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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > August > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBrewers’ Yost a lot like Bobby Cox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s yet another reason Bobby Cox bashers need to stifle: He is baseball’s Bill Walsh, which means he has produced a slew of wonderful clones. That’s why Cox officially is watching his battered and bruised Braves slump toward the offseason, but he unofficially is managing the strikingly healthy and fairly potent Milwaukee Brewers in a playoff race.
It’s just that Cox is doing the latter through the body of Ned Yost.
“Well, not really, because Bobby is still the best manager in baseball,” said Yost, who studied Cox as a Braves coach for 12 seasons. Later, after joining the Brewers in 2003, you’d think all of that Cox insight would have given Yost a nice edge during something like Milwaukee’s trip to Turner Field over the weekend.
Yost shrugged, despite victories on Friday and Saturday before Sunday’s 5-0 loss. Then he said, “Bobby will do things, and you’ll think, ‘Why did he do that?’ And then four innings later, you’ll see exactly why. He puts himself in a position to win four innings before. I might be able to do it for two innings, but I’m not capable of doing what he does.”
Still, give or take a slew more ejections for Cox, Yost is Cox, and Cox is Yost. The same is true of Fredi Gonzalez, another Cox disciple, who is keeping his Florida Marlins in a three-way scramble in the National League East with the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.
Speaking of the Phillies, their bench coach is Jimy Williams, the eternal Cox third base coach who tried to manage like his mentor in stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros.
This is flirting with Walsh territory, all right, when the San Francisco 49ers icon triggered a coaching tree with Mike Holmgren, George Seifert, Sam Wyche, Dennis Green and others. Then the branches became the likes of Andy Reid, Mike Shanahan and Tony Dungy. That tree now includes those from Lovie Smith to Falcons coach Mike Smith.
Most of Walsh’s guys have their version of the West Coast offense — or, at the very least, Walsh’s system of running a franchise and handling players.
Sounds like Cox’s guys.
“From talking to players on the Brewers, a lot of them talk about similar things that players would say when talking about Bobby,” said Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, around Cox for most of his two-plus decades in the major leagues. “They talk about how Ned runs his team, how he runs spring training, how he deals with players, and all those things compare to Bobby.”
None of that is coincidental, said Yost, who is taking his Cox training to its ultimate level these days.
Call it the postseason-run level. Yost was around Cox during most of the Braves’ sprint to a record 14 consecutive division titles. “I learned from Bobby that, during this time of year, you can’t control the situation,” Yost said. “You can’t control that guy getting a hit, even though you want to, so don’t stress over it. Don’t throw a scene if he doesn’t get a hit. You have to stay constant in your approach. You can’t go crazy, making lineup changes every time something happens.
“Then, if you’re staying level, and the players see that, they’re going to stay relaxed. We have to realize that we have really talented players, and it was like that when I was in Atlanta.”
It’s the same now in Atlanta, except they’re also really injured players.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Herschel Talker
August 3, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
You’re dumbBy Red Snapper
August 3, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
“None of that is coincidental, said Yost, who is taking his Cox training to its ultimate level these days.” He’s picking his nose?By justafan
August 3, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Spin it anyway you want TM but Bobby Cox and his Glory Days are a think of the past. Yost and Fredi will use some of the good Cox taught but they don’t wait on the big homer like Cox does and they pull players like AJ and JF when they’re not hitting. Also hit and run , bunt and steal that Cox has forgot. He11 write a story about someone that desires it more Skip Carey.By justafan
August 3, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
sorry sp deserveBy Cox was good but it's time to leave
August 4, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Another sick attempt to boast about Cox. Yesterday was the first day he has looked or managed like the old Cox. Find something to write about that you actually know something about.By corkyLIKESbeer
August 4, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Wow! A decent article by MR. Moore. Braves baseball is there anything better?By Maniac is accurate
August 4, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Great, when Bobby decides to hang it up, bring Yost right on back.By greg
August 5, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
If Ned Yost was like Bobby, why are his players fighting in the dugout?By Travis
August 5, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget Ozzie Guillen always credits Cox for being the manager he admired the most.By Robert
August 5, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
“�You can�t control that guy getting a hit, even though you want to, so don�t stress over it. Don�t throw a scene if he doesn�t get a hit. You have to stay constant in your approach. You can�t go crazy, making lineup changes every time something happens” When you have a team led by three HOF starters, and a 162 games to work with, that philosophy is fine - and it aint rocket science But when you DONT have a huge edge in talent, or when you dont have much time or games to give - or, heaven forbid when you have neither a talent edge or time (as in the playoffs) then this philosophy cant work and wont work A guy who stays the course when he has time and talent and makes moves when he must is a good manager A guy who stays the course no matter whether he has time or talent is just a buffoon Cox is a buffoon. And you have just insulted Yost in a big way