGINLEX YOU FOOL HE PINCHED HIT YOU BIG DUMMY,HE WAS ON THE BENCH,WHEN HE IS PLAYING FULL TIME HE IS COSTING THE TEAM A WIN,WHAT PART OF TEAM DONT YOU GET?
brian22
October 11th, 2010
9:56 am
What’s Mark Lemke up to tonight?
JDW
October 11th, 2010
9:57 am
He is a good guy in over his head. Let’s be realistic,just getting here after all the injuries is more than we could have hoped for. Sit him Glaus can’t do worse and there is no reason to torture the guy.
Blog comments are retarded
October 11th, 2010
9:57 am
I think its funny that anyone who supports the Braves manager is constantly insulted on here, as well as the manager himself. The weird thing is, and maybe this speaks to the venom and hostility in which these people speak, the Bobby detractors are clearly in the minority, and its not close. It seems everywhere outside of Atlanta (except for Miami) Cox is celebrated. There were roughly 54,000 people in attendance simply to be there for his regular season finale. The Cox conscientious objectors act like that that 50 person protest on the National Mall. They have to make a lot of noise because their numbers are pretty weak. Now, I know the detractors are far too self righteous to ever acknowledge something like this but have you ever considered, possibly, that your opinion matters just as much as mine (which is to say…NOT AT ALL). So, do us a favor (now I’m wasting keystrokes) and pipe down. We get it, you don’t like him. However, we do.
DawginLex
October 11th, 2010
9:57 am
TO: MARK BRADLEY(the real one),
Lots of talk up here that Bruce Pearl is stepping down today.
Any word?????????????????
DP
October 11th, 2010
9:57 am
Mark, you don’t do Braves fans a favor by writing that Cox can’t play Conrad in the field again tonight. Cox won’t be painted into a corner. He’d rather do the wrong thing by playing Conrad than to be perceived as caving in to his critics and acknowledging Conrad should have been yanked at the beginning of this series based on his horrible defense late in the regular season. I think Cox would rather lose than to acknowledge a mistake.
Starting Glaus at 3rd would be nearly as bad as playing Conrad again at second. The Giants have a great pitching staff and the Braves aren’t constituted to score many runs, so defense should be the priority in what figures to be another low scoring game. He should play Hernandez at 3rd and Infante at 2nd and have Glaus and Conrad available as late game pinch hitters. But given that Cox wouldn’t play Hernandez last night when the situation screamed for it, we can look forward to either Glaus or Conrad in the game defensively tonight and the Giants exploiting it.
On the 9:45 AM comment about Cox not wanting to use his last position player in case of extra innings, he had no problem using 3 position players for one at bat in the bottom of the 8th or his 5 best relief pitchers in the 8th and 9th, but he felt compelled to save Hernandez and leave a guy with the fielding yips at second base with a one run lead in the 9th? Why would you put in a ground ball pitcher (Moylan) in hopes of a double play and leave an infielder behind him who can’t field a ground ball?
Tweets that mention Here's why Bobby Cox cannot play Brooks Conrad in Game 4 | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
October 11th, 2010
9:58 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by labancity, benincool. benincool said: Here's why Bobby Cox can't start Brooks Conrad in Game 4 – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) http://bit.ly/bL4wvz [...]
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE WILL BE BROKEN THIS YEAR
October 11th, 2010
9:58 am
DAWGINLEX WHERE WAS CONRAD BAT YESTERDAY WHEN HAD CAUSED THOSE ERRORS?
SINCE YOU ARE TAKING UP FOR HIM
Yippie Ky Ya, Marshall Fauker
October 11th, 2010
9:58 am
A blind, one arm man needeing a hip replacement surgery would serve us better at this juncture in the series. If Conrad is in the lineup, we deserve to lose. I would rather watch paint/concrete dry than see Conrad on the field!
joBjo
October 11th, 2010
9:58 am
the ump shielded Rad from the hard hit ball and it only came into his sight after clearing the ump. he had little time to react. bad luck and more ump problems in this postseason.
Cos should have left the closer in.
Lorenzo
October 11th, 2010
9:58 am
I’m buying all “Conrad” jerseys and making a bonfire at the Ted’s gates. Everyone is invited.
J-man
October 11th, 2010
9:59 am
Cox could always play Diory Hernandez at 2nd or 3rd. While he has been an automatic out in the major leagues, he’s proven he can field at this level and at least the Braves wouldn’t have to worry about his defense. I agree that continuing to play Conrad is doing neither the Braves nor Conrad any favors.
steverino
October 11th, 2010
9:59 am
Glaus at third, Infante at short. Glaus falling down on the bunt attempt on Friday had nothing to do with the play. Chipper Jones wouldn’t have thrown the guy out. BROOKS ROBINSON, (not Conrad), wouldn’t have thrown out the runner. His stumble looked bad, but didn’t influence the play at all. Plus all the talk about 3 or 4 days rest for Giant starters doesn’t matter against this Braves team. All in all, they are just not a good offensive club. Double digit strikeouts in 2 of the first three games…all while throwing very few real strikes. Sadly, this team has been playing on heart for the last month, all while looking for a soft place to fall.
JDW
October 11th, 2010
9:59 am
Btw booing him was classless
Tom
October 11th, 2010
9:59 am
Why is everyone making excuses for this guy? He’s a bum. He can’t even play high school ball.
BravesWin
October 11th, 2010
9:59 am
Yanking Kimbrel was the fatal mistake. What’s more, Conrad should have been playing third, as he did during the regular season, not at second where he is clearly not as effective. Cox does it again!
dawg fan in bama
October 11th, 2010
10:00 am
Hate to say it but he has to sit. Like him but a pinch hitter is his only role. BTW Mark you forgot to list the failed bunt attempt also.
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE WILL BE BROKEN THIS YEAR
October 11th, 2010
10:00 am
YOU PEOPLE FORGOT THAT THE ONLY GAME WE WON,BOOBY GOT TOSSED OUT!
THE 2 GAMES WE LOST BOOBY WAS COACHING,WHAT DOES THAT SAY?
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE WILL BE BROKEN THIS YEAR
October 11th, 2010
10:01 am
DUMB DUMB BOOBY WILL NOT START TROY GLAUS AGAIN AT 3RD
Mark Bradley
October 11th, 2010
10:01 am
The failed bunt was mentioned here.
bruce mac
October 11th, 2010
10:01 am
MB, makes sense. Question is does Bobby usually do what makes sense? Even with all of this Conrad mess, Braves win if Bobby and McCann make good choices in 9th inning. I think it all comes to an end tonite as we now have $35 Million (40%) of payroll watching from the bench. Who can overcome that? How would the Phillies fair with their entire infield and Brad Lidge out?
Reggie
October 11th, 2010
10:01 am
Common sense would say bench Conrad; but Bobby Cox will be stubborn as ever showing loyalty even if it hurts the team.The Braves have already achieved what Liberty want them to achieve and more, make the playoffs.They did not give Frank Wren permission to get quality players to win a worlds series.How can they win when they got rid of their best hitter,closer and ace during last winter.
Gen Neyland
October 11th, 2010
10:02 am
MB : All you had to say was, “Conrad Blows One Run Lead From Second Base.” I’ll take my chances with Glaus on 3rd and Infante at 2nd tonight. Baseball is a funny game and last night, the joke was playing 2nd…This is the Big Leagues, people. No excuses for Conrad’s ability to create error after error after error after…
steve brown
October 11th, 2010
10:02 am
Listen, Conrad “deserved” to be protected prior to these 3 errors for the good he had miraculously done over this season. How many damn games in a row does he have to make an error before Cox gives the kid a break. Cox has no excuse for not having started Glaus at third and Infante at second and saving Conrad from this moment of infamy. Cox blew it and he should be man enough to admit it.
doubled
October 11th, 2010
10:02 am
Yeah! Free from error cast the first ball.This has been nothing but a year of errors.Fall and spring training for this bunch spring alone will not get it.
Ted M
October 11th, 2010
10:03 am
booing him was counterproductive…its his head that’s messed up.
Troy Glaus
October 11th, 2010
10:03 am
Really?
Who Stole The Braves' Bats
October 11th, 2010
10:03 am
It really doesn’t matter who plays. If the Braves don’t put runs on the board, it does not matter anyway! Braves need to break out of this slump and start getting on base. Those guys are swinging at crap!
Manny
October 11th, 2010
10:04 am
I wouldn’t start him. I feel really bad for Conrad.
But here’s the biggest thing- we have a 3-man rotation.
WONDER
October 11th, 2010
10:04 am
Let’s all just digress a little……
DawginLex
October 11th, 2010
10:04 am
General Neyland,
what about the Bruce Pearl rumors that he is stepping down today?
The Bream Team
October 11th, 2010
10:05 am
Brooks is doing the best he can. If our fans can’t do any better than to boo him, we should be embarassed. We are not in the postseason without his contributions. Hopefully, he’ll get it together and be ready to go next year.
Tweets that mention Here's why Bobby Cox cannot play Brooks Conrad in Game 4 | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
October 11th, 2010
10:06 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Brian C. Lorio, George Ray, Jason Sasser, Chris Lewis and others. Chris Lewis said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Here's why Bobby Cox can't start Brooks Conrad in Game 4: Managerial mercy is required. #braves http://bit.ly/b9Pegl [...]
Yogi 2
October 11th, 2010
10:06 am
I love Baseball and all its challenges and excitement. Hey, it is just a game, right? I am one of those who eats and sleeps Sports – mostly Baseball and Football and played both in College – but fellow AJC readers and bloggers get a life! These guys are human and very capable of making all kinds of errors.
Most of you bloggers probably never ever put on a uniform or played at a higher level other than Little league or High School and I don’t fault you for this, but please understand even though these players are paid well, they are HUMAN just like you and I.
Now go enjoy the game, but ease off on the poundings given to people who make mistake – unless YOU have never ever made one
Phil
October 11th, 2010
10:06 am
Cox needs to get thrown out in the 1st inning today. Like David Justice said, we won the game he got tossed, lost the 2 he didn’t.
Jeff
October 11th, 2010
10:07 am
Bobby will play Brooks for the same reason he pulled Kimbrel to put in a lefty against Huff who hits .300 against lefties. Bobby has lost it and it is past time for him to retire.
Brad
October 11th, 2010
10:07 am
Mark, Can’t you start diory at third or second?
Karl Childers
October 11th, 2010
10:07 am
If our all-star catcher had simply called for three more 95 mile-per-hour fastballs up in the strike zone, Buster never would have hit the ball anywhere. Instead he decided to speed up Buster’s bat by calling for Kimbrel to throw a slider. Buster wasn’t even close to hitting that heater so, naturally, we stopped throwing it to him. Someone should have been asking McCann WTF happened on the pitch call?
Rick
October 11th, 2010
10:07 am
I start Glaus at third and move Infante to second. The lineup needs some help and maybe Glaus can help it out. Conrad’s series can happen to anybody. It is a shame but I wouldnt give up on him after the season.
Kansas City Braves Fan
October 11th, 2010
10:07 am
So… the only issue with starting Glaus is the lack of defense. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE? IT COULDN’T POSSIBLY GET ANY WORSE. Glaus- experienced, Conrad- rookie. Glaus- carried this team for an entire month, Conrad- had a couple important at bats. Glaus- power threat, Conrad- needs a bounce off the top of the wall to put one out. I’m all for bobby’s loyalty, but now is a time to be practical.
TheLordSpeaks
October 11th, 2010
10:08 am
You could put Chase Utley at 2nd tonight..It doesn’t matter. The Giants are going with a lefty again and it doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to realize that you have just neutralized Heyward and McCann (who are not hitting righties or anybody else, either). Offense is for “show” pitching and defense are for “dough.” Good bye Bobby, Frank Wren and yes, even Scherholz (or whatever his name is) and bring us a real baseball manager and Front Office next year! Heard Ted Turner was in the stands last night. Maybe he will buy back the team!
curtis jones
October 11th, 2010
10:09 am
I think it’s obvious Brooks Conrad will never wear a glove in a big league game again. Too bad, I saw him play in 5 games in spring training this year, at 2nd and 3rd, and he made some unbelievable plays.
It’s also a shame that his misfortunes have overshadowed the Braves’ outfielders. Both offensively, and defensively, they are AA level at best.