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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > May > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCox’s passion for game, team hasn’t diminished
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two days after agreeing to manage through at least his 68th birthday, Bobby Cox sat and watched as his best player was lost to back spasms, his starting pitcher surrendered two homers and six walks, his pitching staff walked 11, his catcher left with heat exhaustion and his team lost, 9-3.
But, just for the record, he didn’t change his mind.
“I’m still here,” Cox said Sunday. “I’m just really tired right now.”
He asked for this. From spring ‘07 to spring ‘08, he went from almost certainly retiring to almost certainly returning. Why? Because of what changed (his wife, Pam, gave her blessing). Because what didn’t change (his passion for the game). Because of what he senses from this team (Sunday notwithstanding).
It’s Memorial Day, the first important turn of a baseball season, and the Braves are in a pennant race — despite having their rotation and bullpen wrecked by injuries, and two of their biggest run producers struggle (Mark Teixeira and Jeff Francoeur). They trail only Florida in the division.
“I love this team,” Cox said. And, yes, he always says that.
But players can either wear a manager down or cause him to rethink retirement.
“A team can keep you going,” he said. “It’s not just the game, it’s these players. I love their spirit, the way they go about their business. It’s a fun bunch to be around. It’s kind of like the ‘91 team.”
Sunday wasn’t fun. Tom Glavine missed the plate. Chipper Jones couldn’t stand straight. But Cox suddenly feels like that vacation in Prague can wait. Go figure. It wasn’t that long ago when he saw the end. He spoke the end. He wanted the end.
“When you talked to me in the spring [a year ago], my mind was pretty well made up that day,” he said. “I had pretty well decided I was going to retire. But why announce it when you may still want to manage? Always wait.”
What changed?
“Nothing, really. I was thinking about it. My love of the game has never changed. That’s never gonna change. My wife is allowing me to do it. That’s one of the real determining factors.”
He had said he wanted to spend more time with family. He had said, “I’d like to start doing the things I need to do instead of the things I want to do.”
When reminded of those comments, Cox smiled.
“That’s exactly right. That’s always on my mind.”
But his energy hasn’t diminished. His health is fine (he has back issues, but welcome to the 90-percentile). If the Braves win the World Series this season, he promises that he won’t look around and think, “That’s good enough. I’m done.”
“I love the day-to-day of baseball,” he said. “Whether we win, lose or draw, there’s still a game to play, and it’s still fun. The game will keep you going. When I do retire I’ll probably still show up in spring training. I could never completely walk away. John [Schuerholz] is the same way. There’s a lot of pressure and expectations on a daily basis. That never goes away. But John thrived on it and so do I.”
In November, general manager Frank Wren approached Cox about an extension. In the spring, the two spoke again. By the end of camp, Cox had pretty much made up his mind.
“At the end of spring I indicated [to Wren] I probably would come back,” he said. “And then Frank asked me four times during the season.”
But that was more about hammering out details. Cox’s mind had already been made up. Or, re-made up.
And after 2009?
“Don’t ask me that,” he said.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Tomy Fournier
May 25, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
O No,,,please,,,Mr. Cox one more year…please…no more…i’m going crazy…i’m get out of the game…please …take me out of the baseball game…and please…what about Mr. Glavine….please take him out of the baseball game for ever and ever too….PLEASE!!!!WHAT IS THIS…A BASEBALL SCARY MOVIE????
By Tomy Fournier
May 25, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
O No,,,please,,,Mr. Cox one more year…please…no more…i’m going crazy…i’m get out of the game…please …take me out of the baseball game…and please…what about Mr. Glavine….please take him out of the baseball game for ever and ever too….PLEASE!!!!WHAT IS THIS…A BASEBALL SCARY MOVIE????
By Nelson
May 25, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
I don’t like Cox at all. I think he has been succesfull with the Braves because ha had always good teams, but at the same time both he and John Schu… failed to make the important move at the second part of the season when a key player was needed to help the Braves go on. Today for example he wait too much to lift Glavine, he also doesn’t like to sit a player when is in slump and I can’t forgive him for keeping Andruw in the clean-up position hitting below 250. But I have to recognize that for the long season there are alot more worst that him, for loosing in the post-season he is No.1 and future hall of Famer.
By Santa3247
May 25, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Hi, I’m SEONG HO, YOON living in Jinhae city southkorea now.
Today’s game was fantastic comedy show of head-up git Gregor Branco.^*^
He didn’t catch the hit ball of grand-slam, and didn’t catch again the only hit Philip Stockman gave.^*^
If today Mattew Diaz would play starting LF, Tom Glavine could get another win.
Hey! Phillip Stockman listen!!
Neglect the speed-gun, when you pitch Babylon makes fraud about speed-gun, 3~4mph can be reduced babylon. Your fastball and breaking ball are unhittable. Take self-confidence with prudence when you pitch.
Shut lips when you throw
In set position, you don’t need to raise left leg high, the movement of pitched ball is connected with the arm’s swing speed and right leg’s kicking.
And make slide your left leg to the spotting point quickly at ground when runners are in bases.
You have to move the exactly same incredible speed as when you drow check to 1B.^*^
Your left arm and shoulder must be directed to the point you want to throw at home-plate when your right arm is at just ready-point of hard throwing.
For exact control of pitched ball, you have to remember of the stepping point of your left foot.
And don’t grip ball too tightly. If so, number of spin of pitched ball would reduce.
Use power of whole body only after footing your left foot on ground. And shortest time you have to use power with softness.
May the force of Messiah be with you
By George N Spitz
May 26, 2008 4:44 AM | Link to this
I certainly hope that with John Smoltz and Albert Soriano returning that Bobby Cox does not return Phil Stockman to Richmond again. Stockman had allowed only one hit in 4 1/3 innings and not one run. His earned run average at Richmond was 0.93. How good can he get?
By 74 Dawg
May 26, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Jeff,you really bring ‘em out. When Bobby finally does hang ‘em up, maybe some of the clueless will look around and go oops! …what now ? Where is our NEXT hall of fame manager going to come from? If Cox is so bad, which former Atlanta Braves manager would you say was a better one? Oh.
By Coach (Braves to the playoffs in 2008)
May 27, 2008 4:15 AM | Link to this
Let me start by saying this, I have all the respect in the world for Bobby Cox and believe he will be a first ballot Hall of Fame shoe in five years after he retires.
That said, I also believe Bobby Cox to be the most overblown, over rated manager in the history of Major League Baseball and I say that with no hesitation whatsoever.
Please, no disrespect is intended. I intimately know the past history of Bobby Cox as both the Braves Manager and GM. Bobby Cox has the 1995 Championship season to his credit along with five N.L. Championships and those astounding 14 straight division winners from 1991 to 2005(excluding 1994).
It’s the ugly unspoken 1 for 5 World Series record and 15 post season appearances that gives Cox the earned label of one trick pony.
I’m not even going to get into the 1988-89 draft and trade history of Bobby Cox as the Braves GM, it’s far to nasty for discussion. Suffice for me to say, he cost this franchise a Dynasty and more World Championships than any of us will ever know.
We have to take the good with the bad and vice versa. Cox is his own worst enemy and no one knows it more he does.
By KyleH
May 27, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe all of the stuff im hearing about Bobby Cox lately on these blogs. I just don’t see how you can’t like him. Most of you don’t like him for his decisions, but thats just because we can say that if he had left this pitcher in or took his pitcher out earlier, then we would have won. Its impossible to tell, Bobby makes the best decisions he can to win and as fans we can look back and point out mistakes by the results. Bobby Cox has so much passion for baseball and this team. How else could you explain him being the most ejected manager of all time. He stands up for his players. He always keeps the team optimistic which must be really hard especially where the braves started their season this year. Look at where the braves are right now. Now look at where the mets are right now. Bobby Cox keeps his players united and optimistic and tells them that if they go out tomorrow and play their best, and it works. The Mets are imploding because randolph cant keep the team united. Over these past few weeks ive heard people calling for him to be fired and reacting to the extension like this and its ridicules. I dont know how you can be a true braves fan if your not a Bobby Cox fan.
By Noah
May 27, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Coach youre an idiot, I like the 88 draft and steve avery that came with it. Bobby Cox has came up short more times then he has won but at least we were there.Go Braves
By Coach (Braves in 2008 to the playoffs)
May 27, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
Hey Noah, I bet you don’t know your head from a hole in the ground.
Back in 1988-89, what did Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson, Tom Glavine and Ron Gant all have in common. I’m betting you have no frigging idea.
But hey, I’m the idiot for actually knowing Bobby Cox’s dirty little secret.
By Noah
May 28, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Coach ol idiot what are you talking about you were talking about ‘88 draft and got put in you place about it. Go away melts fan
By Ralph
May 29, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Bobby, try this line-up G Blanco CF Y Escobar SS Jones 3B M Teixeira 1B B McCain C K Johnson 2B J Francoeur RF G Norton LF ——————- P
By PEPr
May 29, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Hooray!!!!
By HERSHEL MANEK
June 1, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox will never be a successful manager until he is willing to forget the long ball and play short ball for the run or two the team has needed all season (check out statistics on one run losses.) A great manager directs his team to do what it takes to win, not what it takes to hit walk-off home runs.