Chop Chick

By TJames

October 20, 2005 04:40 PM | Link to this

Get somebody cheap to hold down the position until Greg Maddux decides he’s tired of playing.

By Jake

October 20, 2005 04:51 PM | Link to this

Maddux would be great, but obviously and fortunately for him, he is preoccupied.

Don’t be surprised if the Braves promote one of their roving minor league instructors.

That said, please stay Leo.

By Bill

October 20, 2005 04:54 PM | Link to this

If Leo wants to go let him go. He will see what most every pitcher he build will see. He can’t win in another uniform.

By Austin Schultz

October 20, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this

Let Bobby be the pitching coach, it was mostly Bobby that helped the Jaret Wrights and Chris Hammonds, So forget you Leo we dont need you anyway.

By D L

October 20, 2005 04:58 PM | Link to this

I was blaming Leo at first but when I found out he was being underpaid compared to other pitching coaches I really can’t blame him. He must be nearing the end of his career and he’s paid his dues and deserves to be paid at least average to what the better MLB pitching coaches make. Good luck Leo, but sorry to see you go!!

By promote from within

October 20, 2005 04:59 PM | Link to this

how bout Rocket Wheeler in Rome? Only guy with a cool enough name who’s already in the pipeline. Plus he’s worked with plenty of these baby braves already.

By Dan

October 20, 2005 05:00 PM | Link to this

Let’s not be bitter, Bill. Mazzone did a lot of great things for this franchise and he is leaving to coach for his best friend.

The Braves will be fine as long as Cox and Schuerholz are here.

By Rob

October 20, 2005 05:01 PM | Link to this

Can Leo take Bobby with him? I’m tired of a manager who doesn’t know how to win in the playoffs when it matters. It’s great that we have 14 division titles, but so what. How many championships do we have?

By HB Ando

October 20, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this

Maddux made $500K per start his last season here in Atlanta. I wouldn’t hold my breath for him to retire and spend 8 months a year away from his family to make the $200K A YEAR Mazzone just left on the table.

Maybe Barry Bonds will retire and come be our hitting coach, too.

And Bobby as the de facto pitching coach, responsible for the Wright’s and Hammond’s? You get the truly sharp knives on your blog, Chop Chick.

You guys ride together on the short bus?

By artie potter

October 20, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this

I cant blame Leo for going…The Braves were only paying this guy $200K a year & on a year contract???

Give me a break!! The Braves have had a free ride off his back for decades now…

Leo Mazzone deserves more & the Braves will now pay the price for being too frugal…

By josh

October 20, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this

How about Spin Williams, the former Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach? He would be a great fit.

By george

October 20, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this

Maddux almost ruined Jason Marquis, so I don’t see how he would make a good choice. Few people can pitch with his kind of control, and when they try, they walk people … and get away from whatever else got them to the major league level.

Smoltz would be a better pitching coach, since he has had to pitch almost every way imaginable (remember the knuckler?).

I think the Braves’ best option is Dan Kolb. Anything to keep him off the mound!

By Eric

October 20, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this

Leo’s move may be nothing more than what it is, but I’m intrigued by the possibility that he knows something about Bobby that the rest of us don’t. Just wondering.

My fantasy choice for a replacement is my old hero from the Cleveland Indians - - Early Wynn. He hated it when a batter would hit one up past the mound, and that batter was likely to get one near the ear the next time up. It would be an absolute certainty that a batter would be knocked down if he went into the homerun watching routine that so many use today. I want a pitching coach who is big and mean. Maybe he would persuade Braves management that power pitchers are needed who will not be afraid to pitch inside and then spit. The Glavine/Maddux strike zone is history. What we need is intimidation versus finesse.

By greg

October 20, 2005 05:06 PM | Link to this

Are you people smoking crack? Let him go, we don’t need him, blah blah. And no AJC commentary on this???? You have got to be kidding me. This is the worst thing to happen to this franchise since we traded for Len Barker. Since Rick Camp went yard and we still lost. LEO is the heart of this team. I love Bobby as much as anyone, but Leo is the expert, and the main reason behind those 14 flags in right field. To not pay him ANY AMOUNT he requested, and to quibble over a multi-year deal is unreal. Mel Fat A$$ Stottlemyre was making 700k to run the Yankees pitchers into the ground, and Leo only gets 250? That is silly. Now, I do understand wanting to coach with your buddy, but these guys are going to spend their last years playing for third place in the AL East. IF, and a big IF they get to compete for a wild-card, I’ll be shocked. This is D-Day for Braves baseball. What a debacle, and the lack of outrage outrages me.

By Wanda

October 20, 2005 05:07 PM | Link to this

What about Phil Niekro….he’s been retired for a long time, maybe he’s ready to come back to work!

By Ray

October 20, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this

I heard that John Rocker is looking for work.

By Crystal

October 20, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this

First of all, if Leo Leaves who’s gonna sit next to Bobby and rock. Nobody could replace Leo. Two, Dan Kolb doesn’t pitch. He lobbs the ball and hopes they don’t hit a home run.

By David Orr

October 20, 2005 05:15 PM | Link to this

Say it isn’t so..Next thing you will tell me we won’t have Christmas this year. So, Leo won’t be with us next year. Just won’t be the BRAVES without Leo. He was the Greatest…The best of luck..We still love the BRAVES…

By greg

October 20, 2005 05:15 PM | Link to this

and another thing, where has AJC coverage been on this? no blogs until now, no detailed info, etc. SI.com has more news on this than ajc. unreal.

By CRS

October 20, 2005 05:29 PM | Link to this

If leo leaves, this becomes a 500 team very easy, leo is easily worth 15 to 20 wins a year. Look at how many guys come here and have success, leave and terrible again. Leo has been the main reason for a lot of the Braves success, he is overshadowed by some who are almost fanatical in their worship of Cox but in my opinion he deserves most of the credit for the success. Our offense is always pitiful and without Leo mark my words, this franchise wins no more than 81 games next year. Braves are stupid to not pay him to keep him.

By Ricky

October 20, 2005 05:29 PM | Link to this

Best of luck to Leo and thanks for all you have done!!

So who is the next coach? Will John S. try to lure Guy Hansen back, or pull in someone from within like Bruce Dal Canton?

By andy

October 20, 2005 05:31 PM | Link to this

If the Braves let Leo go, this is just another example of TW/AOL ownership letting this organization go down the drain. This is a group that really doesn’t care whether the Braves win or don’t. There was no move to get an arm in the bullpen at the trading deadline and don’t be suprised if payroll either goes down or stays stagnant next year too, despite the rise in attendance this year. But gee folks, that 15 million dollar new scoreboard sure is purdy, ain’t it?

By rob

October 20, 2005 05:33 PM | Link to this

The Braves should pay Leo whatever he’s worth. They currently pay 250K for the best pitching coach ever? That’s less than the rookie minimum salary!! So what the Braves are actually saying is that Blaine Boyer or Macay McBride is worth more to them than Mazzone. What a joke! I don’t blame him for leaving. This organization is flat out stubborn if they won’t change their one year contract policy. As much as Leo has done for this organization, it’s ashame Schuerholz won’t buck up and pay him what he’s worth. They ought to just give him Kolb’s salary…he sure doesn’t deserve it.

By James

October 20, 2005 05:34 PM | Link to this

Enough of the negative responses about Leo Mazzone. Leo put 26 years in the Atlanta Braves organization and should be commended for what he has done in Atlanta. He could have left for more money years ago, but was loyal to the organization. I wish Leo the best in Baltimore and I look forward to Braves baseball in 2006.

By O's Fan

October 20, 2005 05:34 PM | Link to this

Leo’s gone? Pendleton canceled his interview for manager of the Dodgers? Sounds like Bobby’s gone too—just waiting for the right time to make the announcement. Great day for the O’s. Could be a bad, bad day for the Braves. The only thing worse than winning 14 division titles with only one WS championship is not making the playoffs at all. Remember, only 8 teams (counting the Braves) have won a WS since the Braves’ streak started. That leaves 22 teams that haven’t won a WS at all in that period (although, admittedly, either the Astros or the White Sox will decease that number by 1 in the next week or so). Of those 8 (soon to be 9), only the Yankess (boo, hiss), the Blue Jays (remember them? Boy do they suck now) and the Marlins won multiple WS titles during the Braves run. Life could be worse. The Braves should be interesting next year without Bobby and Leo.

By James

October 20, 2005 05:37 PM | Link to this

I have got the perfect solution:

Dan Kolb

By b

October 20, 2005 05:40 PM | Link to this

leo is a great pitching coach and he surely helped this team win. but the fact is that he DID NOT pitch in ANY of those games. he showed and taught his method of pitching to the pitchers and was lucky enough that the SCOUTS were able to find the talent they did. no one will ever know how well glavine, maddux, smoltz, etc would have done without leo. but i’m willing to bet they would have done about the same. bobby was another part of the puzzle to bring continuity to this team and it should stay the same.

By Booger

October 20, 2005 05:40 PM | Link to this

Would you want to use the dugout telephone after Bobby? No. Would you want to rock on a bench where a slight move to the left would soil your uniform? No. This time Leo got to pick and he picked outa’ here. Booger

By Jay

October 20, 2005 05:45 PM | Link to this

Bon voyage, Leo, and thanks for everything. At least you had the good sense to avoid the Yankee Zoo. Oh, and BTW folks, quit whining about all the division titles and “only one championship”… It’s been frustrating for us since 1995, but think about the Cardinal masses, the Mariner fans, the Indian faithful, and yes, even the obnoxious Cub fans. It’s been worse for all of them. It’s bloody tough to win the tournament, so quit crying. It’s gonna be extra sweet when we win it all again.

By NSD

October 20, 2005 05:51 PM | Link to this

If I made $250K a year I’d be happier than a pig in mud to stay in Atlanta. At least in Atlanta Leo didn’t have to work too hard. In Baltimore, he’ll work hard for the money! I hope I don’t read that he left to find a team who’ll win a championship ring because Baltimore isn’t it. I think Smoltz would be a great coach too but it isn’t likely he’d take chump change. There you’re buying his name, reputation, and history! The Braves will never pay for that. I couldn’t take seeing Don Sutton on the bench with that hairdo and he’d probably talk Bobby and the rest of the team to death.

By Booger

October 20, 2005 05:52 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton is a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts. He is a bad fit for the Braves dugout. Pick someone else. Booger

By Chop Chop

October 20, 2005 05:52 PM | Link to this

Cox and Schuerholz aren’t going anywhere this offseason. However, Schuerholz will probably be gone after next season. Cox may move back up to the front office and take over the reins at GM or just retire.

As for the pitching coach, I vote for Mike Maddux. After all, he’s done a very good job in Milwaukee. In fact, Brewers manager Ned Yost may end up being the manager of the Braves in ‘07 (if Cox is the GM) and would obviously be quite familiar with Maddux.

I would guess some other possibilities would be Charlie Leibrandt, Mark Wohlers and any other guy who gave up a huge postseason homer while wearing a Tomahawk. After all, adversity builds character, right?

By steven

October 20, 2005 05:53 PM | Link to this

Lets go with someone from within. Its obvious we are going with in house youth. might as well give these kids someone they know. Thanks to Leo I do not blame him Baltimore is a nice place to live- and after the first three starters-all he gets is re-treds and rookies- a bad combo he made the most of! Goodbye Leo we will miss you!

By Judy

October 20, 2005 05:53 PM | Link to this

Now if only he would take Bobbie with him, my husband would be a happy man.

By chuck

October 20, 2005 05:58 PM | Link to this

Any of you so called Braves fans that purchase another Time-Warner publication or share of stock (joke!!!) is nuts. If they don’e sell this team, it is just a matter of time before we will be the Braves of old. Anyone care to start a grass roots effort to lobby Time-Warner to sell. Arthur, got any money left? You are the man!

By wcoastjere

October 20, 2005 06:04 PM | Link to this

how can they let this guy go?…show me the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By R. Gylesocs

October 20, 2005 06:05 PM | Link to this

Look, it’s not too late. Buy Leo a condo at Atlantic Center and hire some security to watch his car. Find a way to keep him in Atlanta.

By Keith

October 20, 2005 06:13 PM | Link to this

I will miss Leo and the Braves will miss him even more. Bobby & JS will be gone after next year. I guess the JS & Bobby haters will finally get their wish.

By REAL DEAL

October 20, 2005 06:18 PM | Link to this

If my math is correct, Chipper makes $15MM a year, Mazzone $200K…Can anybody rationalize Chipper being worth 75 times more valuable to the Braves than Mazzone???

HORRIBLE MOVE BRAVES, HORRIBLE!

By Mark

October 20, 2005 06:20 PM | Link to this

well as i said this morning..im tired of a rocking leo./.its just stressful to see him rocking back and fourth all the time..maybe some new blood can get this pitching staff back togeather..hey leo s cool but new is good too.

By edward

October 20, 2005 06:23 PM | Link to this

Wasn’t Leo quoted just a while ago as saying he never would want to leave the Braves until Bobby was gone?? Guess money speaks louder than loyalty. Goodbye Leo, hope the money makes you happy on a club that is in turmoil.

By R. Gylesocs

October 20, 2005 06:24 PM | Link to this

Chipper also requires more free tickets than Leo. Babies, Babies’ Mommas, Babies Mommas’ boyfriends, etc. You are right. Chipper can never be worth 75 times Leo.

By tim k

October 20, 2005 06:26 PM | Link to this

I understand that Mel Stodlymyre is looking for a job. He has a great baseball mind and would shine without the Steinbrenner pressure. Give him a call Bobby and Johnny S. Please.

By scotty

October 20, 2005 06:32 PM | Link to this

This is a very very sad day for the Braves. I think J.S. Bobby and Leo could have taken a little league team to the NL play off’s, and this year was a year to proove that. Without Bobbys right hand man, there will be no Camp Leo, no bringing old pitchers new life, and one less veteran to pass the club house of youngsters that much needed advice.

I wish Leo the best. I hope he prooves all the Leo doubters wrong. Just one more major peice of the wall gone that gave Atlanta 14 years of wonderful baseball. I truelly wish TW would sell the Braves to a Owner who would be allowed to care about this team. For the price of one rookie a year, they could have kept the wisdom that is Mazzone. So sad, so very very sad.

By Rich from Baltimore

October 20, 2005 06:34 PM | Link to this

To all braves fans…Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a former Atlanta resident, I know have some folks have taken the braves success for granted, which, BTW, leads to this kind of thing happening…I have my tomahawk chops, bought at a braves/padres playoff game in 98’, with 7000 fans MIA.Hope the O’s can make the playoffs now, since I may not be able to count on the Braves from now on…Indeed, this is a sour sweetness.

By Eddie Cook

October 20, 2005 06:36 PM | Link to this

I too am disappointed to hear that Leo most likely is moving on to Baltimore.

I guess the thing that puzzles me most is I have heard Leo say in interviews for years that he was going to be here as long as Bobby was here. As someone else said above, maybe he (Leo) knows something about Bobby’s future that we do not know. After all, Bobby’s contract is up next year too.

I’m not going to get into those who have bashed the Braves, Bobby, or Leo here. I will save that for another day.

The purpose of this blog today is to make suggestions for a new pitching coach for the Braves.

My suggestion is Bruce Dal Canton.

When Leo became the pitching coach for the Braves, he worked with pitchers he had worked with in the minors: Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, etc. They knew him, and he knew them.

The same could be said for Bruce Dal Canton and the wave of new pitchers we should see and hopefully will see in Atlanta for many years to come.

If you’re concerned about the performance of some of the young pitchers the Braves brought up this past year, those of you who have been Braves fans for awhile no doubt remember Tom Glavine’s first couple of starts with the last place Braves many years ago. Maybe a familiar, comfortable presence like a Bruce Dal Canton will be the steadying influence they need to succeed in the major leagues.

I would like to thank Leo for his many years of working for the Braves (26 years! that is impressive) and wish him the best working with his childhood friend Sam Perlozzo in Baltimore.

By C Daddy

October 20, 2005 06:40 PM | Link to this

And why not Don Sutton? If you all listened to what he says rather than vent about the fact he’s talking you’d realize he didn’t get 300 plus wins and is in the Hall of Fame because he’s a fool.

By SpellChecker

October 20, 2005 06:42 PM | Link to this

Hey, could you know-it-all baseball fans perhaps learn to check your spelling and grammar before posting? You’re (notice the difference in “your” and “you’re”) embarrassing those of us in the South who actually finished school.

Dutifully yours, SpellChecker

By Curveball

October 20, 2005 06:51 PM | Link to this

The main reason that Leo Mazzone decided to leave the Braves was getting cold-cocked by that batting practice ball off the bat of Andruw Jones!

By Sam Smith

October 20, 2005 06:52 PM | Link to this

The Braves will have a below .500 season in 2006. We all will be reaquinted with losing in the regular season. That being said I would prefer to lose in the regular season instead of having post season let downs year after year. Fire Bobby Cox and hire Dale Murphy as the coach he knows passion…

By Curveball

October 20, 2005 06:57 PM | Link to this

SpellChecker…Hope I didn’t embarrass any of you’s in the South who actually finished school…and if I did…I apologize to “both” of you’s!…

By R. Gylesocs

October 20, 2005 07:37 PM | Link to this

I think the Sheriff of Fulton County would make a good pitching coach. He appears to be a good judge of personnel with an ability to create the right matchup in most situations. These are important skills for a pitching coach, too. I saw him throw the media a curveball on the six o’clock news. Before the Braves go outside the city to recruit a new coach I hope they will consider the upside of Camp Marvin.

By Stew

October 20, 2005 07:37 PM | Link to this

The reason the Braves won only 1 WS championship in 14 post seasons is that they always come up short hitting in the post season. AOL never gets us that one impact hitter to get us over the hump. This year we needed a five-hole hitter. Why can a team like the Brewers get Carlos Lee for a nobody like Scott Posednick? Why can’t we get someone with consistent HR power for left field? Why is everyone so enamored with Langerhans’ play in LF? My mother can play LF. All you have to do is catch the ball. You don’t need a great arm there. For 14 years we’ve had the best ERA and record in baseball. Leo was the genius behind it all. I can’t imagine next year without him.

By Jerald

October 20, 2005 07:42 PM | Link to this

Great dynasities all have to come to an end one day and the Braves are nearing the end of one of the greatest run’s in american sports history. Tom Glavin, Maddox, and now Leo are gone. One would think that Cox and Schuerholz are nearing the end of there hall of fame career’s, If the braves can’t afford to give the greatest pitching coach in baseball history more than $250K don’t count on Andrew being back when his contract ends at the end of next season. All of chipper’s 100 childeren will demand plenty of his time so don’t count on his mvp form coming back. Smolts is gitting older and wont be able to pitch another 200+ inning season. Number 15 will be pretty hard to get and with out Leo it will be even harder. Thanks Leo for all you have done for this organization and good luck in Baltimore.

By no real name

October 20, 2005 07:45 PM | Link to this

All I have to say is that I hope they don’t wait until he’s dead to put Leo in the Braves Hall of Fame. What he did for this franchise deserves a spot NOW!

By KneeJerk

October 20, 2005 07:55 PM | Link to this

Podsednik a nobody? That “nobody” batting leadoff and playing LF would be a tremendous addition to this team. How do we know Leo was the genius behind it all? Someone above said the Braves would be a sub -.500 tam next year. Wanna bet? Look at our division. Who’s gonna overtake us? Marlins hire a Yankee coach with no previous managing experience. Why? Just ‘cause he came from the Yankees? Can you say Lee Mazzilli??????

By OUTLAWED

October 20, 2005 08:02 PM | Link to this

THIS IS JUST THE START , WATCH THEY ARE GOING TO UNLOAD THIS TEAM…! START FRESH WITH THE BABY BRAVES AND LETS DROP THE CHOP AND PICK UP A LITTLE BABY DOLL…HEY GOOD LUCK LEO MAZONNE YOU WERE A GOOD ONE… THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.

By Bo

October 20, 2005 08:20 PM | Link to this

My vote is for Dews.

By Oldtimer

October 20, 2005 08:51 PM | Link to this

Leo was great with the starters and sometimes at getting someone off the junk heap, but he seemed to have no luck with the bullpen. Year in and year out the bullpen has been the Braves’ weak link (with the exception of Smoltz as closer). Bring someone up from within the organization. I’m sure Leo’s methods have been preached down the organization, and maybe someone has a little something to improve on them, ie. like how to develop a bullpen.

By Jeffrey

October 20, 2005 08:59 PM | Link to this

I like John Smoltz as pitching coach. Whitey Ford closed his career as a player/coach with the Yankees. Why not Smoltz? Terry Pendleton may already have the assurance that he will be the Braves manager in 2007. With Pendleton & Smoltz in charge, the Braves would never again be guilty of insipid and heartless play.

By Andy

October 20, 2005 09:05 PM | Link to this

Man this sucks—I can’t believe Smotlz allowed this to happen—do you think he is angry? I think so. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING. Bet Hudson is happy to take less money—Leo was a reason alot of pitchers would come to the Braves re-start their careers. Why would they come now? Man this is bad.

Leo,

Thank you—the Braves were crazy to let you go. Thanks for all the memories.

By david

October 20, 2005 09:15 PM | Link to this

Stew the White Sox traded Lee then made the WS. Guillen then firebombed him on the way out the door.Basically implied he is soft.

By ron

October 20, 2005 09:22 PM | Link to this

WHY ALL THE FUSS OVER THIS OVERRATED SCHIZOID FART.DID HE EVER THROW A PITCH?COACHING IS THE SAME AS MANAGING NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO INFERIOR ATHLETES WHO COULDN’T CUT IT AS PLAYERS.THAT CATEGORY FITS BOTH COX AND THIS FOOL EVERYBODY IS PLACING A SHRINE TO.IN THEIR PRIME MADDUX,TOMMY G.,SMOLTZ & AVERY WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL ELSEWHERE.THIS FOOL SAT ON THE BENCH SHOWING ALL SYMPTOMS OF A SCHIZOPHRENIC ROCKING BACK & FORTH INCESSANTLY.BRAVES & LEO BOTH CAN GO TO WHERE THE SUN DON’T SHINE.THEY CAN START WITH ME FIRST.

By bigvictor

October 20, 2005 10:06 PM | Link to this

Y’all know this is just the beginning. Bobby & John will retire at the end of the 2006 season when their contracts are up. I can’t imagine one of them leaving without the other. Can’t resist this one:

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes turn and face the strain Ch-ch-changes Don’t want to be a richer man Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes turn and face the strain Ch-ch-changes Just gonna have to be a different man Time may change me But I can’t change time

Good luck Leo. I’m glad we knew ya.

By Edgar Loyd

October 20, 2005 10:23 PM | Link to this

Leo should be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame. He will be missed, but in baseball, life rolls on.

By Chris

October 20, 2005 10:53 PM | Link to this

The owners! They should be fired. With the season Bobby, Leo and the Braves had…being cheap with Leo is insulting and will end up costing the Braves a whole lot more.

Makes you wonder how much money the owners are taking out of the profits that Leo help realize?

By Where's Ted?

October 20, 2005 10:56 PM | Link to this

Where have you gone Ted Turner?

Shame on the Braves, Messrs McGuirk, Schuerholz, etc for not doing better by Leo Mazzone all these years and now.

Since salaries and contact terms seem to be open matters, what are Messrs Schuerholz and McGuirk being paid and are they under one year agreements?

By david fielder

October 20, 2005 10:57 PM | Link to this

Kolb for pitching coach

By fielder's choice

October 20, 2005 10:59 PM | Link to this

Where is John Rocker? Rocker is the next pitching coach for atlanta

By Larry

October 20, 2005 11:06 PM | Link to this

Huh? Wha’ the…??? Seriously, some of you (or should I say you’s) are deluded which should not be confused with diluted or dilauded. I don’t know if anyone else sees the irony in that, or maybe I should give up trying to understand the so-called Braves Fans here…’cause some of ‘em just don’t make any sense. Now I realize why we have the most disrespected fan base in basball: ‘cause they’re stupid! SHUT UP, already. Jeez, I think I’ll go back to the NBA blog. At least, you EXPECT them to be ignorant. Sheesh….

By wanda

October 20, 2005 11:06 PM | Link to this

I do not know about you guys, but I will miss seeing Leo rocking back and forth in the dugout. Good luck, Leo.

By HOWARD

October 20, 2005 11:51 PM | Link to this

HIRE BILL HAISTEN[GRIFFIN FAN], HE WOULD GET ATLANTA A WORLD SERIES TITLE! ASK THE PEOPLE IN GRIFFIN,THE MAN KNOWS HIS SPORTS AND BRAVES BETTER THAN BOBBY COX.

By AH

October 21, 2005 12:29 AM | Link to this

My four choices for the next p.c.:

Maddux Glavine Smoltz Ortiz

sigh If only…

By Jared

October 21, 2005 12:55 AM | Link to this

Forget Greg Maddux… Hire his brother Mike away from Milwaukee. He’s done a great job as their pitching coach especially considering what he’s been given to work with.

By kevin

October 21, 2005 01:39 AM | Link to this

D O N S U T T O N for pitching coach!

By NSD

October 21, 2005 05:39 AM | Link to this

Leo left for the money, plain and simple. And life will go on in the Braves organization. Bobby Cox will be Manager of the Year next year for managing without Leo. The best they can do is get some help in the bullpen, develop another pitcher or two from the minors, sign Furcal and move on! As for Don Sutton, he probably talked his way into the Hall of Fame. The man never shuts up! If he is as good as he claims to be, he should be coaching or broadcasting for the Yankees. He and Steinbrenner could talk each other to death. All I want for Christmas is for Don Sutton not to be broadcasting for the Braves next year. As compensation for the Orioles talking to Leo, JS should have insisted the Orioles take Sutton too! Skip, Pete, and Joe are more pleasant to listen to than Mickey Motor Mouth Sutton!!

By dray

October 21, 2005 05:39 AM | Link to this

I like Jeff Schulz, but I would hate to be Mazzone, after what he accomplished here, picking up the paper this morning and reading that article. He deserves better on the day he says goodbye to Atlanta, a place that he undoubtedly had a very positive and unique impact on in terms of his accomplishments.

By Alvin

October 21, 2005 06:50 AM | Link to this

Whoever the Braves get to replace Leo, it should be mandatory that they sit in a rocking chair in the dugout!

By Bob

October 21, 2005 07:21 AM | Link to this

Greg Maddux - not the man for the job. He is a control freak to the extreme. It would be like the experience of having Magic Johnson coach the Lakers in the 1990s - a short-lived scenario that now we realize shouldn’t have happened. It sounded like the ultimate opportunity until they actually put him out there to coach. He knew what HE would do, but he couldn’t tell others what to do without taking the ball into his own hands and doing it himself. That’s not coaching or teaching. That is a someone used to being in total control of every situation. Coaches are not in total control - they are there to advise and then stand back to see if the students are learning and performing.

How about Steve Bedrosian as the pitching coach? Pitchers and other players alike used to say he knew the game like a coach and was encouraging like one.

By Brandi

October 21, 2005 07:26 AM | Link to this

Just a beautiful decision all around. It’s obvious the powers that be just don’t care about the Braves. They (John S) bring in a $uck a$$ pitcher like Dan Kolb who blows every game he pitched in, then they blow it again in the post season & now this? You mean to tell me John S. wouldn’t give a guy who has spent 26 years putting his heart & soul into this organization at least a 3 year deal & match the amount the O’s gave him? They’ll waste millions on a pitcher like Dan Kolb, but not pay a veteran like Leo a few hundred K more? This speaks volumes. This tells you what he was worth in the eyes of Braves management. Nothing. Simply put, this may’ve been the last division series they’ll win for a good long while. And honestly, they deserve it. Congrats to the O’s for picking up an amazing pitching coach & great guy all around. Condolences to the Braves for $crewing it up!

By C K

October 21, 2005 07:32 AM | Link to this

Terry Pendleton to replace Bobby Cox ( when he retires)… now that sounds interesting … Lee mizilli to replace Leo But who could replace JS ???

I predict the Braves will win again next year and then the run will be over.

By San

October 21, 2005 07:33 AM | Link to this

ok, maybe it’s just the $$, or maybe it’s more than that. It just seems strange that we have not heard anything from JS or Bobby. But what’s done is done, so lets make it a good thing & get Sutton out of the booth and let him be the pitching coach. I betcha all the pitchers would want to pitch a complete game to get away from his motor mouth. No one knows anymore than Don about pitching….just ask him. No,you don’t even have to ask, he’ll tell you anyway.

By REH

October 21, 2005 07:36 AM | Link to this

Did anyone get a look at our Bull Pen this year? Leo is a Great Pitching Coach but you can’t make Sugar out of Vinegar. Leo is the reason Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox stayed healthy, but he didn’t teach them how to Pitch. Leo taught them how to condition themselves for a long healthy season but a Glavine Change up, a Smoltz Fast Ball and Greg’s pin point control was God given Talent, thank the Braves scouts for finding those guys. Leo will be a welcomed addition to the Baltimore Orioles, but he can’t turn Vinegar to Sugar. The Braves Pitching will be fine if our Scouts can go out there and find us some Good Young middle relievers and a lights out closer.

Good Luck Leo, I will Miss You

By Sharon

October 21, 2005 07:45 AM | Link to this

Yes braves fans. Now that Leo is leaving our team is going to suffer. John Smoltz will suddenly forget how to pitch. Tim Hudson will forget how to find the strike zone. Oh give me a break. Even Donald Duck would have looked great behind Glavine, Maddus and Smoltz. Throw in a Avery every once in awhile and you have your resume for success.

I figure Leo jumped ship before he started to look bad. Yes folks, everyone knows how he feels about young pitchers, remember Jason Marquis? Leo never did well with the younger pitchers, no patience. Now he has an entire bullpen of them. He would not be looking very well after another season of bullpen blowout. He did nothing to fix the problems of the bullpen starting with Kolb and ending with the younsters. Yes Leo bailed. Let him go. Call in DONALD DUCK.

By Bill

October 21, 2005 07:59 AM | Link to this

Yes, Leo appears to be leaving for the money this time. However, from published reports, it appears that he has turned down more money on several occasions. Just how long was he expected to say no to an additional $200-$400 A YEAR? Leo has demonstrated his loyalty to the Braves organization by placing the Braves ahead of personal financial gain.

I think Leo rocks on the bench so that he can feel his wallet…the money JS put in there doesn’t make it noticeable enough. I don’t know JS’s age, but he is old enough to know better.

Good luck, Leo. You will be missed.

By cliff Zeider

October 21, 2005 08:03 AM | Link to this

He or She must be a black, it’s only fare. Cliff

By Hank

October 21, 2005 08:04 AM | Link to this

There is a new guy coming up through the ranks as a pitching coach, his name is Eddie Everson. One hell of a guy and could throw the junk when he was at his prime. If that doesn’t work out lets hire Hank Aaron to be the pitching coach…at least he can tell all them where not to pitch it.

By cliff Zeider

October 21, 2005 08:05 AM | Link to this

It must be a black. Cliff

By Dianne Ryan

October 21, 2005 08:06 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the memories Leo. Good Luck. And thanks again!!

By cliff Zeider

October 21, 2005 08:07 AM | Link to this

HE OR SHE MUST BE BLACK, IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. CLIFF

By M

October 21, 2005 08:08 AM | Link to this

Why not Rocker? You politically correct idiots probably ruined a good career! Does the truth hurt that bad?

By sacfly

October 21, 2005 08:13 AM | Link to this

The money to keep Leo in Atlanta is chump change to the ownership. Leo would be a bargain at five time the price. Is WalMart the business model here?

There is some consolation though: Leo is a talent that George Steinbrenner’s cash couldn’t grab. And in Baltimore Leo will be practicing his craft to the disadvantage of the Yankees.

By Rock err

October 21, 2005 10:02 AM | Link to this

YES! Rocker! Rocker! Rocker! the Braves need some flavor! M you are right, the trueff huts! yall sum foos!

By Lisa

October 21, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this

I don’t blame Leo for walking but I DO blame AOL/Time Warner for letting him go. Someone PLEASE step forward and buy the Braves from AOL. Until then, we are never going to have a championship team because we can’t keep up with other franchises. Ted are you listening? Arthur, what about you? Anyone?

By hank

October 21, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

I know some of yall have heard of this Eddie character. I think he played some double A ball after a successful college career where he threw the splitter, knuckle, and the slurve (half slider/half curve), and the heater. He will be a moral boost for the team after the loss of ol’ LEO. He know about injuries, since he suffered a nasty shoulder and groin injury in college and has fought back to recover. Just watch out when he throws the seeds in the air…cover your neck. He will get you in the gizard.

By HB Ando

October 21, 2005 10:09 AM | Link to this

Guys,

Don Sutton makes around $1 million a year to be the Braves announcer. Please tell me why he would take such a tremendous pay cut to give up his golf time to coach. Guys leave the announcer booth to manage (read: pay increase), not to be the pitching coach.

By ET

October 21, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this

How about an American Indian? We are the Braves.

By E Steavens

October 21, 2005 10:13 AM | Link to this

The Braves should go after a Maddox for a pitching coach but not Greg. Go after Mike Maddox the Brewers Pitching Coach. He seems to have the ability to turn ordinary pitches into respectable ball players. He got the Braves to think enough of the Dan Kolbs and Kyle Farnsworths of the world to trade for them. He seems to have a great developmental ability that is needed on a braves team that needs to develop pitching talent especially bullpen help.

By Chief

October 21, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this

I just can’t help but think how expensive a decision this is. If you don’t have a Mazzone on your bench, you can no longer afford to go find the Jaret Wrights, the John Thomsons, the Jorge Sosas - basically your fifth and fourth (and sometimes third) starters for the past 7 or 8 years. You had confidence that, if Leo saw something in a guy that he could harness, that it would be harnessed and good things would happen.

Sure, there were the occasionaly busts, but I’d argue that more busts have occurred during the Braves run when they went out and paid a ton for a guy who was supposed to already have the stuff, only to get burned when it turned out he didn’t. Kolb is an obvious example here, but also Neagle, Mark Davis, Mike Hampton? etc.

It’s also understated how completely different Leo’s conditioning program is from everyone else’s, and I can’t help but imagine what Smoltz might do if he’s asked not to follow the same program he’s used for 15+ years. If we don’t get a Leo acolyte, I think we’ll see very different outcomes for the longevity and endurance of our pitchers.

All of these add up to a lot more money spent by the Braves. They’ll have to spend more to get known quantities, since they can’t rely on Leo to fix the folks they bring in. They’ll have to spend more on relievers, because their starters will more likely be expected to pitch fewer innings. They’ll have to spend more to fix the mistakes they make in the free agent market, because Leo won’t be around to ameliorate those mistakes or to help pick the talent.

Of course, the Braves won’t spend a lot more money. Those days are past. And the team will suffer as a result.

By Bill

October 21, 2005 10:19 AM | Link to this

I don’t blame Leo one bit. I think he sees the writing on the wall.

The Braves are turning into an organization that focuses on the business of making a profit not winning championships. This is evidenced over the last few years with the loss of big time players. We no longer go after any top talent through free agency and when’s the last time we made a deal prior to the July trade deadline to make a run deep into the playoffs.

They set their payroll cap at $80 million and figure if they can’t win a championship for that price then at least they can make money.

Just wait for another couple weeks when Furcal leaves through free agency as well.

14 division titles in a row doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s like beating up your little brothers all year but when you have to go out on the street and face the neighborhood kids you get you butt kicked. The “Braves” as we know them are done. done. done.

By Jman

October 21, 2005 10:19 AM | Link to this

Then only thing that will hurt the Braves with Leo gone is the fact that he knows our pitchers! He knows every intricate detail of the style and pitches. So naturally when you have a coach that knows that much about you it always helps the staff. That’s where we’ll miss him the most. But other than that, he can be replaced. He is not responsible for any of those postseason banners. He was just an instructor. The players are the one’s on the field, guys. My hope is that Don Sutton will be the new pitching coach. I am sick of hearing him on TV.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this

I believe John Smoltz would be the best pick, because he has been under Leo ever since he has been in the majors. Smoltz could teach the new pitchers right I believe.

By Bobby Wilson

October 21, 2005 10:30 AM | Link to this

Leo Who ?? What has Leo really done other than sit there a rockin . Bobby Cox is the strenght of the Braves pitching . He call all the shots !!! Where was Leo this season when we needed good pitching . He can’t take any credit for the like of Kile Davies , he was taught by some minor league pitching coach , as was all the others , If Leo is so great why did not the braves have him in the minors where he can teach !! 250 K to watch a major league pitcher warm up ??? Who’s kidding who here. If Cox though he was worth more TW/AOL would have paid more. Leo didn’t help Smotz, Maddox, or any of the other great pitchers the Braves have had . Good bye Leo an good ridence.

By K Dawg

October 21, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

Leo’s role in the Braves pitching staff is overplayed. Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine would have been great regardless. If Leo is so great, what accounts for the improvement seen in other players after they leave? Jason Schmidt was horrible with the Braves, and is now one of the top pitchers in the game (when not injured). Marquis also improved after joining the Cards. He was back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen in Atlanta. Atlanta needs a pitching coach that is going to develop the young pitching, the youngsters are starting all over the field, but the young pitching (especially starters) are suspect. Leo was a good pitching coach, but not great. A number of coaches could do the same job with the same players.

By andrew

October 21, 2005 10:44 AM | Link to this

Are you kidding me ???? Is that all they paid this great man - less than those nobodies we tried in the outfield. You have got to be kidding me. This is the beginning of the end, and who in the right mind could possibly blame Leo for doing what he has done. You have got to be kidding me.

By michaelj

October 21, 2005 10:50 AM | Link to this

1) Don Gullett 2) See what Ray Miller’s up to since he’s a great pitching coach and losing his job because of Leo moving to Baltimore. 3) Stu Klitenic. Awful announcer on radio, so find him somewhere else that he can maybe do some good.

4) Your Name Here!

Leo was the perfect Coach at the perfect time.

By DEWSY

October 21, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this

Bobby Dews in the bull pen is a hidden talent right under their noses.

By MicG

October 21, 2005 10:59 AM | Link to this

Ray Miller is the man to get. He’s the best pitching coach not named Leo Mazzone out there!

By True Braves Fan

October 21, 2005 11:04 AM | Link to this

Braves coaches work on one-year contracts, like those of most other teams. The Orioles are making an exception to their own rule with the three-year offer to Mazzone, who would be the only member of their coaching staff on a multi-year deal. I believe that this will really make the other Oriole Coaches feel good, and probably why the Braves did not give Mazzone a contact that was out of line with their other coaches. I am very sorry to see Leo leave the Braves, but from a personal standpoint, “It was an offer that he could not refuse.”

By Tee

October 21, 2005 11:16 AM | Link to this

Time-Warner is out to make a mockery of the Braves!! They won’t rest until they see this team in last place. Leo understood that and he’ll be much happier with ownership that shows passion for its team.

By Danny O

October 21, 2005 11:28 AM | Link to this

How about Mel Stottlemyre? He just left the Yanks cause he was sick of The Boss. They’ve had a lot of pitching success up in the Bronx, from young guys and veterans through the years. Plus, he’s worked under Torre, who a lot of people say has a similar style to Cox.

By bphilb

October 21, 2005 11:29 AM | Link to this

Let’s be serious. THe best available is Stottlemyer. Let’s get him since Torre will be back in Atlanta in a few years.

By michaelj

October 21, 2005 11:36 AM | Link to this

TODD Stottlemeyer is the only person with that name healthy enought to be around from Feb thru October… Mel is retired.

By Big Braves Girl

October 21, 2005 11:40 AM | Link to this

John Smoltz should replace Leo. He’s proven himself. I think he should retire and become the pitching coach.

By brewerfaninATL

October 21, 2005 11:43 AM | Link to this

Sorry guys, it will not be Mike Maddux. He’s staying put in Milwaukee. My best bet would be either Bruce Dal Canton or Mel Stottlemyre.

By Mike

October 21, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this

Who cares? The Braves are going to suck anyway!!! Good Luck Leo.

By Kristofer

October 21, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this

Well, I for one am sad to see Leo go. He would have been worth $1M a year to me as a pitching coach. I would have signed him for a 5 year contract at that price. Then turn around and pick up washed up middle relief guys for next to nothing, and realize the savings.

Baltimore is gaining a great asset.

That said, I agree that Maddux would be an interesting choice, but since he is still a %^#%^$^ Cub that ain’t likely to happen.

My choice would be to hire the OTHER Maddux brother, Mike. I think he is the pitching coach in Milwaukee. The Brewer’s pitching has been pretty darn good the last couple of years, and maybe he can get Kolb back to his 04 form…

But the Braves ownership needs to open their wallets if they ever want to get out of the first round…

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 11:55 AM | Link to this

Cliff: It shood be a gay, black, Jewish foreigner. Its onlee fare. Duh…

By Joe Muesse

October 21, 2005 12:01 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton - enough said

By Danny

October 21, 2005 12:03 PM | Link to this

I am sorry to see the cheap Braves allow Leo who has been such a great asset to the team go. Maybe some of the overpaid, underachieved Braves should have fortfeited some os their salary to compensate Leo and his family.

By BigD

October 21, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this

Leo Mazzone is, in my opinion, the best pitching coach in the league. With that said, I am not surprised to see him go. I am mean, has anybody noticed that John Schurholtz’s Specialty is putting together good teams for as little money as possible? I dont know who could replace Rockin’ Leo but who knows. Maybe this will be the change the Braves need to win in the playoffs?

By t.j

October 21, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this

I bet John Rockers not doing much!

By Joe Muesse

October 21, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this

I agree with Smoltz - but what about Don Sutton?

By chad

October 21, 2005 12:06 PM | Link to this

Good!!! Maybe now we will start losing and prices will come down. OH the good ol days of fulton county stadium.

By Gil Del Valle

October 21, 2005 12:14 PM | Link to this

See ya Leo…People… leo Don’t Pich…he can Teach but anybody with enouch expirience in Baseball can do he Job… How about Eddie Perez for pitching coach? humm…He been with the brave lontime and ready to retired..

By Bob Martin

October 21, 2005 12:18 PM | Link to this

i want the Astros piching staff to replace Leo. we need arms not coaches

By Mike of Alpharetta

October 21, 2005 12:27 PM | Link to this

To those of you complaining about Leo making $250K while players make several times more, “those who can, do, and those who cannot, teach.” Leo is a teacher. Greg Maddux, Chipper Jones are doers. If they ever choose to coach/manage, they will be paid as such. Bill Gates is a Harvard drop-out. Should his former professors, likely all PHD’s, make more?

For those calling Leo a traitor ala Glavine,…. please!It is a business, and it is their livlihood. Glavine played his heart out for the Braves in the minors and majors, and pitched the gem in Game 6 of the ‘95 Series. He’ll be in the Braves Hall of Fame, and probably in Cooperstown as well. Leo served the Braves well for nearly 3 decades. I’m sure this isn’t the first time he has been offered a chance to make more money. Even if the Braves had matched the offer, he may not have taken it. Don’t underestimate the value of friendship, and the opportunity to work with his childhood buddy. Lets face it, it was an offer he could not refuse. This may be his last contract, and probably allows him the security he was looking for. Good for him!

Is Furcal a traitor because he says “no hometown discount” in his negotiations with the Braves? Should he have any animosity towards the Braves for not giving him a multi-year contract last year? How would we all feel under similar circumstance? I can only answer for myself. I love the Braves, but if another team is willing to offer substantially more, I can’t honestly say I could turn the money down, with the possible exception of going to a “bad franchise” (Royals), or the Phillies, Mets or Yankees. Hey, I’m a Braves fan.

As for the role Leo has had on our pitching staffs over the years and the impact his departure will have, he will be missed. However, maybe it was time. Leo made some pitchers better, (Hammond and Wright come to mind) and some didn’t do quite as well under his guidance, (Kolb, Schmidt and Marquis come to mind). Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine were great pitchers and likely would have thrived anywhere.

That said, the veterans and coaches left behind will miss Leo most. They had a certain comfort and confidence in him, and by the same token, Leo knew their habits, traits and idiosyncracies as well. The new pitching coach, whomever that may be, will need to get to know everyone, and vice versa. There will need to be an adjustment period, and new comfort and confidence needs to be built.

The good news is that Cox is here, along with the rest of the coaching staff, to provide stability through the transition to a new pitching coach.

The Braves were a surprise to me this year. I really felt this was the year that either the Phillies or Marlins would win the division. Out of nowhere, once the Mondesi and Jordan experiment failed, and injuries sidelined Thompson and Hampton, the Baby Braves came to the rescue. Like most fans, I had more fun watching this year’s team than I have in a long time. I can only hope that the rotation is robust with the addition of Davies and whomever, and that Langerhans, Franceour, McCann and Johnson are even better. Maybe Betemit will mature into a Tejada type shortstop if we don’t keep Furcal (okay, I’m dreaming). They all have their issues, especially Jeff’s strike zone. But, I’m excited about the possibilities for next year, and the next decade. Will we win the division next season? Maybe. But more importantly, we’ll be competitive, and barring injuries, contend once again.

Leo, thanks for the memories and best of luck to you in the future, except against the Braves!

By gates

October 21, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

I dont want Leo to go but I dont blame him. How bout we get some pitchers? Then
we’ll be alright. If your with me say I

By James

October 21, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

Who cares, they’ll lose in the post season anyway. If you want to see a real pitcher, watch Clemens and the Astro’s this week-end and stop wasting your time on the Braves.

By atlbravesmania

October 21, 2005 12:33 PM | Link to this

Don Sutton next pitching coach !!!!!

thanks leo for the memories !!!!!!!

fired cox / lou piniella new mgr atlanta braves !!!!!!!!!

By baseball guy

October 21, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

HAL BAIRD former auburn head coach and long time friend of John Schuerholz.

By baseball guy

October 21, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

HAL BAIRD former auburn head coach and long time friend of John Schuerholtz.

By Casual Cal

October 21, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this

Leo Mazzone needs to do what is best for him and his family. He did a great job with the Braves and his work will benefit the Braves in years to come. Leo I wish you all the luck and with the exception of when you are playing the Braves I hope you get your World Seiries in Baltimore real soon.

By brewerfaninATL

October 21, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this

Come on people, why the harsh words? He did a heck of a job for a long time and that’s what he should be remembered for. Instead of kicking dirt in his face, why not wish him the best of luck in Baltimore. Let’s wait and see how the next pitching coach does before you pass judgment.

By NSD

October 21, 2005 12:50 PM | Link to this

Smoltz has my vote for pitching coach. I watched him working with Kyle Davies and Ramon Colon in the bullpen before a game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia this summer. He is a good teacher and definitely had the attention of the rookie pitchers. He doesn’t give anyone anything to complain about and went well above and beyond this year.

By Mick T

October 21, 2005 12:59 PM | Link to this

We might as well let Leo go, it is only a matter of time before John and Bobby are gone, as long as the team is owned by another company and not an individual who loves BASEBALL, we will continue to spiral downhill.

By Spook

October 21, 2005 01:11 PM | Link to this

Leo is gone. Accept it. I think a lot more will be gone by next season. The Baby Braves did pretty darn well at the “majorleaguelevel. Apparently there are some good coaches and managers lower down in the organization so bring them and some more babies up and excite us next season.

By Tim

October 21, 2005 01:14 PM | Link to this

Stop the bloody crying about losing Leo and not winning a world series. There are other pitching coaches available. We should thank Leo for doing what he did for so long and let him move on. It’s business. People come and people go. Wow, another division title and we lost in the playoffs. Now everyone’s ready to fire Bobby. Shut up! I remember the days when the Braves were the laughing stock cellar dwellers. I’ll take Bobby Ball anyday. At lease we’re contending every year. Spoiled. That’s what you people crying are. Simply spoiled impatient babies. I’m a Braves Fan through and through. I stuck with them through the rough years and will stick with them until they win another World Series.

By Dan

October 21, 2005 01:24 PM | Link to this

The Braves lose in the playoffs year after year after year not because of poor pitching but because of all those over paid “superstars” such as Larry Jones, Andru and a couple others who do not come through with their bats. What the brass in the Braves office should have done was take 50K from the Jones chokes and a couple of K’s from other non-producers and given that to Leo. Either way, I think Leo was as fed up working with LOSERS as we all are as fans. Asta la vista senor Leo.

By JoeyD

October 21, 2005 01:28 PM | Link to this

I think Joey Devine would be great! Afterall when he went the mound after allowing a big hit, he could honestly say “Man I feel your pain”

By Laura

October 21, 2005 01:30 PM | Link to this

It’s Smoltz!! He won’t stop pitching when he should and I can’t stand to see him out there mediocre!!!with his and terry pendelton’s competitive style we’ll have no more “kolbish” performances.

By Jan

October 21, 2005 01:30 PM | Link to this

I really hate to see Leo go BUT he has given a good part of his life to our Braves and for that we will always want only the best for him!!!!!! We certainly cannot blame him for taking advantage of this opportunity. Who knows, maybe one day we will have John Smoltz in that job! Always only the best to you Leo!!!!!!!!

By Jill

October 21, 2005 01:38 PM | Link to this

No one can ever replace Leo Mazzone.

By joe momma

October 21, 2005 01:40 PM | Link to this

Rocker is at the Wednesday Night Drinking Club if anyone is looking for him.

By Jill

October 21, 2005 01:41 PM | Link to this

And whoever said Ray Miller — he’s battling health problems… That’s why Baltimore needed a pitching coach!

By Ron Roberts

October 21, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this

Oh God, how ORIGINAL to read and re-read and re-read the following comments…

1. Sorry to see you go, Leo, but can you take Bobby with you?”

2. Why didn’t AOL/TW pay Leo more to stay?

FIRST of all, anybody who’s ready to punt Bobby Cox to the curb hasn’t a HINT of baseball expertise. They may be fans, and they may love the Braves, live and die with them every October, but they cannot POSSIBLY have any true baseball expertise.

Why?

Because EVERYBODY who does, those who cover the game, those who play the game, those who coach the game, run the teams, et al, ALL of ‘em, have RAVED about the job Bobby did this season. Many of ‘em say this year was his FINEST job yet; and many of them were saying THAT last year, too, you’ll recall.

And yet we have short-sided “fans” who want to crack jokes about getting rid of him. Find me a manager in modern times who’s done any better and more consistently. Find me a manager who could’ve managed around that pitiful excuse for a bullpen we had this year.

As for those who gripe about Leo’s pay, get this through your head. He was going, either way. His very good friend of over 30 years is managing the Orioles, and the Orioles offered him a chance to coach with him, and paid him well to do it. Does he know something about Cox or Schuerholz leaving soon? Maybe. Could the Braves have given Leo a raise to match any other offer? Probably, and the Braves probably WOULD have. I think he pretty much told ‘em he was going, either way. He’s keeping a promise he mad a close friend dozens of years ago, and I can’t blame him for that.

My first choice would be for us to promote from within the organization, frankly; somebody who knows what Bobby Cox-managed teams desire in their mounders. My second choice would be Don Sutton. My third choice would be Orel Hershiser, but I think his Dodger blue-blood might prohibit him from going to a storied rival. Not sure.

By neilb

October 21, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this

Why not move Dan Kolb into the position without salary? Maybe then the Braves can at least recoup some of the outlandish money wasted on him this year.

By OUTLAWED

October 21, 2005 01:53 PM | Link to this

If Don Sutton is as annoying as a pitching coach when he is on the air, he won’t be a good one. No blaming Mazzone from this side of town. If he was the best pitching coach IN THE MAJORS for the past 15 years ( Which he was ) how come he was not making half the money Yankees pitching coach was making? So long Leo good luck to you in Baltimore. As for the Braves it is just a matter of time before Smoltz becomes the new manager. This is my opinion I welcome yours.

By Jim

October 21, 2005 01:55 PM | Link to this

Job Opening:

Pitching Coach

Qualifications: Must be able to handle pressure situations.

Must be able to walk a distance of 60 feet and back.

Preferably Bi-Lingual.

Quirky Behavior like sputtering out sentence fragments and swaring a plus.

No history of Gastritis

Frequent travel a must.

By Clifton

October 21, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this

John Smoltz is a delusional, self-serving ego-maniac. I wouldn’t trust him with my son’s Little League staff.

He’s also the biggest whiner in baseball when anything within 10 inches isn’t called a strike.

By Kenny Hughes

October 21, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this

Pitching Coaches are overrated, especially Leo Mazzone. You can have a chimp sit next to Bobby Cox rocking back and forth and it won’t make a difference. Shoot next year get 2 chimps to manage and be the pitching coach, then the Braves may make it past the 1st Round of the Playoffs.

By Paul Taylor

October 21, 2005 03:01 PM | Link to this

Mike Maddux - Mike Maddux - Mike Maddux He’s young, he’ talented, he is a Maddux.

By Dan

October 21, 2005 03:06 PM | Link to this

this is all i have to say about mazzone’s tutledge. look at these pitchers post leo: kevin millwood, tom glavine, john rocker, steve avery, mark whollers, and even greg maddux (debatable). and how many pitchers can rebound from a 15 loss season to nearly a 14 win season in one year (mike hampton). reitsma became a different pitcher with leo. john burkett’s career ressurrection. look at the track record folks. pitchers don’t last when they leave leo, and they blossom when they are with leo.

By Hartwell

October 21, 2005 03:12 PM | Link to this

This is the most bitter group of Braves fans I have ever heard. Leo Mazzone is the best pitching coach in the business. He was named by ESPN as the best assistant coach in sports. He is drastically underpaid and should get what he deserves. Blame the management for not paying and extra 200,000 to keep the best in the business. That is much less the Raul Mondesi made this year.

By Lew Hartman

October 21, 2005 03:17 PM | Link to this

To Stew-The reason the Braves had the best ERA all of those years is because of outfielders like Ryan Langerhans and their defensive play. Sorry to see Leo go. We should hire Dal Canton. He has been in the organization for years and knows the kids as well as the Johnny Sain/Leo Mazzone method. Let’s hear it for all the Southern College grads—all three of us.

By OUTLAWED

October 21, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

Kenny Hughes: You are right my friend the pitching coaches are overrated but in the case of Leo, he was underrated…! To Clifton: Maybe we need a self -serving delusional ego-maniac to fire this otherwise dull team with loafers running the bases like Chipper, Estrada and the famous of them all LaRoach (I call him LaLoafer) This is my opinion I welcome yours.

By Don Pruitt

October 21, 2005 03:23 PM | Link to this

Leo’s leaving is the Braves loss. I am amazed to hear how little he was paid for the great job he did as the best pitching coach in baseball. The current ownership is content in letting the Braves slide as other teams like the Yankees and Mets go out and spend whatever their owner and General Manager feels is needed to bring a championship. The Braves should have matched and topped the Orioles offer and tried harder to keep Leo.Good luck Leo and thanks for a great ride in your rocking chair.

By LeTwan Anthony

October 21, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

So, Leo’s gone. We’ll know about Pendleton and Gonzales after the Series. Let’s say they go, too. That leaves mediocre coaching talent - talent not sought after by other clubs.

When those that leave are replaced it better be by strong coaches and not comfort coaches. This group can get “dumbed-down” rather quickly - and when I use the word “dumb” around the Braves I am fully aware how accurate a description it is of some high profile folks. “Pick one” as Booger would say.

If you lose your top people and don’t replace them with someone of equal or better talent it will take a long while for your organization to recover.

Bobby’s coaches have been sought-after. That’s a tribute to him.

Good luck, Leo. Make some money and have a blast.

Carroll, where you at, man?

By Curveball

October 21, 2005 03:28 PM | Link to this

Leo got tired of trying to coach every washed up bum in baseball and at half the pay of all the other mediocre pitching coaches in MLB!

By Jay

October 21, 2005 03:30 PM | Link to this

Leo’s going to more than double his salary, and he’ll be working with his best friend. Those are great reasons to leave, but I can’t help but think something else happened within the organization that he really didn’t like. I wonder if we’ll ever know…

By LeTwan Anthony

October 21, 2005 03:43 PM | Link to this

Jay, maybe Leo got tired of not being competitive in the playoffs. Not that he’ll do better in Baltimore, but he might. The pen got all the blame but where were the 1-2-3 hitters? For that matter, where were the hitters? In the elimination game, no one scored on his pen for 8 innings. The Braves can’t push a run over to save their life. Learn to play NL bball and we win.

Before I get attacked on this one … yeah, I understand they play NL ball well enough to win the division every year. Is that enough? Or do you feel cheated?

By Jim

October 21, 2005 03:59 PM | Link to this

I hate to see Mazzone go, but I can’t blame him after learning the chicken feed he made with the Braves. He definitely is not going to a winning team, but if I were coaching guys that made 16 million a year & I made 200,000 I’d bolt so quick it would make the whole Braves organiztion’s head swim. I love the Braves but I sure don’t agree with their coach’s pay structure & 1 year contracts. Best wishes Leo!

By Ed

October 21, 2005 04:00 PM | Link to this

GOD Bless Leo and Thank You. The next pitching coach is set. Announcement soon. “BEDROCK” Is Back!

By JamesinArkansas

October 21, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this

Stop whining people Leo is a Ok Loss when you still have the whole entire coaching Staff and also I cannot believe that people have not mentioned two obvious Choices. One is a former brave and no it is not Don Sutton or Greg Maddux it is Phil Niekro then you also if you can get him away from Houston have Nolan Ryan. Either one of these guys would be a good pitching coach also either would be able to win us a World Series. Also bringing up a pitching Coach from Double A or Triple A would not be bad either.

By Joe Roman

October 21, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this

Now we know the truth. Leo wasn’t rocking because he was nervous. He was rocking because he is insane. I live in Baltimore. The Orioles are the most dysfunctional organization in baseball, and yes, I include Tampa Bay and Kansas City in that equation. The owner is a pompous meddler. The quasi-GM is a hind quarters kisser, and the manager is a lackluster bench warmer who got the job because nobody else wanted it. I know how attractive the paychecks will look to him, but Leo will regret his decision before spring training is over. That being said, the ideal choice would be to bring Don Sutton down from the booth. Mel Stottlemyer is an interesting possibility too. Whatever the case, isn’t it great to follow a team with such a fine braintrust that we can all be sure it will be an interesting choice?

By Joe Roman

October 21, 2005 04:40 PM | Link to this

In light of the absolute deluge of nasty, negative comments on blogs, in vents on the radio and just in the ethers surrounding Atlanta and the attitudes of so many who comment on the Braves, my guess is Leo got wind of all this crap. The short money would have been tolerable, but the hideous atmosphere in the Kudzu Kapitol is probably what sealed the deal. I hope no one else affiliated with the Braves EVER calls up baseball sites on the internet. If you were in their shoes and read some of this garbage, how would you feel?

By Stuart

October 21, 2005 04:52 PM | Link to this

I have a couple of takes on Leo going to Baltimore.

1. Leo had done everything he was going to do in Atlanta. He has done so much and been so great here, but there was nothing left to do here. If I was him and best friend asked me to go coach with him, I would do what Leo did in a heartbeat.

2. I do not know if Greg Maddux would be a good pitching coach or not. Sometimes the great players do not make the transition as well as role players. However, his brother, Mike with the Brewers is an excellent pitching coach. He is on my short list of people to talk to, (if Bobby and JS are inclined to do that to Ned Yost, probably your next Braves manager when Bobby hangs ‘em up.).

3. I happened to watch the AA team about 4 or 5 times. Willis, the pitching coach down there seemed to do a great job, if you want to go from within, he may be a good choice.

4. Two other names to throw out there, Orel Hersheiser in Texas and Rick Peterson with the Mets. Peterson was Huddy’s pitching coach in Oakland, but I would love to see what Orel would do with a staff with some talent.

5. Do not let the hype fool you, the Braves need to cut corners and keep Furcal. That said, Joey Devine will get EVERY opportunity to be the closer next year.

6. Please JS get us some bullpen help or it wont matter who the pitching coach is.

By Fast Eddie

October 21, 2005 05:39 PM | Link to this

So long Leo…thanks for the memories. Guys - it’s business, people change jobs, get over it already! Mike Maddox would be a great choice but there is a reason why our farm system keeps turning out winners so let’s promote from within.

Someone mentioned Ned Yost for manager of the Braves when Bobby leaves. I’m all for it…if he’s still available.

One other pet peeve - I was going to Braves games in the 70’s and 80’s when they were AWFUL, I’ll take division championships anytime over what I saw. Yes, I’d love another World Series, but this is better than what we used to have.

By Donnie Boy

October 21, 2005 05:46 PM | Link to this

From Donnie Boy

Well first I say thanks to Leo. A way lot more pluses than minuses and Leo is a proven product. Good luck in this new challenge. As for a replacement, I would like someone who works well with the “boss” Bobby Cox!

By Peter

October 21, 2005 05:50 PM | Link to this

I agree that Maddux, although he was a great pitcher, would not be the best choice in the postseason.

Isn’t Mel Stottlemyre free now?

Speaking of the Yanks, the Braves should have made a run at Torre while he was uncertain about his future in NY. I love Bobby to death but he can’t keep chalking up every postseason failure to sometimes you win, sometimes you lose-like the whole postseason is a complete crap-shoot no matter your record. I buy none of it. 1-14 is pathetic. It seems as though one would have to try for such an abysmal record after crushing the National League all season long or that person and their team are cursed.

In summation, I think Leo leaving is probably for the best. The Braves need to clean house where managers and coaches are concerned.

By RAY

October 21, 2005 05:52 PM | Link to this

Who could blame Leo for leaving considering the lack of pitching talent on this team. The only quality pitcher we’ve got is Smoltz and he’s getting on in years. Thanks Leo for giving us your best all these years. I just hope Baltimore has some talent you can work with.

By carlos

October 21, 2005 06:54 PM | Link to this

Why not make Maddux a player/coach? It would work just like Pete Rose did with the Reds at the end of his career—without the gambling, of course. Leo often turned to Maddux for advice on how to pitch to particular batters. Maddux probably won’t get another offer from the Cubs, and I’m sure he’d like to retire as a Brave. Plus, this addresses two of the club’s needs this winter—a pitcher to replace Hampton, and a pitching coach. If only Maddux could bat leadoff.

By Stew

October 21, 2005 07:30 PM | Link to this

Leo, I wish you all the best. I almost feel like crying. Doesn’t anyone realize that this guy’s record (9 ERA championships out of 15) makes him the greatest pitching coach of all time? Isn’t he worth a third of the money that Dan Kolb makes? Why couldn’t this guy go to his grave a lifetime Brave? Why couldn’t Maddux and Glavine also remain as Braves until they started to pitch poorly and then retire with dignity? Why does baseball make a whorehouse out of everybody?

By True Braves Fan

October 21, 2005 07:46 PM | Link to this

“Here’s what came into my thinking,” Mazzone said. “No. 1, I’ve been here for 15 years. I know that pretty soon Bobby and John will retire. But I also know that opportunities don’t come along very often where you can work with your best friend in the dugout and also go back to your home state. And those were very important things to me.”

By corndog

October 21, 2005 08:56 PM | Link to this

Good luck Leo sorry the Braves didn’t realize your net worth! I understand money, wasn’t that why all our good pitchers left for the love of money!!!!

By Joel Free

October 21, 2005 09:54 PM | Link to this

Thanks to Leo for fifteen years of excellence with the Braves organzation. Good luck and best wishes to Mazzone, a class act, with the Orioles. John Smoltz is my selection for the duo-role of a player-pitching coach because of his experiences as both a starter and closer, his commitment to winning, his intensity, his thorough knowledge of the Braves pitching staff and their opponents, and his knowledge of handling pitchers.

By ken

October 21, 2005 10:27 PM | Link to this

Roger Clemens calls this guy the “best pitching coach he has worked with” and he is aleady working in the Braves system - Bill Fischer. That’s a pretty strong recommendation coming from one of the games’ greatest pitchers ever!

By ShaNiqua

October 21, 2005 10:52 PM | Link to this

ken: where’d you hear that?

By Danny37355

October 21, 2005 11:04 PM | Link to this

Bring Back Ted! The Braves have been on a decline ever since AOL-Time Warner took over.

Good Luck Leo and thanks for the memories! I hope you make it to the Hall. (In a Braves Uni of course)

By Jman

October 21, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this

Godspeed Leo! A great pitching coach, a great instructor, a great man! Here’s to everything you did for the Braves! Good luck with the Orioles. I hope you can turn their staff around and finally beat the Sox and Yanks!

My suggestions for Leo’s replacement are Don Sutton, Randy St. Claire, and I love the idea that someone else had, however tongue in cheek it may have been, and that would be John Smoltz as player pitching coach. GO BRAVES!!!

By Tim

October 21, 2005 11:21 PM | Link to this

Who will it be? 1. Joe Kerrigan 2. Johon Smoltz 3.Chuck Hernandez 4. Oscar Acosta 5. Ron Guidry 6. Roger McDowell 7. Bill Fischer 8. Oral Hershiser 9.Dave Righetti 10. Dan Cooper. They all would be great but can the Braves get off the $$$$$$$$$$ to get the right one. KEN BILL’S on my list .

By Elmer

October 21, 2005 11:36 PM | Link to this

Without, Leo the man, we now don’t have a proven Pitching Coach to help attract free agent pitchers to Atlanta. As if the Braves were interested in free agents. John remember BJ Ryan and Jacque Jones.

By braves fan

October 22, 2005 02:26 AM | Link to this

Since Leo has departed it would be an opprtune time to ease Bobby Dews into retirement just like they eased him out of the 3rd base box several years ago.Eddie Perez would make a fine bullpen coach.He’s well respected by both players and management in the Braves organization.Young enough to have a good rapport with the young arms it’s also a plus that he is bi-linguial.JS &BC rave about his leadership skills and the class and integrity that he brings to the table.Perez for his part is quoted that he is “willing to help the Braves in whatever matter they need,I would only hope to be able to remain with the finest organization in baseball”

By HogFan

October 22, 2005 02:35 AM | Link to this

Listen people even if the Braves had offered the same deal its obvious that Leo was gone anyway. If there was a chance he was staying they would have negotiated with him. Look at the opportunity he has family close by, home state, coaching with a guy who has been your best friend for over 40 years who wouldn’t leave. And for those of you who think Bobby should go your crazy he is the one that keeps it all going he is possibly the greates manager of all time and is definetly a top 3 canadiate. If he does leave I like the idea of him becoming GM afterall he has done it before. And how about this for the future. Maybe 5 years down the road.

Manager: Ned Yost Pitching Coach: John Smoltz Hitting Coach: Terry Pendleton Bench Coach or Hitting Coach if Pendleton is gone: Chipper Jones

Sounds great to me!!!!!!

By HogFan

October 22, 2005 02:39 AM | Link to this

Not a bad idea braves fna they idea of Perez working in the bullpen or anywhere on the bench would be great!

By benny

October 22, 2005 08:22 AM | Link to this

Thanks Leo for all the work you did with the pitching staffs over the years and good luch with the O’s. The Braves will hire within the organization, no money to find anyone else for $250,000. I guess JS and Bobby are making all the money.

By Scott

October 22, 2005 10:14 AM | Link to this

Greg Olson

By Ronnie

October 22, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this

Hey Rob. Bobby can’t get out there and play for them. Not his fault the pen sucked, and they could’nt get a big hit.

By Carroll

October 22, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this

greg olson…interesting idea for bullpen coach….or maybe even a manager one day.

By Tony

October 22, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this

I still love Leo. Shame on all of you who are attacking him for this decision. He wants to go work with his best friend and be close to his family. I would do the same thing. He has given so much to the Braves, and we should all be thankful for his work here.

By Michael

October 22, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this

Congratulations to Leo. I don’t see how anyone in his position could turn down the offer to be closer to his family, working with one of his childhood friends, in his hometown for considerably more money.

The Braves should have at least attempted to make him an offer. I don’t buy that rationale that they didn’t approach him because they weren’t approached. What difference does that make? If you know he’s talking to other teams and there’s a strong chance that he could leave, you know enough to at least make an attempt to retain him.

Our marketability to the reclamation project pitchers that we have relied on to succeed with our budget just went way down.

This would never have happend if Ted was still in charge.

If anyone is familiar with a certain poster of Johhny Cash making a certain gesture towards the camera taking his picture, that’s the way I feel about AOLTW.

By Curveball

October 22, 2005 01:16 PM | Link to this

You’s guys need to get a life, the Braves will continue to be losers in postseason without Leo the rocker. Ol’ Leo was smart enough to jump ship first before J. Sourhurtz and Bobby “Booger” Cox take the dive next year. I keep telling anyone who will listen that as long as AOL/TW own the Braves they ain’t going anywhere but down to the cellar. The Atlanta Braves are becoming a circus sideshow and continue to be a nice tax write off for the suits in New York, and will most likely remain so until they have a “human” as their owner, but by then AOL/TW will have dismantled the entire organization. I used to love the Braves and they were the classiest team in baseball, but the organization has been going south (no pun intended) for the last few years now beginning the day Ted sold the team. Yes, Sourhurtz doesn’t have as much money to work with now, but if spent wisely it’s enough to put together a well-balanced team every year, however every season it seams as if the Braves always lack at least 1 glaring component needed to win such as: no bullpen, or no closer, or no starting pitching, or no hitting. So my only advice to future Braves teams is to dress warmly, it gets cold and damp down in the cellar!…and that is where you’re headed unless someone who loves baseball buys the team. Why do I give you a hard time? Because you are too good to fold up like a dying spider every postseason except 1. Well, you’s guys enjoy watching the World Series tonite, and I imagine the Braves will be watching too…and keep on hatin’ ol’ Curveball, hell you’s guys need to take out your frustrations on somebody!

By BO

October 22, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this

I remember the days when the Braves were the laughing stock cellar dewellers and Bobby Cox was the Mgr. Ted fired him!!!! I also remember when he was GM and in the cellar. Between 1977 and 1986 I missed 4 home games. Great Players make the Mgr. not the other way around.

By True Braves Fan

October 22, 2005 02:36 PM | Link to this

Great idea braves fan…Eddie Perez would make an outstanding bullpen coach, in my opinion. Even though I watched Bobby Dews, Sr. catch in the old Class B Southeastern League in 1946-47, and went to school with Bobby Dews,Jr. I have to agree that it is time to replace him. I certainly hate to see Leo go, and although he is the highest profile coach we have lost, we have lost other good coaches in the past, and BC and JS have replaced them. Remember Jimy Williams, Net Yost, Don Baylor, etc???

By Ron Roberts

October 22, 2005 02:44 PM | Link to this

This service went downhill (with a cinderblock in it’s lap) once it became free.

That’s what we get to thank for the MULTIPLE “Dan Kolb for pitching coach” KNEE-SLAPPERS and the thought-less “take Bobby Cox w/you Leo” comments.

By david

October 22, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this

Ron,I agree wholeheartedly!

By LeTwan Anthony

October 22, 2005 03:59 PM | Link to this

If the Braves could attract Greg Olson he would be a credit to the organization in any capacity.

10 or 11 minor league seasons . . then got here because the catcher traded for from the Dodgers refused to play for the Braves! Olson made the most of his chance. He is one of the nicest players ever to wear a tomahawk.

Remember how he used to get ready for a game? He’d lie on his back and bend his legs and touch his toes to the ground behind his head. I thought he was made of putty. Dan Gladden stood him on his head and Olson held the ball for the out. But Caminiti broke him in half and cut short his stay with the Braves.

One playoff game with the Pirates he was the offense. 2 HRs that day.

Go get him, Bobby.

By Larry

October 22, 2005 05:38 PM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. I hate to say it, but some of you are STUPID. Really, letting your emotions overcome reason…c’mon. I mean, how about Clark Howard? Certainly, the quarter mil would be attractive enough to him. he certainly seems like a nice enough fellah. Greg Olsen? C’MON, YOU FREAKIN’ MORONS. Leo said that he loved the organization, Bobby, etc., et al, blah, blah. It was said that this wasn’t about the money. Not that I have an inside line (‘cause I don’t), but a friend asked me what I thought about the situation and I surmized that Leo ain’t gettin’ any younger, and the situation with the O’s suits him perfectly. I mean, c’mon…the guy is at the top of his game, he gets to sit in the dugout with his pal and he’s right down the road from his family (no small consideration). Oh, and beside all that, he gets a 3 year contract @ a half-mil, or therabouts…sort of a no-brainer, donthcha’ think? And that is the way it turned out. It’s a no-brainer, dontcha’ think? Or, are you just too stupid to realize the afore-mentioned facts and how they came into play in this particular equasion? Get over it already, he’s gone and it had nothing to do with the organization. Greg Olsen was not a pitcher. Unless you’re saying somethin to the effect of Olsen being a pitcher, Lemke was a catcher, or vice-versa. Hey now, before anybody gets upset, I’m not suggesting anything. It was only an example…

How about getting pumped (stop it, now you’re being SILLY) about the ‘06 Braves? All those young, invigorating, fresh players? Oh, I give up. One last time…the Braves did not choose to let Leo go. It was his choice, not a negotiation…

By Daniel

October 22, 2005 05:48 PM | Link to this

It doesn’t matter if the Braves could have kept him or not, the fact that they were not paying him what he should have been paid in the first place is ridiculous. How are you going to underpay the best pitching coach in the game and NOT expect him to be looking at other options?? And yes, part of it had to be the money, otherwise he wouldn’t have been talking to the Yankees. As for a replacement, I say go get Mike Maddux from the Brewers!!

By Carroll

October 22, 2005 05:58 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what Larry’s deal is but I think Olson would be awesome addition to the coaching staff. Maybe not as a pitching coach but we certainly could do worse. I mean, he used to call games…and he was very energetic and heartsy…exactly what this team needs! Remember that game in 91 when he let into Smoltz right on the mound. And that play with Gladden was classic…can you imagine if Johnny Estrogenada was catching in that situation? There’d prolly be a wet spot around home plate!

Letwan, what are you talking about with a dodgers catcher who refused to play for the bravos? I remember in 90 we had Bruce Benedict at the end of his career and a promising young catcher named Jimmy kremers who just didn’t work out….so they called up Olson mid season. Then in 91 we got Mike HEath who did a pirty good job for about 1/2 a season then nearly got his head taken off on a play at home plate…then it went to Olson by default and he didn’t give it back. Did I miss something/someone?

By Carroll

October 22, 2005 06:38 PM | Link to this

I suppose you could be talkin about Ernie Whitt or Kelly Mann (forgot they were on the roster in 90). Does either one sound familiar, LeTwan?

By LeTwan Anthony

October 22, 2005 07:15 PM | Link to this

Got to know Greg Olson a little bit back then. He drove a beer truck in Minnesota before he got the call … and he promised his wife if he didn’t stick in Atlanta he’d go back home and coach high school. True story.

He had 3 games in Minnesota in ‘89. He signed with the Braves as a free agent in ‘90. The Braves had a trade worked out for a catcher but the guy refused to report - said he wouldn’t play for the Braves. In comes Olson and the rest is history.

Jody Davis was wearing out and they had to get someone to catch. You are right about him having some fire … he laid it all out. And, yes, he crawled all over Smoltz on the mound back when Smoltz didn’t focus too well. He was good enough to make the ‘90 All Star team.

He would be a good addition in some capacity.

By Larry

October 22, 2005 07:42 PM | Link to this

Yep, you’re right. Olsen would be a sentimental favorite if he were to re-join the team in some capacity. But, the question remains: Why would you consider bringing him back as a pitching coach? My “deal”, specifically, was to point out the lunacy of the ramblings of some of the readers and their ‘observations’, or whatever they are that you’d like to call them. Nothing more…it is just as silly to consider Clark Howard in that regard than it is Greg Olsen. Gregg Olsen, maybe…

Look, I like(d) the guy too…I liked a LOT of the Braves I’ve met (that doesn’t, however, qualify any of them for a coaches position). Do ya’ get it, or are you so attached to the emotion of it all..?

By Carroll

October 22, 2005 08:03 PM | Link to this

LeTwan: sure would like to know the name of the guy that wouldn’t report to the Braves (not to say I don’t beieve you….I vaguely remember it myself…but I was real young back then).

Here are the Dodger catchers from ‘90 (other than Mike Scossia): -Barry Lyons

-Darrin Fletcher

-Rick Dempsey

-Carlos Hernandez

Any of them sound familiar?

By BO

October 22, 2005 08:20 PM | Link to this

Father, Don Roberts, I’m sorry if we have offended all you Saints that live and die with King Bobby. Get a life!!Your opinion no better that somebody else’s.

By LeTwan Anthony

October 22, 2005 09:00 PM | Link to this

Hey Larry, you callin’ LeTwan a MORON? I spell better than you and I have opposable thumbs. Your using “stupid” and “equasion” in the same sentence pretty much says it all.

I said Olson would be a credit to the organization in any capacity. That’s pretty open-ended. I think he would be good replacement for Bobby Dews working in the bullpen. And what qualifications are needed? He played about a dozen years of professional baseball. He was an all-star at his position. He called a great game. He willed his way onto the team and made it stick.

You and Moe and Curly enjoy the game tonight. LeTwan

By LeTwan Anthony

October 22, 2005 09:06 PM | Link to this

Carroll, the guy didn’t report. That’s the irony of it. He refused to come play for a perennial loser - just hung ‘em up instead. Of course, the next year the Braves went from worst to first.

I’ll do a little research and see if I can identify him.

We all make choices in life … his was not a good one, was it?

LeTwan

By Larry

October 22, 2005 10:28 PM | Link to this

You’re pretty funny, LT. I’ll make sure I keep my spell checker active, now that I know I have someone’s attention. And, you’re right. Your opposable thumbs and ability to spell (not to mention your ability to articulate) make you a far better person than I.

Although I don’t remember if I was calling you out in particular, I believe I would’ve at least used your initials if I were…but did you get my point about having an ex-catcher as a pitching coach, as some were getting excited about? I agree, Oly was a good guy with fire in his ‘britches’. And, I gotta say that for sentimental reasons, it’d be great to see him in the dugout again. But: Is he interested in coaching and what are his other qualifications? Before you throw down the gauntlet, LT, a) what are we considering him for and why b)This was not intended as a hiring fair for various Braves coaching and assistants positions. How in the hell did I get off on this rant, anyway? You’re good, boy….you’re good…

By Ron

October 22, 2005 10:49 PM | Link to this

I agree that the time has come for a new manager now that Leo has left. A manager that can win in the playoffs. Atlanta is fed up with just winning a division title. We deserve a chance to shine in the post season. Bye-bye Bobby. Sorry to see you go Leo. Braves fans deserve a smart manager to help this young and experienced team excell.

By LeTwan Anthony

October 22, 2005 11:34 PM | Link to this

Okay, Larry, we’ll call it even. You did a much better job spelling and you can get your thumbs fixed. Earlier someone suggested Olson - just his name, nothing more. Carroll said he’d make a good bulpen coach, or maybe manager someday. I just said he’d be a credit to the organization - and he would.

A team of post-season underperformers with drunks, aldulterers, and a wife beater could do well to bring in a guy like Olson. He’s All-American. He’s had playoff success. He quietly did a lot for a lot of people while he was here before - and he was never too busy to sign his name for a young fan. He had a great work ethic.

In ‘91 he was Glavine’s personal catcher. That’s the year Glavine improved from a 10 to a 20-game winner. Olson didn’t do that by himself (the defense improved dramatically with Pendleton, Bream, Belliard) but he was a big part of it.

Olson took charge of the game and you can credit a lot of Steve Avery’s success to him. Olson said Avery was the ace of the staff in 1991. Avery was just plain nasty in the playoffs.

Just how tough is this supposed to be? The guy’s qualifications are good enough. He’s a Minnesota Gopher … probably better educated than 90% of the players and coaches on the team.

I don’t know if he’d be interested in being a coach or not - but I do know the Braves would do well to be interested. LeTwan

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 12:10 AM | Link to this

Actually, I thought you were suggesting him for pitching coach initially, LT, and I basically said why not? I mean, who the hell was Leo Mazzone before he became the Braves pitching coach. If he pitched in the bigs at all, ever, he certainly wasn’t any good….so why can’t a guy like Olson, who was good enough to handle one of the best staffs of all time, be a pitching coach. Not saying he should be, but it certainly wasn’t a completely baseless idea, LT.

By Carlos

October 23, 2005 12:16 AM | Link to this

I think what some of us Braves fans need to put into perspective is that he’s only a pitching coach… he’s not an impact player on the field. And I know he was a big part of this team, but his philosophy on pitching was taught on down through the farm system. So if we did promote one of our minor league pitching coaches, why should we be under the impression that Leo’s way of pitching wouldn’t thrive?

By LeTwan Anthony

October 23, 2005 12:30 AM | Link to this

LeTwan can’t take credit for this one. Scott brought him up. I think Scott is pretty smart. I just seconded the motion. I like the idea of a guy with some emotion and some intelligence helping these young players. LeTwan

By Booger

October 23, 2005 01:02 AM | Link to this

Cox will never pick Olson, Olson is too smart. This is kinda like public education - you teach at the pace of the slowest kid in the class. That means Cox needs someone who can talk on Chipper’s level. That’s LOW level for those of you who haven’t heard Chipper speak. Cox will never pick Olson. He will only pick his nose and hope for an idea.

By Larry

October 23, 2005 01:12 AM | Link to this

Ok, now we’re getting down to the point where we can have an intelligent conversation…and I have to hit the rack. A midnight snack, re-brush the teeth and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Tomorrows topic: Defensive alignment and the pitchers ERA: Why Andruw Jones abilities keep pitchers happy.

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 09:48 AM | Link to this

I just read another name has come up to replace Leo. Former Yanks and BoSox coach and former Braves player (I think) Tony Cloninger. Evidentally, he’s been especialy effective with relievers!

I think we should try what I suggested last year…get a bullpen coach (like Cloninger) who is a good pitching mind and can specifically handle the relievers. Then get an official pitching coach to handle the starters.

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 10:41 AM | Link to this

Now booger….don’t nit-pick.

By LeTwan Anthony

October 23, 2005 11:53 AM | Link to this

You are right. Tony Cloninger isn’t just a former Yanks and Bosox coach he is the guy who started the first game for the Atlanta Braves. He was the Ace. Bobby Bragan pitched him 13 innings in the season opener on a cool April night and he hurt his arm that night. Braves lost 3-2.

Joe Torre hit two home runs for the Braves’ only runs.

Cloninger could be hitting coach - he hit two slams against SF way back when and had 9 RBI in the game - a major league record for pitchers.

Tony is old. Bobby is old. Dews is old. Corrales is old. The team is loaded with kids. I’d vote for some younger coaches. LeTwan

By Ron Roberts

October 23, 2005 12:22 PM | Link to this

Bobby Cox will go when Bobby Cox is damn-well ready to go. He will NOT get fired. Get used to that idea and shut the hell up about it, already. You can agree or disagree on his managerial acumen, (pauses while the booger-pickers and ebonically-challenged look that term up……ok), but you CAN’T change the fact that Bobby’s won 14 consecutive division titles, 5 NL pennants and a World Series in this current 14-season run.

No baseball organization in their RIGHT MIND would fire the guy. It’d be a stupid move for one, and a HUGE P.R. nightmare for another. For a franchise owned by AOL/TV (thos folks know PLENTY about bad P.R.) with dwindling attendance DESPITE the consecutive titels, they don’t NEED any more signs of decay. So shut up about Bobby Cox getting the boot. It won’t happen.

Will he retire soon? Sure, maybe. He’s at an age where he could go or he could stay a couple more seasons. Are there guys in the system ready to step in? Sure. I think Terry Pendelton would be a good replacement (if you’d told me in MAY I’d have thought this now, I’d have been shocked), and I think there are CAPABLE pitching coaches in the system already, as well.

That being said, I’d LOVE to see what Orel Hershiser could do with our pitching staff - especially our young bullpen arms. I’d be willing to bet he could single-handedly solidify our ‘pen just with the young arms we have now.

By Mike of Alpharetta

October 23, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this

I believe Dave Duncan, a pitching coach, is a former big league catcher, so there is a precedent set for someone like Olson to be a pitching coach. How about Bedrosian? Former Brave starter and closer, Cy Young winner. Lots of names out there, but I do believe there is someone in the minors who knows all the kids we have or are about to bring up that would be effective in the roll. All the experts say our minor league call-ups play the game the right way. They learned that in the minor league system from our minor league coaches.

By Curveball

October 23, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this

You’re absolutely right Ron Roberts Cox, ol’ greasy fingers Bobby Cox will be pullin’ acumen out of those stretched out nares (look that up) for as long as he wants!…and the next pitching coach for the Braves will be some cheap minor leaguer from their own system because they refuse to pay enough to bring anyone else in from outside…and who would want the job anyhow?…and if you think any of those billionaire pitchers in the game now are going to retire to be the Braves pitching coach and sit beside ol’ greasy fingers Cox dodging boogers for at least 162 games a year, then you’re crazier than I am!…

By LeTwan Anthony

October 23, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

Curveball, you said it all, man. I think Ron R. may need some therapy - he gets all agitated. That boy sure likes to type in CAPS when he’s wrong, doesn’t he? I think Ol’ Ron R. may have taken a shot at LetWan in his rant but I can’t be sure. It’s hard for him to express himself clearly. At least he doesn’t say “uh” ten or fifteen times in a paragraph like his boy Chipper.

I think Booger has it right … it’s hard to have much respect for Bobby’s genius while he has his finger in his nose. I agree with that dude who said he wouldn’t want Bobby sitting on his new sofa.

That said, try not to disagree with RON R. anymore - we’re gonna cause him to have a stroke - or ebonically, he may get the vapors.

Ron R., go back to messin’ with Carroll and leave LeTwan alone.

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 03:44 PM | Link to this

If you must pick on someone, pick on booger….just makes good common sense. I love ya boog! And I missed ya!

By Booger

October 23, 2005 05:50 PM | Link to this

Hey Carroll, don’t get Ron R. started on me. That guy is in melt-down.

We all love baseball or we wouldn’t be here. We all care about the Braves or we wouldn’t be trying to sort out what went wrong again and what can be done to avoid yet another in a series of playoff flops. Ol’ Booger sees one constant: Bobby Cox.

Now, Bobby may be a very nice man(doubtful since he beats his wife) and he may be a charming host at the lake, but Bobby is a nose picker - a public nose picker - and that makes him nasty to be around.

Why do you think the relief pitchers didn’t want to get the call? Because Bobby rubs up the ball before he hands it to them! Nasty.

With Bobby Cox it’s snot whether you win or lose …

Now Booger knows I’ll be a target for exposing Bobby’s nastiness - but it had to be done. The real reason AOL/TW keeps him in the dugout is because you can hose-out the dugout after the game - can’t do that in the executive offices.

It would be hard to pick just one reason to get rid of Bobby Cox.

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 06:26 PM | Link to this

If BC were a musician, he’d prolly play the ‘pick’allo….although it just might end up lodged in his snoot.

No, seriously….if we don’t get this bullpen thing figured out, we’ll be in a ‘pick’le again.

By True Braves Fan

October 23, 2005 07:22 PM | Link to this

Ron Roberts: Give it up, the rest of the sensible bloggers have…Carroll and his cohorts have totally ruined what was a good thing…

By Booger

October 23, 2005 07:23 PM | Link to this

Can you imagine the man wearing a championship ring and diggin’ in his nose? Based on his 14 performances to date, I can’t imagine the championship ring … but I can see the pickin’.

About the bullpen - rumors are that Bobby is going for Rhino Tillexomania from the Mexican League. This is a good pick. Booger

By LeTwan Anthony

October 23, 2005 07:42 PM | Link to this

TBF, “What was a good thing” goes something like this … “Golly, gee, 14 consecutive division championships! That’s really special.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Golly.”

“I think both of you are right. Gee.”

“We’re all right. And we’re all True Fans!”

“Those other fans who want to advance beyond the first round are bad. Not true fans.”

“Golly, you’re right.”

“Let’s do this again tomorrow.”

By Harold

October 23, 2005 07:47 PM | Link to this

Leo Mazzone to Baltimore to rebuild? Hay “Chop Chick” read some of the other posts at this site. Most know the truth. Leo was underpaid all of his career but loved the team, the city and most of all Bobby Cox. They were a dynamic team. If the Orioles owner opens up the purse than Perlozzo/Mazzone will also be a dynamic duo. Baltimore is only 3 hours from his family not 12. His father is in his 80’s as is my mom and his other aunts; none of which can fly due to health and age, I am Leo’s cousin. I will miss him not in a Braves uniform as I have followed his career since he was in high school until current. I am very proud of my cousins achievements in baseball and the reputation he has built. I too will miss Atlanta as I have been there 8 times with my family during Leo’s tenure there. In closing I can only end with my thoughts……….”welcome home cousin!”

By glennbo

October 23, 2005 10:07 PM | Link to this

Lets see how Leo does without Andruw, F******* and Giles behind his pitchers. I think he’ll miss the comforts of the big outfield at THE TED and will also miss the Braves’ farm system. He’ll also have to get used the DH. And he won’t have the luxury of playing the NL East. He’s 57 years old and he’s been in the same system for 15 years. Leo, you can’t go home again. You can only leave the best thing that ever happened to you.

By Carroll

October 23, 2005 10:37 PM | Link to this

Whomever we get, I hope they can work on instilling some confidence and mental toughness in our pitchers. Not saying this was Leo’s fault, per se, but It just seems like over the years we have had more games completely blow up in one inning because one bad thing leads to another and then our pitchers start to hang their heads and crap their britches and it becomes a complete free-for-all. ANd this has happened to our GOOD pitchers…not just scab relievers…look at Maddux and Glav over the years in big games…hell, even Smoltz has had his issues (opening day 2005 for example). It will happen to the best of ‘em once in a while but it just seemes to happen to our pitcher way too often.

By dannycardwell

October 23, 2005 11:18 PM | Link to this

greg olson was bought off the waiver wire for 100.00 nobody knew him from adam, but we were all out of catchers and the farm had none worth bringing up. he was a 30 year old rookie and onr of my all time favorites. any club would be better with him in any capacity. caminetti put him out of baseball on a dirty slide and had no remorse. god paid him back in the long run, olsen later took over as manager of the minnesota loons, and gave us kerry lightenburg for a bag of bats and balls and i think 100dollars? it wont matter who is the pitching coack if we dont get rid of everybody in the pen that was not a rookie this year.

By Tomahawkin

October 23, 2005 11:24 PM | Link to this

Carrol I agree wit you on that, I’ve been so disappointed over the years in our pitchers lack of emotion to retialiate to other teams when there is an instance where an opposing teams is throwing at our hitters. Forget that first class crap, pitchers need to protect their players and I believe that is another factor as to why we never show any emotion on the field

By Ralph

October 24, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this

The facts are that the so-called experts behind the 14 cut-out flag in the outfield are the players, who when they make an error is in the open for everyone to see. Bobby Cox, Leo Mazzone, and Terry Pendleton can tell a player what to do or not do, but the ones who make or break a team, manager, pitching coach or for that matter hitting coach are the players. These guys are in the major leagues not t-bat or little league more credit should be given to them. When a Brave player hits a home run the TV cameras would show Terry Pendleton, or for that matter any hitting coach, and I would laugh because when the same player struck out 4 times in another game the same TV camera would focus on the player only. Just like players make mistakes or errors all manager and coaches make error, expect you can’t find them in a record book.

By John

October 24, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this

Listen, I love Leo and he was a very intrical part of Glavine and Smoltz improving from their younger days. But Maddux was a Cy Young winner before he got to the Braves. Leo is not a doctor and couldn’t help Avery’s arm or Hampton’s elbow. Leo is not a magician and could not waive his wand and get Kolb to be more than a piece of crap or get Wohlers’ control problem solved, or Rocker to keep his mouth shut. Bottom line, Mazzone is a good coach, but there’s only so much a pitching coach can do, and he can’t make every pitcher have a sub 3 ERA. I agree with the other folks that have said that they need to go with somebody within the organization that the young pitchers trust. One reason that the pitching staff has been so successful throughout the Braves run has been that the pitchers have been molded in the lower minors by the roving pitching instructors and the consistency of the coaching that the Braves pitchers receive from level to level. Davies, Lerew, Chuck James, and others are the future of this pitching staff, so why not get somebody they are comfortable with ??? Mazzone was a great pitching coach, but he was not perfect and people need to remember that.

By Ol' Coach from wayback

October 24, 2005 06:53 PM | Link to this

Is it true Bobby’s getting Rhino Tillexomania for the bullpen?

By Carroll

October 24, 2005 08:32 PM | Link to this

Chuck Tanner?! Is that you?! Hey whatever happened to that “banner year” you promised?!

By Curveball

October 24, 2005 08:48 PM | Link to this

When Bobby Cox was asked by sports writers which pitcher, that has never played for him before, would have been his favorite “pick”…he said,”Well, I would have to say “Rollie Fingers!”…”Yep, might have made it to the postknuckle every season with Fingers!” Then he replied, “Oh I’m sorry, I thought you meant favorite picker!”

By LeTwan Anthony

October 24, 2005 09:24 PM | Link to this

More about Olson and his qualifications to be a coach - let’s not forget that the man who thinks he knows more about baseball than any other person alive was a catcher. McCarver.

By Carroll

October 24, 2005 10:05 PM | Link to this

Curveball…classic!

By Don Keeballz

October 25, 2005 12:31 PM | Link to this

I think we need a new tandem in Mgr and pitching coach Bobby Dews and the Catcher named butts. Then it could be Dews Butts

By OUTLAWED

October 25, 2005 02:04 PM | Link to this

Who cares what the era was on the team as long as that team makes it to the World Series. The Braves are a team that wants to go to the big dance every year without a date. Who cares if Cox picks his nose or he picks his A** as long as he wins the big game its all it matters, then all of you BIG critics of Bobby and his nose picking would be willing to wait in line to kiss his booger stained hands…! As for McCarver he is an idiot and he hates any sports team from Atlanta.. Remember Deion soaking him in the locker room way back?

By LeTwan Anthony

October 25, 2005 02:47 PM | Link to this

LeTwan would not shake hands with Bobby Cox, there are other polite ways to greet him without the risk of picking up a booger.

“Winning big” must mean different things to different people. Winning the division means nothing if you can’t beat the wild card and advance.

I have fond memories of Deion soaking McCarver in the clubhouse. McCarver needs another soak but we can’t advance far enough to get him to the club house. Maybe next year with a new manager …

By OUTLAWED

October 25, 2005 03:25 PM | Link to this

We need McGriff kind of fire and Deion kind of a personality around the club house. Baby Braves are going to be just fine and carry this team for years to come. LeTwan you are right about McCarver coming to the Braves club house, we need to advance further so the Mr. Know It All would be able to come to the club house. I wonder who would play Deion’s role? Who do you think LeTwan?

By Kyle Hinnant

October 25, 2005 03:30 PM | Link to this

I hate to see Leo go.I don’t think John Rocker is doing anything at the moment.He would have great rapport with the young players as well as the veterans.

By LeTwan Anthony

October 25, 2005 05:53 PM | Link to this

OUTLAWED, it sure wouldn’t be Chipper, would it? No passion there. I guess we could see if one of the rookies can bring it. That Boyer kid has some fire. I don’t think we have to worry … FOX doesn’t send McCarver to the club house of a first round loser - and that’s where we may end up again if Bobby can just get one more of those little signs before he hangs it up.

By Carroll

October 25, 2005 10:03 PM | Link to this

I would say Gily might have the cajones to do that to mcarver but the way he plays in the postseason, he should be the one getting douced….with gasoline…..and then a lit match!

By Tomahawkin

October 25, 2005 10:40 PM | Link to this

LOL Carroll, I’d like to see the Blow-Pen right in there as well as Gily, and while were at it I’d like to see something done against Joe Buck as well I can’t stand him just as much as McCarver, and Get rid of Scooter, this isn’t sesame street were watching, it’s baseball

FOX SUCKS!

By Curveball

October 26, 2005 01:16 AM | Link to this

You want some fire in the Braves dugout…try coating “14 straight division titles winning manager Bobby Cox’s” fingers with a little Icy Hot and it won’t be long till he will be a fire breathing dragon blowing flames out of his nose…by the way, it’s always been said that the “14 straight division title winning Braves” have conducted themselves in a business-like manner…but for the last few seasons I believe it was the mortuary business!…

By Carroll

October 26, 2005 07:20 AM | Link to this

OMG you guys! You gave me a good early morning laugh. Thanks!

Tomahawkin: I agree 100% about FOX…I detest them! They are everything that’s wrong with the world today (not so much Fox news, but the local Fox channels). The way they treat the playoffs and WS is a detriment to baseball. To them, it’s nothing more than a 3 hour commercial for their own product. It’s one thing to have commercial breaks, it’s completely different to find every excuse in the world to throw in little mini commercials during the games….between every pitch, seemingly.

Poor Astros. Believe me, I know how you feel, and my heart bleeds for you. You prolly sat up all night thinking: dammit….and, what if…and, if only this or that….etc, ad nauseum. Hang in there.

Godbless, Carroll.

By Casey

October 26, 2005 11:22 AM | Link to this

Leo and Bobby are very close and with Bobby approaching the end of his career, I wouldn’t be suprised if he didn’t tip Leo off that he might want to go ahead and get out now. While we are looking for a new pitching coach, we might want to think about who’s in the future as far as head coach!

By OUTLAWED

October 26, 2005 11:54 AM | Link to this

Come March 2006 we will all forget about 2005 season and we will have hopes that our Braves would make it to the World Series. I hope to see a player or two with fire and passion, LeTwan you are right on the money with Chipper he has no fire or passion in him as well as Estrada and La Roche. Boyer seems to have some fire and it will come out as he matures and get to know the club and feels comfortable around the players. As for FOX goes they are all about the commercials and for themselves. McCarver is a self serving delusional ego-maniac and Buck is his little copy. We don’t know how many more years Bobby will be with the Braves, my guess is as long as he wants to. The next manager is Ned Yost or John Smoltz. That’s my opinion i welcome yours.

By Tomahawkin

October 26, 2005 07:46 PM | Link to this

Carroll, While were at it why don’t we assassinate that stupid little muppet Scooter, If I wanted to watch muppets, I’d watch Sesame Street

By Dayver

October 26, 2005 08:30 PM | Link to this

What about John Rocker? He might be looking for a job and would make an excellent pitching coach.

Dayver

By Lisa

October 26, 2005 11:41 PM | Link to this

Geez. I’d love to be paid ONLY 200,000/year. He’s just like Glavine. He got greedy. Got you really far, eh Tommy?

By Bunt

October 27, 2005 12:25 PM | Link to this

John Rocker is very busy with his career right now and won’t be available—McDonalds really need him on 3rd shift!…

By Carroll

October 27, 2005 10:24 PM | Link to this

careful! he might hock a loogie in your burger! Or, depending on how much he learned from Boog Cox, he might pick something even worse for your meal!!