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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > July > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCox key to Braves’ success
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Take it from Braves chairman Terry McGuirk, the hidden reason behind the franchise’s record sprint to 14 consecutive division titles through 2005. No, his wobbly team isn’t surrendering this week with a fire sale before Thursday’s trade deadline, and, no, his manager, Bobby Cox, isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Good.
To both things.
“[Braves owner] Liberty Media will do whatever is best for this team, and they’ve already entrusted all of that authority in existing management,” said McGuirk, suggesting that Liberty Media will allow McGuirk to join president John Schuerholz and general manager Frank Wren in becoming buyers more than sellers during the next few days. That is, if that trio wishes to deal at all. Added McGuirk, “My attitude is that we’re always a buyer, especially in this flawed National League East, where every team has big holes and flaws. Until proven that we don’t have a chance in that division, we’re a buyer.
“Being a seller is sort of your last resort, and we’re looking at buying situations every day toward improving this team. We’ve got a long-term plan with all of these young guys, and we’ll just see how all of these other plans work into it.”
Each of those plans includes the Braves’ 67-year-old manager. So here’s some advice for all of those Cox bashers coming faster than Braves losses during many weeks this season: Get over it. Not only that, just get real. You can run through the whole list in your spare time. Earl Weaver. Sparky Anderson. Leo Durocher. Joe McCarthy. Connie Mack. That’s for starters. And how about Dick Williams and Billy Southworth, the latest managers to become bronzed forever with their Hall of Fame inductions on Sunday in Cooperstown?
If those guys were in their prime, none would do better than Cox at handling a Braves team full of aches, pains and inconsistency. He didn’t take a Louisville Slugger to John Smoltz’s shoulder or Tom Glavine’s elbow. He had nothing to do with the eternal throbbing of Mike Hampton and Chipper Jones. Just so you know, Mark Kotsay already had a creaky back when he came to Atlanta. We won’t even mention the injury that took reliever Peter Moylan away for the season with Smoltz and Jeff Francoeur’s ailing bat. “Bobby gets done more with less than almost anybody else in baseball,” said McGuirk of a manager who has spoiled the choppers and the chanters with his little miracles.
Two seasons come to mind. There was 1999, when the Braves lost slugger Andres Galarraga (cancer) and closer Kerry Ligtenberg (elbow) before the season and catcher Javy Lopez along with two other pitchers during it. The Braves still won 103 games, their division and the National League pennant. There also was three years ago, when the Braves took the N.L. East despite missing three-fifths of their starting pitching rotation and using 18 different rookies on their roster.
Even so, with the Braves threatening to miss the playoffs for a third straight year courtesy of aging veterans and struggling youth, a bull’s-eye has replaced the tomahawk on Cox’s uniform.
“Well, I hear it occasionally that people disagree with Bobby’s theory of managing,” McGuirk said. “He does things on intuition and hunches that prove right most of the time. It’s wondrous even to baseball people as to how he comes up with the theories that he does — to make the changes or to make the calls. But I have total confidence in Bobby. We’re so lucky to have him in this franchise. It just isn’t his fault.”
It really isn’t.
Permalink | Comments (47) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Robert
July 27, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
Moore, any human being on the planet not named Bobby Valentine or Mike Hargrove could manage better than Bobby “Donk” Cox
As a longtime Braves fan (yes, from before 1991) it nauseates me to hear that the front office is still behind Cox.
Watching Cox manage a baseball team is like watching a hobo take a leak on a Picasso
By Robert
July 27, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
“Well, I hear it occasionally that people disagree with Bobby�s theory of managing,� McGuirk said. �He does things on intuition and hunches that prove right most of the time. It�s wondrous even to baseball people as to how he comes up with the theories that he does � to make the changes or to make the calls. But I have total confidence in Bobby. We�re so lucky to have him in this franchise. It just isn�t his fault”
That is just laughable. The next time a Cox intuitive decision is correct will be the first.
The man has a true knack for finding a wrong decision in any situation and executing it (and in the process, the game) to a tee
Anyone here remember “And he’s bringing in Liebrandt toi face Puckett”?
Bobby Cox has been snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory since his days managing the Syracuse Chiefs, which is where I first saw his ineptitude. Imagine a 9-year old looking to his dad and asking “Daddy, why is the stupid man doing that?” and daddy answering “Because he is a stupid man son.”
If I managed a baseball team, I’d like to be able to face a team managed by Cox 162 times a season, but more than that, I’d like to face a Cox managed team in October
By DesiBrave
July 27, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
Good to know that the Organization doesn’t thing they are sellers. But that McCann’s injury could change the perspective
By HoustonBrave
July 27, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
If you think Bobby can still manage, you must have been asleep during the last two games he single handedly gave to the Phillies. He is past his time and each time trots out the same folks that lose time and time again. Reyes, Boyer and Ring would not even be on an Independent league team but Bobby trots them right back out there for the ole L.
By danny cardwell
July 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
if they start selling off, what does that say to the fans? if the braves cut their losses i plan to do the same and not go to another game this year. i would think they would send frenchy and jo jo reyes to the minors for the rest of the year along with kelly johnson and give some other kids a chance.
By keef1234
July 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
I wonder how Yankees or Redsox would handle this issue with Cox….
By Robert
July 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
“�Bobby gets done more with less than almost anybody else in baseball,�
We;re talking about the guy who could manage all of ONE WS title with a staff that featured THREE future first ballot HOFers - and we’re saying that Cox does MORE with LESS than anyone else?
Is McGurk dyslexic or just stupid?
Cox’s record of getting less from more is unparalleled. For chrissakes he had hands down the best team in baseball about 8 times - the man has been turning WS Champions into division winners since the mid-80’s
More with less - wtf are you n McGurk smoking?
By Dwayne
July 27, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Here we go again, a player or a coach is catching a little heat and an AJC writer defends he is a God. Yes, Bobby Cox is a hall of fame coach, but the last three years have been awful. Who owns the AJC anyway, Liberty Media? Or do these guys just take pride in being the defenders of bad baseball. The Braves are not a very good team this year, last year, or the year before that. Yes, the Braves did win 14 titles in a row, but 13 of those seasons ended in bitter disappointments. Another reason why the Braves were great was because of the players. There is only one hall of fame player still on the active roster and he can hardly stay healthy anymore. So quit sucking up to Bobby Cox, Frenchy, TP, and the rest of this team, because they way the AJC reporters see it there is nothing wrong with the Braves and everything will be okay.
By GTKevin
July 27, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
It seems to me that Bobby has always been a frustrating manager. In my humble opinion, here is what he does well:
-He keeps the team motivated. He cheers for his guys and believes they can win. He is the first to say, “You’ll get them next time” after a strikeout, and “Way to go” after a hit.
But, his weakness: -He is (or has become) a poor gametime manager. He makes the most frustrating decisions sometimes. A bunt, when everybody knows this guy can’t bunt. Bringing in a reliever in a close game who we all know has lost his confidence. Sticking with a backup catcher who has no business being in baseball. Overworking the one guy in his bullpen that he can count on until that guys arm is about to fall off.
Bobby Cox deserves a lot of credit for what he has done for the Braves over the last 20 years. And, conversely, he deserves a lot of credit for how they have consistently lost ballgames they should have won over the last few years.
By ncochransr
July 27, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
The whole coaching staff lacks a lot to be desired! The pitching staff is a shambles and the hitters have gone in hiding. The team does not need to be changed as there are a lot of good players and a couple of great players on the team. The coaching staff needs a complete overhaul.
By BravesFan79
July 27, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
Im all for Cox being the manager next year…. IF someone else handles the roster moves! ……..corky over Pena and Lopez was TERRIBLE!, Just like Woodward over Escobar to start last year was TERRIBLE!
Batting Andrew 4th 2/3rds of the season was TERRIBLE!
ALOT of his bullpen moves are TERRIBLE! When we get to extra innings Bobby seems to give the game away if we havent won it by the 12th inning. Give me a innovative manager whos not afraid to bring in a starter in extra innings to make sure you get the victory! (there were several times earlier this year that 1 inning by Smoltz in extra innings would of ment just as much as 6 innings of another game)
Give me a manager who isnt SO by the book that he REFUSED to start Smoltz over Hampton in the game 5 blowout loss to the Astros! We ALL knew Hampton IS NOT a big game pitcher…..meanwhile Smoltz is one of the best gamers of ALL TIME!
** We do NOT need to blow up this team! Trade TEX, use that $$ to get a TRUE #1 starter (Hudson is clearly a #2). Trade Kotsay, KEEP Ohman!
Have Smoltz come back at the all star break next season so if we DO get to the playoffs hes fresh and healthy!**
I believe this team can make 1 last push to win it all next season….we just gotta change up some things….starting with the coach.
Ownership: PLEASE spend some $$ like u PROMISED for next year! Will we ever have HOF players again that take paycuts so we can have a better team!?? (Smoltz and Chipper) Lets GO FOR IT ALL next season! Because after Chipper and Smoltz are gone fellow fans….. welcome to the 80’s again…..ok maybe not that bad…but well be on the same level as say…the Reds.
By JimK
July 27, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
I admire Bobby Cox and thank him for 14 great years. But if he believes we should keep Teixeira for just two months at the expense of building the franchise’s future, he’s way off base.
How about sending Teixeira and Bobby to the Dodgers for Clayton Kershaw, James Loney, and Joe Torre?
By spotts
July 27, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Hey Terrence: you know the difference between this year and 1999? Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. I could win 103 games with those three.
And how can you blame the Braves losses on injuries? Most of the injuries have been to the pitching staff, and yet the Braves rank among the top in NL ERA. The problem is inconsistency and Jeff Francoeur’s bat. Who’s job is it to fix that stuff? Oh yeah, the manager’s!
And what is it…24, 25 straight one run losses on the road? You can’t blame that on the lineup.
By Chuck Uga
July 27, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
BOOBY COX COULDN’T MOTIVATE ICE TO MELT ON A 90-DEGREE DAY. PLEASE BOOBY, RETIRE. YOU HAVE DONE LESS WITH MORE THAN ANY MAJOR LEAGUE MANAGER IN HISTORY. NOW THAT SCHEURHOLZ ISN’T AROUND TO BAIL YOU OUT, YOUR TRUE COLORS ARE SHOWING. YOU ARE ALSO A HIDEOUS GAME-DAT MANAGER. PLEASE GO AWAY. AND TAKE RAG-ARM MINOR LEAGUERS BOYER, CARLYLE AND RING WITH YOU. IN FACT, THROW IN COCKY, UNMOTIVATED LOCAL FRANCOUER WITH YOU AS WELL.
By bill
July 27, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
The Braves not sellers? What do they want to keep in the starting lineup of today? Is this what you want for next year…. Look at the bench, th bullpen… it’s an embarassment to any real Baves fan. Keep Mcann, Esco, and Chip and send the rest down the river!!!
By Dick
July 27, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Dump Corky Miller NOW!!
By Terence Moore
July 27, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
According to his peers, Bobby Cox still is one of the top managers in baseball. And, according to those in the Braves clubhouse who have been around a while (Chipper Jones, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine), Cox is the same guy who took the Braves to those 14-straight division titles.
That should be impressive enough to the masses.
At least if you’re being fair.
By Bilroy
July 27, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
The decision to go with senior citizens as starters and a bullpen of mediocre chunkers is the real reason this team is where it is. The management deliberately decided to depend on Smoltz, Glavine and Hampton as three of their five starters. Smoltz and Glavine were great pitchers in their prime but both are 40+ and Hampton was a crap shoot from the start with his health problems. Putting all your eggs in that basket was folly from the start.
Add to that the determination to stick with Francoeur who has become the poster boy for strike outs and hitting into double plays. They sent him down for three whole days and proclaimed him fit to hit major league pitching again. That was a joke and has come back to bite them in the posterior.
Then there is Bobby Cox and his quirky management style. He got away with it for years while he had Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz in their prime. Now, he has no such luxury and has become a leader who is incapable of changing his style of management and keeps starters and relievers in the game until they throw away the game before pulling them. Didn’t have that problem with the big three in the 1990s and early 2000s, but still manages like he does. It is maddening to see him sit in the dugout game after game with his arms folded like a Buddah while the opposition hitters proceed to take batting practice against our inept pitchers before he finally makes a change. He tries to manage like Earl Weaver of the Orioles, who had his big bombers, and played for the three run homer. Well, the Braves don’t have those bombers and Bobby’s refusal to play small ball is killing this team.
Finally, these batters who masquerade as hitters just don’t produce. Any club that has lost 25 straight one run games is a disaster going somewhere to happen. Either they are that awful or there is no motivation from management to light a fire under them. It is pitiful, it is disgraceful, and it is unnecessary. A few trades or outright releases of some non-producers just might get the attention of the rest of the hitters and give them some incentive to do something other than go to the plate and look at third strikes as they split the middle of the plate belt high.
So Terence, I couldn’t agree with you LESS about the need for change. Keep the producers and put the rest of them on the block for whatever you can get for them. They are not contributing anyway and need to go somewhere else to earn big bucks while they smell up the field.
By Dawg Fan in Fla
July 27, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
Sorry, but I don’t see anybody else who could do a better job. I see a lot of b***, but NO suggestions.
By Robert
July 27, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
“How about sending Teixeira and Bobby to the Dodgers for Clayton Kershaw, James Loney, and Joe Torre?”
Cuz the Dodgers arent stupid. There is not a team in baseball that would give a week old pizza and a flat glass of beer for Cox
By GT
July 27, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
“Until proven that we don�t have a chance in that division, we�re a buyer.”
Moore, when are you going to make the synaptic connection that just because Cox may be headed to Cooperstown, doesn’t mean he’s still capable of effectively managing this team? Your argument boils down to this: Cox = 14 past division titles Division Titles = success therefore, using the principle of transitive equalities… Cox = successful. Problem is, you only credit Cox with the success, and not the rest of the picture. You ignore the past 2 years and what is staring you back in the face this year. He can’t be responsible for 14 division titles, if you’re absolving him from the past three years of mediocrity.
By roman88
July 27, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
hey terrence, it’s sure easy to look good as a manager when you’ve got hall of famers throughout the rotation, phil jackson looked good too with jordan, pippen, kobe and shaq. or torre with the yanks with their all-star lineup of the 90’s and payroll, if bobby was in k.c. the last dozen yrs how would he have done,
By Sage of Bluesland
July 27, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
I think Bobby Cox doesn’t get enough credit for truly building that early 1990s Braves team in the first place. He took over a shambles of an organization and built it from the ground-up.
Schuerholz, despite all of the hero-worship and ego, added a few free agents and the entire thing exploded. However, don’t EVER forget he left that sinking ship otherwise known as Kansas City and knew a team whose sun was rising when he saw it.
Note that he bailed when the sun was setting once again on the Braves.
I’ve said it for many, many years—get Bobby OFF of the field and up in the GM’s box, where he belongs.
By mark white
July 27, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Hmmm…I remember those games in the 70’s and 80’s when I could always get a seat behind home plate. Didn’t even have to buy it … just wait an inning … move down and take a seat. Looks like I may be able to relive those days again.
Bobby … please … hang ‘em up … enjoy the grandkids and farm. I did. Trust me … it’s terrific. Time for new blood.
By CONNECTICUT BRAVES FAN
July 27, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
How can you blow 6 run leads and 5 run leads in back to back games. Easy - have bumble brain Cox as manager. Who else would run out single A pitchers like Reyes (he stinks), Ring, Taveras, & Boyer. None of these guys belong in the majors and should have been canned a long time ago. They make Acosta look like a Cy Young candidate. Whatever happened to our pitcher rich farm system. Blow this whole team up (starting with the manager and his coaching staff) and start from scratch. Send Frenchy to Little League. Bring back Spahn & Sain & 2 days of rain.
By Tomy Fournier
July 27, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
SAME AND SAME AGAIN…FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE BASEBALL SEASON IHAS SAID…PLEASE MR. “MORON” COX…RETIRE…BRING IN A NEW MANEGER AND COACH STAFF…IT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN QUALIFY…AND WHAT THE ATLANTAS ADM. DID…ANOTHER YEAR CONTRACT TO MR. MORON COX…WHAT A TRASCH AND WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT.URRA ATLANTA…SH…..!!!
By Bilko
July 27, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Terence,
I’m one of those who feel your opinions are normally on target but I’m amazed you see anything more than a confused senior citizen in Bobby Cox these days.
Of course his players and peers are going to praise him. That’s the way it is in the good ol’ boys network.
McGuirk is nothing more than a figurehead who latched on to Ted Turner’s belt loops long ago and made a career out of it.
By Dave in Arizona
July 27, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
So Terrance, did you lose the office lottery to be forced to depend this pile of trash in Braves’ uniforms.
I notice Captain Homer Bradley is writing about the Falcons now. If they start out 3-9, he’ll tell us: “Today’s the day they catch fire. Remember this day. This is it.”
By Corey
July 27, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
Tell me this…
How do you have the best team in baseball in 92, 93, 97, 99 & 03… the second best team in 96, 98 & 00… the third best team in 91 & 02… and the fourth best team in 04 and not win the World Series in any of those years?
BOBBY COX!
Enough said.
By B. F. braves fan
July 27, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
there is NO better manager in baseball.
By Dan Prechtel
July 27, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Cox is a joke, always has been. 14 years with the best lineup in baseball and one World Series to show. Now 25 one run losses in a row…can’t a manager be worth at least one run now and then?
By Dan Prechtel
July 27, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
Schuerholz in the Hall of Fame. Idiot Cox in the Hall of Shame.
By UGA AND BRAVO
July 27, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
PLEASE GET RID OF THE OLD PITCHERS, GLAVINE, SMOLTZ,AND HAMPTON. THEY ARE THRU. YOU CANNOT REVERSE THEIR AGES OR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. LET THE YOUNG GUYS PLAY. WE NEED NEW PLAYERS AND STARS. CLOSE THE BOOK ON THE OLD BRAVES. THE FUTURE IS NOW
By Robert
July 27, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
“According to his peers, Bobby Cox still is one of the top managers in baseball.”
Terrence, you frickin retard, the peers you speak of work or play for other teams. If they can find a way to beat the Braves, they will employ it. And the best way they know to make it possible for them to beat the Braves is for the Braves to continue with Cox as manager
Terrence when you ply poker for big stakes, do you give your opponents advice that could benefit them and hurt you? Of course not
As for Braves players lauding Cox, that’s like defending Hitler by pointing out that Goebbels and Himmler thought he was a stand-up guy
Cox is the WORST manager of all time
By ben
July 27, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
This organization needs a overall from top to bottom and starting with Cox. Sorry pitching, hitting and fundamentals. When you lose as many close games as the Braves, you need to look at the manager first. Time for some changes or we’ll probably see a lot of empty seats. No one wants to pay major league prices to see a good AA team play.
By bravo
July 27, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
Cox can do what is provided to him. McJerk is the key to this mess, and he is HIDING!
By Robert
July 27, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
“Sorry, but I don�t see anybody else who could do a better job. I see a lot of b*, but NO suggestions.”
Here’s a suggestion. Absolutely anybody or anything that is eukaryotic, diploid, and not named Bobby Valentine or Mike Hargrove
By LivininAL
July 27, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Baseball Gods have not been kind to the Braves this year..Braves are not sellers?…. I remember Bobby singing praises about Wickmna up until a couple of days before they released him last year so, Bet you Tex is gone before Thursday. If the Braves can’t afford quality players, they can’t afford to win…and by the way the 14 DIVISION titles is REAL OLD news.
By Doug
July 27, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
How can you lose nearly 30 games by one run. You don’t have anyone on the team that knows how to bunt. Out with Cox and the batting coach.
By Robert
July 27, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
This business about Cox being esteemed by his peers. I mean seriously, if I work or play for another team, do I tell the Braves honestly when I see they have a flaw or weakness?
Heck no, I do everything I can to keep them from addressing the problem.
Hell - if I played for any team that had to play the Braves, I’d vote for Cox for Manager of the Year every time
Folks, they laud Cox when the Braves Nation ism listening, and snicker when we arent looking
If the Braves fired Cox, not a single other team would go after him - I guarantee that
By ASHAMED TO BE A BRAVE'S FAN
July 27, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
I said the other day that Cox deserves to go when he decides it’s time. What was I on? Cox should go NOW!. Today is the last straw, Liberty Media and the Braves have paying fans that deserve a Major league team managed by a modern day manager.
Cox was again OUTMANAGED by Charlie Manual.
By Kelley
July 27, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
GREAT article Terrence!
I heard Chipper talk about how great Bobby is this week. Yesterday on the FOX game the national broadcasters were saying it is a flat out miracle that the Braves are not out of it more than they are with all the injuries, and they felt it was due to Bobby.
It just cracks me up to hear people actually IN MLB to praise him, and then read these blogs.
Good thing for Bobby that the Braves front office listen to people who have actually spent some time in the big leagues, rather than reading the blogs posted by people in their cubicles, at their computer at home, (and I suspect from the ignorance of some of you, written from your mom’s basement), huh?
Bobby is one of the best of ALL TIME, period, his record proves it.
He can’t control the Braves luck.
Today for example, the rain delay killed em because it took Campillo out of the game, I guess Bobby should be able to control the weather too? Mac getting run over at the plate will probably do the Braves in for the season, I guess that’s Bobby’s fault too?
To all you Bobby bashers, be sure to have your picture taken in front of his statue in front of Turner Field in about 10 years. Also, don’t miss his Hall of Fame induction speech.
You see, he’ll get in first ballot because that is NOT voted on by those of us who post these blogs, it is voted on by people actually associated with MLB, who know what in the heck they are talking about.
By littlebigman
July 27, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
I don’t know why I keep watching the Braves … honestly I have been a faithful fan since they came to Atlanta. Guess old habits are hard to break! That’s the same reason Cox does these stupid “by the book” moves. He single-handedly has lost more of the close games than can be blamed on anything else. I honestly believe he has begun to fall asleep during games, wakes up and wonders what has happened … then he remembers to bring in a reliever but he can only remember 2 or three names … doesn’t realize he has 2 closers to stop rallies … he can’t remember their names … oh, he turns to his bench coach … . never mind, he’s no help … he looks at Roger … Roger ducks his head and looks away … “Where the h - - - is Corky??? Frenchy help!!!
By Robert
July 27, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Zoom in on a scene - Joe Torre and Jim Leyland are standing at the first tee waiting while Bobby Cox tees it up. Cox takes a big swing and shanks one off into the tall grass about 30 yardsd behind the ladies tee. He looks back to Joe and Jim, long ears sagging in disappointment
Leyland - Nice swing Donk. Dont worry, you probly got a good lie in there
Torre - Yeah way to hit em Donk. Boy we’re lucky we’re only playing for $100 a hole or we’d be in trouble. You look like you;’re gonna get us today Donk
Leyland and Torre proceed to tee off, each hitting a rope down the middle of thge farway. They jump into a cart and head off towards there balls while Rafael Belliard shoulders Cox’s bag as Cox wanders off into the weeds to find his ball. In the cart, Leyland turns to Torre and says
“Hey dude. Who’d you vote for for Manager of the Year?
Torre - I voted for ole Donk
Leyland - DONK? Man we all know he is the worst manager out there.
Torre - DUH! But look at the team he has. Chances are my Yanks are gonna have to play the Braves in the WS next year. Man I wanna be sure Donk is at their helm
Leyland - Yeah, well, ok, I admit it. I was jackin ya. I voted for Donk too
Leyland and Torre hi-five and snicker. Meanwhile back in the tall grass
Cox - HEEHAW HEEHAW
Belliard - Ok master Donk. Here, I put the ball on the ladies tee. They arent looking and I’ll swear you found it. Master Donk? Master Donk>
Belliard peers into the tall grass and observes Cox laying in the grass, contentedly chewing some of the grass
By TampaGator
July 27, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
Terrence, you once wrote an article years back about what a loser is. You wrote that a loser is one that does not win a championship. Well, Bobby Cox was a loser 13 out of 14 years when the Braves were one of the best, if not the best for most of those year, teams in baseball. He took the VERY BEST and lost 13 out of 14 years. Any other GREAT manager would have won 4 or 5 championships with those teams. Bobby managed the Braves out of many of those titles with some of the most bone headed managerial decicions ever…bringing in Charlie Liebrant to face Kirby Puckett when he had many other right handed options, was one of the biggest bone headed decisions by a manager ever. There were many more. Yes, Bobby is one of the greatest players managers ever. He is just not in that same class when it comes to making critical decisions on a baseball diamond. This weekend’s series with Philly is just another example of that lack of managerial skill. Give me LaRussa any day. He has had the same kind of injuries with the Cards this year, yet he has managing them into contention for most of this year. Can’t say the same for Bobby.
By ASHAMED TO BE A BRAVE'S FAN
July 27, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
Clearly Terence does not understand that baseball people do not bad mouth other baseball people (except for Jerry Manuel).
But it’s good enough for you T, then you run with that and only reinforce our already pitiful opinion of you. Stop trying to talk about a sport you clearly know nothing about.
Let’s walk across the field and ask Charlie Manual what he thinks of Cox….. Duh, he a great manager, sure fire HOF and Mr Manual, what about Willie Randolph?… He was a great manager. and a great guy.
T, wake up and smell the BS.
By Robert
July 27, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
“To all you Bobby bashers, be sure to have your picture taken in front of his statue in front of Turner Field in about 10 years. Also, don’t miss his Hall of Fame induction speech”
Sweetheart, if they ever put up a statue of Cox in front of Turner Field, I swear as God is my witness I will p** on it