The Marlins hire McKeon. When does a team call Bobby Cox?
When you retire, you have more time for the grandchildren. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Edwin Rodriguez resigned as Florida’s manager Sunday. The job has been filled by the cigar-smoking Jack McKeon, who’s 80. What I’m wondering: How long before some team with a vacancy makes a run at a cigar aficionado who’s a spry 70?
“Nobody’s going to hire me,” Bobby Cox said Monday, speaking via iPhone. “I’m too young. I’ve got to earn my spurs first.”
About McKeon, Cox said: “Jack’s full of life and energy. Every time he’s come back — in Cincinnati and with Florida — he’s won.”
Let the record reflect that Robert Joseph Cox did some winning himself — 15 division titles, 16 playoff appearances, five National League pennants, one World Series title. He retired last fall, but he remains one of the most respected figures the game has known. And so I wondered: Has any club issued a feeler as to Cox’s interest in managing again?
“No, no, no, no,” he said. “I’m too busy. They can’t catch up with me.”
Busy traveling, mostly. He and his wife Pam took the Mediterranean cruise the Braves gave them on Bobby Cox Day last October — started in Barcelona, ended in Rome, 15 days in all. “That was the first [cruise] we’ve ever done,” Cox said. “It was pretty special. Probably spoiled us.”
Since then Cox has been shuttling throughout the South, swinging by Alabama and Mississippi, even stopping off at a different Rome for a minor-league baseball game. He spent Father’s Day at Turner Field, watching as the Braves beat the Rangers. (He remains a special assistant to general manager Frank Wren, and Cox is scheduled to be inducted into the Braves’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 12.)
“I’ve probably been to five games [at Turner Field],” Cox said. “I’ll go down and talk to the staff. I get my baseball fix that way.”
His assessment of Fredi Gonzalez, once Cox’s third-base coach and now his successor as manager? “Great. Outstanding. He’s handled everything great. He gets an A-plus.”
Then: “I’m serious. It’s been tough. The schedule hasn’t been easy, even in spring training. He gets high marks from me.”
When Cox doesn’t venture down to the ballpark, does he watch games? “Every pitch, if I can. I’ve got the popcorn, the chair — I’m ready to go.”
That said, watching isn’t exactly relaxing. “It’s tough watching on TV. Sometimes I’ve got to get up and walk around.”
His appraisal of the first Braves’ team since 1985 that he hasn’t had a direct hand in molding: “We’ve got to get our [injured] guys back.”
He and Pam spent a month hunkered down at their Adairsville farm. “Barnsley Gardens [a resort] is right next door. You’d work a little bit in the morning, then go play nine.”
Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been known to shoot hoops — Pam played basketball in high school — at the goal out back at the farm. Does she also play golf? “I bought her a set of clubs,” Cox said. “She’s practiced once. I’m hoping she gets the bug.”
Back to baseball. If a big-league team were to call over the winter and ask if he’s getting the bug to manage again, what would Cox say?
“I think I’m retired forever. I’m getting used to this stuff now. They say you stay really busy the first year, and then you get to do what you want to do.”
Could he see himself wearing a uniform again? “I don’t think so,” Cox said.
Then: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
By Mark Bradley
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111 comments Add your comment
AdirondackDave
June 20th, 2011
3:51 pm
I miss Bobby Cox, too. Not for the strategy, though, which I though suffered because he’d ride a dead horse forever. I miss the spirit, enthusiasm, respect for traditions and people. I miss him giving it to the umpires. Everything except the in-game strategy and waiting too long to bench a cold player.
East Point Bob
June 20th, 2011
3:55 pm
Hope he is smart enough to never work for those liars at asg !!!
Go for 2
June 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Bobby Cox is just what the Phillies need. A manager who doesn’t demand fundamentals out of his players on offense, makes the wrong pitching move 90% of the time, and has a unique ability of wasting players through poorly thought out substitutions which come back to bite the team in late inning games; what’s not to like for the Phils or Mets for that matter?
Yes they’d love to see Mr. Cox manage the Braves and the talented pitching staff into another year of mediocrity.
GF2
Paddy
June 20th, 2011
4:07 pm
Bobby Valentine…..PLEASE…………An empty suit if there ever was one!! Big hat, no cattle!!!
liberalefty
June 20th, 2011
4:07 pm
bobby cox had one of the greatest pitching staffs of all time and the braves won one championship. withot him they might have won more. hes overated, like all managers,coaches etc.
TheAntiMe
June 20th, 2011
4:20 pm
I’m very happy to see Oral Valentine stay with ESPN Sunday Night Baseball if that means that I never have to listen to either Jon Miller or Joe Morgan broadcast another game.
TheAntiMe
June 20th, 2011
4:25 pm
If Bradley can say, “Bobby Cox” why can’t I say, “O_r-a_l Valentine?”
scott case
June 20th, 2011
4:27 pm
The most boring year of Braves baseball in recent memory — Bobby, why didn’t you teach Freddy how to get thrown out? He may be a solid manager, but he doesn’t have the intensity that #6 had. I will always miss hearing him jawing the umpires from the dugout and getting tossed about once a week. Ahhh the good ‘ol days…
scott case
June 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
Go for 2: How can you mock Bobby? “Do you know how disreSPECTfulthat is???” – Chet Obdonnolley, 1985
Robert
June 20th, 2011
4:50 pm
“When does a team call Bobby Cox?”
On April Fool’s Day?
Robert
June 20th, 2011
4:53 pm
“Bobby Cox is just what the Phillies need”
Do you mean Bobby Cox to the Phillies is just what the Braves need?
Donk has proven over and over again that having a pitching staff loaded with HOF caliber starters isnt enough to keep him from screwing up
With Cox managing, the Phillies could win the divisoon by thirty games and be no threat in the playoffs
Robert
June 20th, 2011
4:58 pm
“I miss the spirit, enthusiasm, respect for traditions and people”
arguing with umps is purposeless, counterproductive, and disrespectful of the game and the instution of baseball
It is NOT protecting your playrs – It is just flat stupid, selfish, and disrespectful
Cox, having been ejected more than any other manager is history, stands a s a paragon of what a baseball manager should NOT do
Bobby Cox
June 20th, 2011
5:12 pm
A team will call me when a real media outlet calls Mark Bradley. I guess I’ll stay retired.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
Yeah, like somebody wants to hire Bobby Cox.
Actually, the Marlins should have hired him instead of McKeon for the remainder of the regular season.
Then when he helps to orchestrate a complete turn-around and gets them to the playoffs they can get rid of him and bring in Jack McKeon so they don’t just end up blowing it in the first round.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
Robert, I’ve missed you.
JeanE
June 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
I miss Bobby even more than I thought I would…I miss his arguing like crazy to protect his guys, hobbling out there and giving the umps what for! I give Fredi a C. Not impressed at all, although he can’t control injuries. But I hate to think of Bobby managing any other team so I hope it doesn’t ever happen.
Fan of the Game
June 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
Bobby Cox surrounded himself with good people. Glenn Hubbard, Bobby Dews, Leo Mazzone, Roger McDowell, TP as hitting coach and on and on. That was one key to his success. His coaching staffs were tops and he did a good job of leading them. I really feel like Fredi will be okay. Bottom line is that Uggla and Heyward have to hit.
Skeezix
June 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
We need to give Fredi a fair chance before judging his performance.
I miss the “Master”, Bobby Cox. I loved the way he managed (although sometimes he left his starters in too long) and I miss him chewing out umpires’ butts.
Quicherbichin
June 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
MB- if the Braves were to hire Bobby V, I’d throw Hillbilly D through the TV.
Dirty Dawg
June 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
The only way Valentine takes the Marlins job – if they would even want him – is if he had an ‘out’ to manage the Mets…assuming they would want him again. He’s a NewYawka at heart, and even though Miami is NY with the heat, he still wants to do the Mets thing again.
dawg4u
June 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
I really liked and respected Bobby Cox as the Braves manager but to give Fredi an A + grade is really reaching. We have had a lot of injuries so I will reserve judgment until the end of the season. If Bobby was Captain of the Titanic, he would have given the officer on deck high marks for quick reaction time and almost missing the iceberg. He could definitely find a positive out of any situation it seems. Not that that is a bad thing but not very realistic at times either.
Robert
June 20th, 2011
5:48 pm
“Robert, I’ve missed you”
Mitchellc – Ive been around
You know it’s amazing how far some folks will carry the delusion. I mean Bradley actually thinks that there is someone in baeball who’d hire Cox.
All those years we heard the Braves and their media claim that any organization would jump at the chance to have Cox. Then he becomes available – and what happens?
The man said it himself – Noone has called him and noone would hire him.
I have always thought that Cox is one of the flat out stupidest human beings I have ever seen or heard of. But in this case, he seems to be more informed and realistic than his gnag of sycophants.
The idea that anyone in Atlanta is actually missing Cox or wishing he’d come back is mind boggling (and soine chilling)
I only wish the Braves had had the idea to send him on long cruises during the season twenty years ago
Robert
June 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
“I miss his arguing like crazy to protect his guys, hobbling out there and giving the umps what for! I ”
Why?
The myht that that is protecting the players is total hogwash
Bobby Cox arguing with the umps was a a foolish man doing a foolish and useless thing. It was embarassing quite frankly.
Quicherbichin
June 20th, 2011
6:00 pm
Robert- when you type.. And I read your comments… They all sound like blah, blah blah, blah blah blah…. What you know about baseball and managers would barely even fill a thimble fitted for a dwarf. You, Larry and Mitchell should live together so you can hear one another talk, agree with each other and then go on.. then all 3 of you useless people would no longer feel the need to post here and those of us that are true fans would no longer have to listen to the braying of donkeys.
Quicherbichin
June 20th, 2011
6:03 pm
Robert.. The thought of you calling something anyone else says hogwash is laughable. Of course, when you take a bath it is, in fact , hogwash, so you may recognize it.
LakeDawg
June 20th, 2011
6:24 pm
If the Braves hire back Bobby Cox, I’ll throw something at the T.V.
ddoogg33
June 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
leave that no coaching b— in hiding can we get fredi a cruise to if i coached 12 million games i would win some games to he beat his wife when he was coaching how long before he does it not coaching
Concern
June 20th, 2011
7:05 pm
If Bobby could win at Flordia then would consider him an elite Manager. Wins at Atlanta didn’t match team talent particularly considering the three outstanding pitchers. Good luck Bobby.
mark bradley is a joke
June 20th, 2011
7:36 pm
another great useless article about nothin mark nice job. thanks for telling us cox isnt going to comeback after 6 months or retirement. who woulda guessed huh
Tyler McWebb
June 20th, 2011
7:41 pm
If you want the worst postseason manager in baseball history, hire Mr. Cox.
Trey
June 20th, 2011
7:59 pm
I really miss Bobby as a manager. I respected him so much more than I respect Fredi. Bobby knew how to back his players.
Ted
June 20th, 2011
8:09 pm
I never thought much of Cox strategic moves and decisions on asst coaches, but he always said the right thing, and never put anything on the players publicly except praise.
Larry
June 20th, 2011
8:38 pm
I don’t understand the question?
Although setting in the dugout, Bobby hasn’t managed in many years.
braves bobblehead 3
June 20th, 2011
9:09 pm
Bobby Cox should have John Sherholz or Frank Reins position. He is great with talent, but makes me curse up a storm at some of his managing skills.
Blind Deaf and Dumb
June 20th, 2011
9:17 pm
Larry, where do you guys get this stuff? Cox did the best managing job last year quite possibly in the history of baseball. he had 120 different lineups, lost just about every starter on the roster to injury, and yet if it were not for the Brooks Conrad errors, we would have knocked off the WS champs in the playoffs.
And Tyler, what does “worst WS post season Mgr in baseball” mean? How about Jim Leyland? BC has a ring, that makes him a better post season manager than every manager who has coached in the post season, who does not have a ring.
LakeDawg
June 20th, 2011
9:45 pm
Cox won one World Series with the best pitching rotation in the history of baseball. Nuff said.
Furman Bitcher
June 20th, 2011
10:02 pm
Mark my words. Bobby Cox aint done managing.
Furman Bitcher
June 20th, 2011
10:02 pm
No pun intended
Blind Deaf and Dumb
June 20th, 2011
10:13 pm
Furman, Agreed….
Phil
June 20th, 2011
10:50 pm
The sooner we fire this Gonzalez bum and bring back Bobby, the better!
arrowhead1959
June 20th, 2011
10:52 pm
On a lighter note: Houston wants to trade Jeff Keppinger; Perfect fit for the Bravos as a utility infielder, probably wants to come home, and get this:he can actually hit! (currently 302).
Brave Fan
June 20th, 2011
10:52 pm
Cox was a great baseball man and manager. His loyalty to players aggravated the crap out of me at times but he knew the game better than most ever will and I could not bring myself to question him because I knew he had seen so much more ball than I ever will. Heck, he played with Mickey Mantle!!!
Lastly, I sure miss seeing him go out there and fighting for his players and our team when he thought we got shafted.
Phil
June 20th, 2011
10:54 pm
And fire FW too…
And larry parrish…
Bring back glenn hubbard!
Release Uggly…now!
Phil
June 20th, 2011
10:55 pm
And bring back Furman Bisher!
phil
June 20th, 2011
10:56 pm
Why was i upper case phil? Just noticed…
I Love Baseball.
June 20th, 2011
11:20 pm
The American League’s “Designated Hitter” rule should burn in Hell.
clay
June 21st, 2011
3:41 am
They WILL NOT, I repeat WILL NOT hire Bobby V. He does not even like the Braves anyway. He would never manage here.
Mark Bradley has Lost His Mind
June 21st, 2011
8:13 am
Mr. Bradley; Your columns continue to deteriorate. First the drivel about how the Teixeira trade with Texas really didn’t turn out so bad and now this non-article about BC. Just horrible.
HAL
June 21st, 2011
8:35 am
bob cox was way too good for atlanta baseball he deserved beter then what the iduiots like this blog brings lol
Obama=Feces
June 21st, 2011
8:44 am
The Designated Hitter Rule = Feces, Too.