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
Katherine
October 11th, 2010
10:50 am
I think putting Conrad back in the starting lineup tonight will just be cruel….especially if he makes another error. He will get booed off the field.
wawel78
October 11th, 2010
10:51 am
the braves don’t really have any more plan b’s left. It’s a tough situation when you’ve lost as many to injuries as they have. Glaus is hurt too, I believe, which is why we’re not seeing him out there.
D Braves
October 11th, 2010
10:54 am
I hope Bobby changes the lineup today and removes Brooks, but I would not be surprised if he doesn’t. One of Bobby’s best qualities as a manager is also one of his worst; he’s loyal to his guys. He may decide to trot the guy back out to 2nd to “rebuild his confidence”. Bobby’s legend and reputation are set, and I don’t think he cares what happens this postseason. Don’t get me wrong, I believe he wants to win, but I don’t think he’ll make a lineup decision based on that. If Brooks doesn’t start, it will only be because Bobby thinks he can’t mentally do it, not because of his incompetency. Bobby doesn’t bench “good guys” only perceived malcontents like Escobar.
Brooks had some great at bats this season so I really feel bad for the guy.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
10:55 am
Glaus can play 3rd hurt better, than Infante can healthy, and Glaus can hit a HR every now and then.
Hunter the Umpire
October 11th, 2010
10:56 am
If you are in to benching someone it should be heyward,he is totally out of it,cannot throw,hit or any thing else!
Old Dawg Fan
October 11th, 2010
10:56 am
Conrad’s 3 errors was the primary reason for the loss but Cox pulling Kimbrel is a typical Bobby Cox blunder. Kimbrel can throw the strikeout pitch-normally Cox leaves pitchers in “too long”. But not this time!!!! Time for the Braves to lose and let BC head north on 75 for ‘GOOD”!!!!
One more thing-Heyward didn’t seem to hit the “wall” to “hard” when he missed the ball. In fact he didn’t fall until he saw that he had “missed” it. His not playing hard hurt us also. The Flyball Conrad booted was Heyward’s but Heyward didn’t even try hard to get there.
Why also didn’t Heyward dive for the fly ball in the 8th??? (may have been the 9th).
I think he his very over rated!!!!!
Katherine
October 11th, 2010
10:57 am
No one has mentioned Heyward either…..I’m sorry to say he has sucked it up in the playoffs. He doesn’t have one hit…a big fat 0.00 on the scoreboard. He seems to just strike out everytime…why is he still hitting 2nd?
CurlyHoward
October 11th, 2010
10:57 am
Abner Doubleplay: I was just venting. I’m a little upset by the loss because the Braves would have overcome the first two errors by Conrad had Bobby stuck with Kibrell. I read an article this morning in the ajc that Kimbrell has been groomed to take over Billy Wagners closers role should Wagner not come back from his injury. Kimbrell is an incredible find for the Braves this year and has been nothing short of spectacular. IF BOBBY COX KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING, KIBRELL SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN A BIGGER ROLE THAN WHAT HE HAS WITH THE CLUB BECAUSE THE GREAT THING ABOUT KIBRELL IS THAT WHEN HE COMES IN, HE IS FLAMETHROWER WHO THROWS STRIKES AND GETS PEOPLE OUT. That is what you ask a relief pitcher to do. Wagner does it. Kimbrell does it. The other relief pitchers are wild and have control problems from what Ive observed so far.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
10:57 am
D Braves…….If Cox wants to be loyal to Conrad, he won’t start him.
Naf Sevarb
October 11th, 2010
10:58 am
Boby blew the game not Brooks. Taking out Kimbrell to bring in Charlie Liebrant er I mean Dunn was the move that cost us. 1991 was a long time ago but bad moves by Bobby Cox live on & on.
MSS
October 11th, 2010
10:58 am
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP BROOKS. You are one of the main reasons we are even playing extra baseball. Us real Braves fans (and ballplayers) know that things like that happens to the best of us. We are behind you 100%. Go get ‘em next time.
face palm
October 11th, 2010
11:00 am
Can’t Brooke be “injured” and they replace him with someone that can catch a ball?
Katherine
October 11th, 2010
11:00 am
Mss…to imply that those of us are upset at Conrad aren’t real fans is absurd. Sure those things happen…but 3 times in one game? Come on…..people have a right to be upset.
Naf Sevarb
October 11th, 2010
11:01 am
If he puts Conrad in tonight I will cheer Booby’s last game like we won the World Series.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
11:01 am
Maybe the new manager can do something next year, if the GM can get him some hitters with some power, some defense, and some speed.
face palm
October 11th, 2010
11:01 am
*Brooks
OBX Dawg
October 11th, 2010
11:02 am
This goes beyond baseball. This is all about human dignity. He must sit–No question about it.
I feel more sorry for him than I feel about the loss and that’s saying something. It’s made extra hard because of the persona that Conrad has developed as a Brave. Gritty, hard working, a throwback. A 30 year old rookie that’s making the minimum this year and has existed on minor league wages for the last decade. Probably would have been easier for me if it had been Chipper or another guy who is set for life financially. I’m pulling for him to come in and win us a game in his usual role, that of a pinch hitter. Good guys deserve better. Go Brooks!!!!
tim
October 11th, 2010
11:02 am
I read right here on the AJC a couple days ago where Tony LaRussa said one of his biggest regrets was pitching a 20 year old Rick Ankiel against the Braves in the NLCS when he had an atrocious outing. I hope that Bobby is not sitting in a rocking chair next year saying the same about Brooks Conrad.
I have always liked Conrad. I saw him playing at Gwinnett, and I told my son it looks like we have another Mark Lemke coming up. Good glove, decent bat, all heart. I feel absolutely awful for him. I was listening to the game on the radio, and Joe Simpson said that during the pitching change in the 9th after the Giants took the lead, they showed highlights from this season. They showed the GS against the Reds, and when it showed Conrad, Joe said you could hear a lot of boo’s. Joe said it made him feel sick in his stomach that the fans would treat him like that, and I agree. You think you want to see them win this series? Multiply that by a million, and that is how bad the players want to win.
Eric C.
October 11th, 2010
11:02 am
I’ve got to defend Cox on the pitching changes…I mean, Kimbel already gave up a walk and a base hit…who says he wouldn’t give up another hit? Kimbel blew his chance. The big issue by far is with having Conrad out there to give up the winning run.
D Braves
October 11th, 2010
11:02 am
Keith at 10:17 AM. It was the same umpire in all three situations you mention, Paul Emmel. I think that needs to be reviewed at by MLB.
Ted M
October 11th, 2010
11:03 am
That was a great move in the 8th but that doesn’t exonerate him from the bad move in the 9th.
There was more than plenty of sound reasoning to keep Kimbrel in the game.
Bobby Cox messed up big time!
Mitchell
October 11th, 2010
11:03 am
But now it’s up to Cox.
Oh, now it’s up to Cox.
Well, I guess he is the manager isn’t he?
I guess they are supposed to make the occasional decision.
His team has done enough for him this year. They probably could have done a lot more without him.
It’s such a slap in the face to guys like Huddy and Lowe who pitch their asses off night after night and have to go out there with one of the worst fielding teams in the majors behind them and one of the worst offenses who give them ZERO support.
They only way they could guarantee themselves of getting a win consistently is by throwing a perfect game.
I’ll say it again, it’s a slap in the face to our ace pitchers to have to put up with that sorry excuse for a batting coach.
Eric C.
October 11th, 2010
11:03 am
Kimbrel that is
Pool Boy
October 11th, 2010
11:04 am
Its pretty obvious that he played and will continue to play today because the Bravise have nobody better to put out there.
Bob the Blogger
October 11th, 2010
11:05 am
Hinske may be a better option at third. He can charge a bunt; Glaus can’t.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
11:05 am
I have to question the pitch selection of the catcher, on the last pitch that Kimbrel made, when he had two strikes on the SF batter with two outs.
That guy was overmatched, and should have seen nothing but fastballs.
BobbyToland
October 11th, 2010
11:05 am
There are TWO PLAYERS who should be sitting down next game tonight. Jeyson Heyward and Brooks Conrad. For whatever good they are doing, they are not producing anything positive that we could use to win a ballgame. Heyward mistimed a ball at the fence last night when he tried to leap into the air like superman to corral a ball. He caught the ball but crashed into the fence and the ball jarred out. Instead of coming out of the game because he was visibly hurt and useless at that point, he tries to man up and stay in the game and subsequently goes 0-4. What a great decision to stay in and hurt your team with THREE STRIKEOUTS and getting ZILCH at the plate. Heyward is giving us nothing. Conrad is hurting us badly. Sit them both down until they come back to life.
Mitchell
October 11th, 2010
11:06 am
Somebody said to me recently “Bobby’s loyalty to certain players, veterans in particular, cost the team over time.”
Over time?!
Tell that to Tom Glavine. The guy won 20 games in ‘91 and Bobby starts f*in’ Liebrandt in Game 1.
Over time. Give me a break.
dostadawg
October 11th, 2010
11:07 am
Can Hubbard still play second?
MR
October 11th, 2010
11:07 am
The errors were bad, he is no 2nd baseman, but Bobby lost this game. Him and his lefty-lefty rule. Pulling Kimbrell was a mistake. The SF batter’s average was as good against lefties as it was righties. Kimbrell was just getting his rythm and had just as good a chance of getting him out as the incoming lefty. If Conrad was to play he should have been on 3rd and not 2nd. Our 162 game manager does not know how to handle a team in a short series. The only way the Braves win tonight is for Bobby to get ejected in the first inning.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
11:08 am
How do people know that Glaus can’t charge a bunt.
Keith
October 11th, 2010
11:08 am
Re: Tim
I was at the game. I didn’t boo Conrad – he’s been a great player off the bench.
But here’s the thing – the Braves organization was an EPIC FAIL by playing that highlight in the TOP of the 9th!!!! Bottom of the 9th, maybe. But in the top of the 9th when we are still in a jam on the mound? We weren’t out of the inning, and they showed a comeback highlight by our offense that just happened to be after the Conrad error?
That was laughable. It was ill-advised and the timing was off. It was like they were trying to force fans to cheer for Conrad.
Keith
October 11th, 2010
11:09 am
Mark,
What do you think of my last comment?
Showing the highlight in the TOP of the 9th? Odd at best.
Phil
October 11th, 2010
11:10 am
Who got called out on that check swing to end the inning? I forgot. But it was a terrible call by the umpire,
Why didn’t Bobby come out and argue?? I was hoping he would so he would get thrown out! Any other time he would, but not this time.
We could have benefited from Cox getting thrown out, the bench coach probably wouldn’t have sent Conrad back out there.
Get thrown out today Bobby!
ben pines
October 11th, 2010
11:11 am
Okay Bobby- maybe the worst decision I have personally seen in quite sometime. You remove a pitcher who last time he faced him struck out Aubry Huff and was throwing bb’s “yes he had just given up a single” and replacing with that ” by the book ” mentality for a guy who last time gave up a single to Aubry Huff. Logically how does that make sense.
dean
October 11th, 2010
11:11 am
Brooks Conrad is a great Brave! Get off his back and support him. though, Mark is correct you just have to bench him out of human kindness.
Kentavo
October 11th, 2010
11:11 am
Has anybody given thought to Chino being the next manager?
reality
October 11th, 2010
11:12 am
Huddy plays second tonite, goes 3 for 4, error free and the Bravios roll on!
D Braves
October 11th, 2010
11:14 am
I hope you are right, reckingball.
The Lemmer
October 11th, 2010
11:14 am
Hinske should have been playing all along, our outfield is the worst in MLB, with all the injuries we would get smoked by the Phils anyway, so lets regroup & go get em in the Spring cause the Fat lady is starting to sing!
curtis jones
October 11th, 2010
11:14 am
The HOF manager will also continue batting Heyward second, even though the kid is totally clueless, lost, and out of his league.
MR
October 11th, 2010
11:15 am
This one is on Bobby. No one else. The only way the Braves win tonight is if Bobby gets tossed in the 1st.
reckingball
October 11th, 2010
11:15 am
Glaus can call a conference with his infield, with the bases loaded, and let them know that he is going to try for a double play if the ball is hit to him hard(to end the inning), instead of trying to gun down the runner at home, leaving SF 1 more out to win the game, with Farnsworth pitching, like he did in the last game in SF.
And then do it.
That is called experience and leadership.
That is why Glaus should have been starting at 3rd yesterday.
RHR
October 11th, 2010
11:16 am
235th!!???
Conrad on the bench tonight, hope to see him come up big in a PH spot. It’s the right thing to do, Bobby.
Hinske or Glaus at 3B. I’m guessing Bobby knows something about Troy’s ability right now that we don’t, otherwise we’d have already seen him over there. But if he’s able, sure…if there’s a question about his legs, got to go with Hinske.
EagleNationRising
October 11th, 2010
11:16 am
Bobby Cox is going to continue to play this bum and he is going to continue to play like a guy that does not belong. There were insane people that were actually attempting to articulate that our Braves were better without Chipper. Well, welcome to a world without Chipper. It includes a 30 year old rookie that is physically and mentally incapable of making a play.
As for those people proclaiming that people should not “boo” Brooks Conrad, give me a break. This is not an amateur high school or college athlete. This is a professional that is getting paid big money to perform. Instead, he is making a disgrace of the game and the uniform on his back. Conrad needs to simply quit. If he were performing on stage, he would get booed. Why should it be any different when he fails to make plays that 12 year old girls could easily make?
People can point to other players and Bobby. He is the single cause of 2 of the 3 runs scored by San Francisco. We lost 3-2. It is all on Conrad. End of story!
Keith
October 11th, 2010
11:16 am
RE: Curtis Jones
Yes, Heyward looks like he’s slumping at the wrong time. He’s going to be a great player, but in the coming years most likely.
GO BRAVES!
Keith
October 11th, 2010
11:17 am
Re: reckingball
Good analysis. I agree.
MR
October 11th, 2010
11:17 am
If you are looking for 162 game mgr….Bobby is your man….Conrad had a bad night but that could have been in the past if Kimbrell have been in the game. Plus, don’t let McAnn call the pitchs….if Wagner had been in the game no way he would not have blistered a fastball on that last pitch.
Bill
October 11th, 2010
11:18 am
This thing is practically over ! It’s too late to pull Conrad now! The damage has been done ! This guy was tough during the regular season (hitting) and he’s the reason we’re in the playoffs, so since we’ve reached the final hour, why not let him finish out his career in a playoff game ? I know one thing! I get on here and rant and rave about how sorry Bobby is, and criticise players, but my heart is still “BRAVES” and I don’t have a clue what some of these folks are going through, so please until I’ve walked in their shoes, let me be less critical……I do like the idea of a switch to outfield for Conrad next season because he is a hustler and gives 110 %……
Naf Sevarb
October 11th, 2010
11:18 am
Lets fire Bobby Cox before tonights game