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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2009 > January > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMazzone admits he erred leaving Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In addition to Cy Maddux, Cy Glavine and Cy Smoltz for the Braves, there was Cy Mazzone, the pitching coach who helped push those other Cys into the city limits of Cooperstown.
Then Cy Mazzone blew it.
He left. He should have stayed with the Braves forever. Instead, he put his splendid 26 years with the organization in his rear-view mirror after the 2005 season by heading to a dysfunctional Baltimore franchise. He joined the coaching staff of then-Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo, his best friend. He also was enticed to leave by the big bucks and the proximity of the team to his hometown in Maryland.
Now, for the first time, Cy Mazzone admits to what I just typed.
He blew it, all right.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would have never done it,” said Leo Mazzone, mostly a national television analyst on baseball these days, reflecting from his home in Roswell. He inherited a bunch of soft pitchers in Baltimore who couldn’t adjust to his hard but effective style. He was booted after two seasons.
To hear Mazzone tell it, his firing was a relief. “Once I got there and saw how they operated compared to the Braves, I knew I made a mistake the first week of spring training,” he said, before chuckling and adding, “I said to myself, ‘You know what? I done messed up.’
“The lack of organization. The lack of discipline. The lack of overall professionalism. I was shocked, and I couldn’t believe it.”
Just like the choppers and the chanters couldn’t believe this: The free-agent exits of their Cys. John Smoltz ended his 21 years with the Braves this week to join the Boston Red Sox. Tom Glavine left after the 2002 season for the hated New York Mets. Greg Maddux bolted after the 2003 season for a return to the Chicago Cubs. Mazzone was gone two seasons later.
Still, this was more unbelievable than all of that: Those Cys staying together for 11 years. That’s an eternity in professional sports. Those Cys contributed to the Braves winning their division every season during that stretch and grabbing three pennants and a world championship.
“Ain’t nothing ever topping that in the history of baseball,” Mazzone said. “You’ve got three guys going to the Hall of Fame with a Hall of Fame manager [Bobby Cox] and a Hall of Fame general manager (John Schuerholz) that stayed together for that amount of years. And when you look back on that, no matter what happens in the rest of the history of the Atlanta Braves, that’s going to be its greatest history — besides Hank Aaron’s home runs.”
Which brings us to the Braves’ present and future. They have a revamped starting pitching rotation in search of ending the franchise’s slide during the past three years (two third-place finishes before dropping to fourth last season). They just acquired historically durable veterans Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez. They signed Kenshin Kawakami, who once won the Japanese version of the Cy Young Award. They’ll also have rising star Jair Jurrjens and maybe Glavine, who is recovering from elbow surgery.
“They’ve done a great job of rebuilding innings pitched from starting pitchers, and that’s something that has been lacking,” Mazzone said. “It doesn’t overexpose your bullpen. Some of the guys they had starting last year wouldn’t be starting on some of the staffs we had in the past.”
Some? Try none, beyond Tim Hudson and what remained of Cy Smoltz and Cy Glavine.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Mac
January 17, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this
Good column. A lot of Braves fans still miss Leo, me included. Also happy you used the Cy-thing again after that reader the other day dinged you for it. Bet you did it just for him. I would have.
By william cranman
January 17, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
Once again, a Braves article using the very tired Cy Glavine, Cy Smoltz, etc…And choppers and chanters you use in probably 95% of your Braves articles. These were creative phrases when you first started using them years ago but not now. Good article but stop using these tired phrases please.
By Rico
January 17, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
Yeah, it’s all good. Everyone takes chances for a better career and Maz was no different. I guess we all learn from our mistakes and move on from there. I am sure the Braves can welcome him back in another Position.
By william cranman
January 17, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this
Thanks Mac. That was me. As I stated a good article but enough of those tired phrases/names.
By Cory
January 17, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this
I would love to see McDowell get canned and bring back Mazzone.. Mazzone was just meant to be a lifelong Atlanta Brave and as he said, he messed up.. Now tell Bobby Cox, Frank Wren, and John Scheurholtz to bring back Mazzone as he is far better of a pitching coach then McDowell will ever dream of being..
By WhereisHarryCarry'sHONESTY?
January 17, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
Admit it …. Mazzone, Maddox, Glavine, and Smoltz have shown no loyalty to the team or fans that paid them HUGE sums of money for all those years. They are all selfish overpaid knuckleheads. Let them experience one real day of work. Shame on each of them!!!
By Willy
January 17, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this
None? Jair wouldn’t be starting? Lazy journalism at its worst.
By shayne
January 17, 2009 5:12 PM | Link to this
BRING BACK LEO
By Drew
January 17, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this
Give the “coach-in-waiting” title to Leo. God I miss him.
By Nate In Maine
January 17, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
BRING BACK MAZZONE!!!!! THANKS FOR STOPPING BY MCDOWELL. GO BRAVES
By Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
January 17, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this
The funny thing is, when Leo left, so did the winning.
That should tell us all just how truly great he was in Atlanta.
By Chop Chop
January 17, 2009 5:29 PM | Link to this
Leo had a hard time cobbling together pitching staffs during his last couple of seasons. It made sense for him to leave. Maybe he never should have left, but to leave for a friend is something he shouldn’t regret. The Braves’ run was due to end. That it ended immediately after he left is a coincidence but not a surprise.
By Steve
January 17, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
BRING BACK LEO
By falcon21
January 17, 2009 5:42 PM | Link to this
It don’t have a thing to do with Leo leaving. it’s about money.If you want to bring anyone back bring back Ted Turner!!!
By NewYearNewTeam
January 17, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this
Leo needs to admit that hes normal. I could have been great coaching Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. They were the big three and its because of them that Leo got his name. Not the other way around. IMO, Roger is a better coach. Roger works with the rookies. Leo wanted them traded so he would continue to look good bringing in pitchers who he knew could pitch off of injury.
Leo is just another coach that took credit for something that he didnt do.
By BravesAreDone
January 17, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this
Cy Cy Cy Cy Cy Cy Cy Cy Cy…..
Give it a break Terence!!
By JJMac
January 17, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t mind seeing back in a Braves uniform. Not fair to fire McDowell to create room, though.
By Jay
January 17, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this
Bring back Ted Turner, he is an idiot but he loved his Braves!!!
By Tommy
January 17, 2009 6:20 PM | Link to this
When Leo left so did the winning ways. Roger can’t “Rock” like Leo. The Braves need a few things to win, Ted, Leo, Pitching, Defense, and Hitting. Bring those things together and Bobby MAY when another world series. Without them forget it!
By renegade
January 17, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
hey frank , bobby yall ever here of a roving pitching instructor? All levels of your minor leagues and the braves themselves need tutoring.Leo would probably be a pretty good tutor.I think he has had some past success if my memory hasn’t failed me. seemes like there were a bunch of guys around with the same first name cy or something like that. Hire the man and get it over with before somebody else makes yall look dummer than the proverbial post.
By I'mfurit
January 17, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this
Needs to be brought back in an organizational job!!!
By JEANTOBY
January 17, 2009 6:44 PM | Link to this
I WISH THE BRAVES WOULD BRING MAZZONE BACK, HE HAD THE TOUCH TO KEEP HIS PICTURES HEALTHY, SINCE HE LEFT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO KEEP PICTURES HEALTHY
By oasisbraves
January 17, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this
Ted loves the Braves? Seems like he’s 100% ignored them the past 10+years….he doesn’t even go to games anymore….what kind of love is that?
By Lifelong Hawks Fan
January 17, 2009 6:53 PM | Link to this
I wonder if Leo would accept an assistant job(i.e. bench coach) for now? I would love to have him back. I only hope that he’s available when Roger heads on to greener pastures.
In the meantime, I enjoy hearing him on the radio. He tells some fantastic stories and has a wealth of baseball knowledge.
By heath
January 17, 2009 7:10 PM | Link to this
Ain’t it funny how these guys…. Mazzone, Glavine, A.Jones…. leave ATL and wish they hadn’t? It is a lesson we all should learn. The grass is NOT always greener on the other side. Most of the time, you need to stay where things are good and you are happy. Not where the money is. The old saying is true….. “Money does not buy happiness.” Smoltz is about to learn that one.
By dICK
January 17, 2009 7:19 PM | Link to this
Hire him for A,AA,AAA instructions.
By tntoriole
January 17, 2009 7:27 PM | Link to this
Hmmm…some Orioles fans have a little different take .. Leo Mazzone is the most highly overrated pitching coach in history who got a way overpriced deal because he was buddies with Sam Perlozzo. He seemed to spend most of his time in Baltimore taking credit for Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux and taking little responsibility for his own failings and inflexibility. He now continues to trash his former employer organization for the second time in a week. That is real class! To take 500,000 dollars last year for sitting at home and then bad mouth the organization paying you. I am sure that is why teams are just busting down the door to bring him on. Yes, it was really hard on old Leo…making 1 million for two years of rocking on the bench with his buddy Perlozzo doing very little of use and then 500,000 last year for sitting at home. Good riddance…the Braves need to continue to move on and the Orioles will be much improved in the near future as well (without Cy Mazzone).
By jw
January 17, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this
As a young person that was a Braves fan to being an old man that is a Braves fan - I must say that I always hoped that SOMEDAY my Braves would be able to be a great team. All I ever hoped for was ONE championship. I also had hoped that we could be competitive, not the laughing stock of all of baseball. I also hoped we could weather the bad times and keep the team in town. I never was going to be greedy - that said it is time to say THANK YOU LEO MAZZONE for being an integral part of something that turned out to be really special. We can fuss about the Braves - fuss about the past, all the Cy’s and wasted chances - but Atlanta has a championship that can’t be taken away. Real fans know it takes a lot to win one championship - thanks Leo for helping get the opportunity to forget the morbid past of Atlanta Braves baseball and to create something that NEVER will be duplicated. You guys did it right and did it with class - something every southerner is supposed to know about! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!
By Braves
January 17, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this
I have never felt good about Roger. i’d take Leo back in a minute. Maybe roger does a beeter job than we know, but Leo would be a big upgrade.
By netdriver
January 17, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this
I say fire McDowell, bring back Leo and see if we can get Maddog in our minor league system as a pitching coach. After a few years we can bring him tothe biggies.
By LivininAL
January 17, 2009 7:42 PM | Link to this
It appears that major league teams dont think so highly of Leo as you do or he would coaching and not doing commentary. I think Glavine, Maddox, and Smoltz were pretty successful before, during, and after sharing time with Leo.
By Harryballs
January 17, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this
There has to be a job somewhere in the Braves system that Leo could get until he gets back with the big club.
By True Braves Fan
January 17, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this
I expect to see a similar article on John Smoltz. Maybe as early as 2010.
By Marshall from Naperville, GT '81
January 17, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this
Leo had great results in his time, especially keeping his pitcher’s arms healthy and in the game. While it would be great to experience those 14 straight division titles again, that train has left the station one car at a time (Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Andruw, Furcal, Javy, Ted Turner, Skip, Pete, TBS, etc.) and the last three will probably be gone in the next 18 months (Cox, Chipper, and Scheurholtz). All that will be left are the banners hanging around whatever they call Turner Field after the naming rights are sold by those carpet-bagging cable TV guys. So, instead of looking back at the good-old days, let’s get behind Wren and the great young talent coming through the organization. I want the Braves to be like the old Yankees—the people may change but the winning goes on and on. Leo, thanks for the memories, but stay in broadcast booth.
By Jason
January 17, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this
You said it perfectly, Heath at 7:10 pm. Ya know part of what made our team great back then was our good coaches as well as great upper management. They knew who to go after, and if anybody thinks that Leo isn’t a good coach, just look at the great pitchers he worked with during his career here. I think part of the reason he wasn’t successful in baltimore was because he didn’t like the job very much (as stated in this article).
My theory is that the prevailing trend in firing coaches/managers in rapid fashion will be counteracted by a trend of good coaches staying put when their current job is good enough. If only this had been the case in 2005 when Leo left us.
By jeff
January 17, 2009 8:05 PM | Link to this
In his book The Baseball Economist, J.C. Bradbury titles a chapter, “How Good is Leo Mazzone?” Using statistical analysis, he analyzes whether Mazzone had a significant impact upon the pitchers that he coached. The sample is all pitchers who have pitched at least one year under Mazzone and one year under a different pitching coach. Bradbury found that Mazzone lowered the ERA of pitchers by an average of .64 points, and that after leaving Mazzone, pitchers’ ERA increased by an average of .78 points. Bradbury believes that such an impact is deserving of Hall of Fame consideration.
By Jeffer
January 17, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this
What radio is Leo on??. What about Ned Yost as Mgr. in waiting.
By T WAYNE
January 17, 2009 8:26 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren Suck it up and bring Leo back and send Roger packing and as for Andrew take a long look at him/ and I would give Ned a call
By Carolina
January 17, 2009 8:27 PM | Link to this
Yes Leo the Orioles were a dysfunctional franchise that’s why they paid you the big bucks to come there and help . But I guess your more suited being on a team with 3 or 4 cy young winners. Sure made you look better than you were. Notice the Braves didn’t do so good after they started getting old or leaving.If you are so good how come someone hasn’t snapped you up???? Nuff Said!!
By Joe
January 17, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this
Bring back Leo and send Roger back to the minors as a pitching coach.
By Bill
January 17, 2009 8:34 PM | Link to this
Thanks T Moore for info on The Great Leo Mazzone. I knew he missed the Braves, once a Brave always a Brave. Would love to see Leo Mazzone as the next Mgr.of the Braves. Like someone already said, Braves have not won since he left. Leo demanded excellence which some didn’t like but it worked. He was always at Bobby’s side and help Bobby make the pitching decisions that Cox has a problem making now. Wren please bring Leo back.
By JimK
January 17, 2009 8:40 PM | Link to this
I’m glad Leo had a big payday in Baltimore, he deserved it. While our 2009 major league coaching staff is presently full, I’d like to see Leo back in a Braves uniform soon.
Roger McDowell has been instrumental in a couple of our recent acquisitions, and his good relationships with our starters should keep him around, despite the injuries and performance problems during his tenure.
But Roger can’t be in two places at once, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if during all those “B” squad games in Florida, Leo was watching over the pitchers?
I’d like to see Leo employed by the Braves, perhaps as an Assistant GM in charge of organizational pitcher development.
In addition to blobal scouting and working with some of our prospects in Pearl and Gwinnett, Leo could also advise on revising our training and arm strengthening protocols.
By GTSteve
January 17, 2009 8:46 PM | Link to this
Hey Renegade,
That might be the best idea ever.
By HighCheese
January 17, 2009 8:55 PM | Link to this
Ronald McDonald or Chucky Cheese could have had the same success coaching the Braves pitchers as Mazonne did while he had Maddox, Smoltz and Glavine as starters in the rotation for as long as Mazonne did. Mazonne thought he was such a great pitching coach that he could leave Atlanta and bring a Championship to Baltimore and what happened? They continued to lose and he got fired. Do I want to see him back in a Braves uni? NO. He quit on the Braves when our aces were getting up there in age. I see no reason we should bring him back now.
By george
January 17, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this
When Leo was the pitching coach, none of the pitchers had to have Tommy John surgery, TIME TO FIRE MCDOWELL AND BRING BACK LEO….PERIOD
By GEORGE
January 17, 2009 9:04 PM | Link to this
Leo, needs to be back in a Braves uniform more than Andrew Jones…
By Bill Robinson in VA
January 17, 2009 9:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Leo, Thanks for telling the truth. It’s a rare day these days when a high profile sports figure makes a mistake and admits it! I hope to see you back in a B’s uniform some day this year or next. Thanks for talking with Terrence.
By dissapointedbravesfan
January 17, 2009 9:15 PM | Link to this
Mazzone please come back and help the dismantled braves. We really need you its not like roger has worked miracles.
By bravedawg
January 17, 2009 9:26 PM | Link to this
Terence, Any idea why the Braves would not consider bringing Leo back as a special assistant to consult and advise on our off season throwing program? It seems as though even though we have decent era’s since McDowell’s arrival, our guys never seem to make it past the sixth inning, and we seem to have had an unusual amount of arm trouble over the same time, leaving me to wonder if our off season strenghthening program is all it should be. We never seemed to have those problems when Leo was here, except with Smoltz. On the contrary, the Braves seemed to claim one or two off of the scrap heap every year, sent to the heap because of arm trouble, and developed them into usable pitchers again. That doesn’t seem to happen as often anymore.
By MetsRule
January 17, 2009 9:45 PM | Link to this
mazzone needs to hang it up. His act was washed up years ago. It’s easy to win with all those great pitchers.
By Sea kittens taste good
January 17, 2009 10:00 PM | Link to this
Smoltz was happy as hell when Leo left. Of course, this wasn’t mentioned in the stellar piece written by Pulitzer Prize candidate Terrel _ (what’s it’s name?).
Why aren’t you taken seriously Terrel? Gee, I can’t figure it out.
By falcon21
January 17, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this
Why are all of you so crazy about Leo? He was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.He had the cream of the crop.They made him who he is or who he is supposed to be!!!
By falcon21
January 17, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this
Leo don’t need you man. Anyone could have done what you did with that staff. You did nothing,the pitchers knew how to pitch and you got credit for it.Leave it alone and go to the minors!!!