Sports Columnists

By Braves fan

October 6, 2005 04:00 PM | Link to this

?? Not sure what this subject has to do with anything. Cox does what he can to keep his pitchers’ confidence level up. Sure hitting them where they aint is the idea of baseball, but what good would it do the Braves pitchers for Cox to say, kudos to the other team? Hudson gave up 5 runs because of a lack of control and a flawed game plan. He could have pitched around the bad control but the flawed gameplan (passing Berkman to pitch to Ensberg) is what killed Atlanta, until the bullpen was unleashed. As a baseball fan, I do not fear Morgan Ensberg. But when you constantly put men on in front of him and force yourself to throw strikes down the middle of the plate, any major league player can beat you. I don’t fear Berkman. He’s a good hitter, but he’s no Albert Pujols or Barry Bonds. If you’re careful, Berkman will get himself out 2/3’s of the time. They need to fear no player and pitch that way. John Smoltz will do it. Just don’t know if he can pitch 8 innings and keep fewer runs off the board than Clemens. We’ll see.

By Global

October 6, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this

Mark

I think the phrase you are looking for is “intellectually dishonest”

His attempts to downplay the opponents accomplishments and boost his own team are so transparent it’s ridiculous.

I’m only amazed that the writers print his quotes and the TV guys air them.

Equally amazing is Turner Sports keeping the dugout level microphone “hot” during the season so we can hear such pearls of wisdom as “C’mon kid, that-a baby” and “take ball four”

A one game experiment might have been interesting.

But…every inning of every game!!?? Are Braves fans really that simple-minded that they want to hear such meaningless babble?

Oh, and he is clearly the biggest whiner among all major league managers. How many other managers do you see grumbling and scowling over every close pitch that isn’t called a strike?

I like and admire several of the Braves players.

You might be able to tell I’m not a big fan of Bobby Cox.

By HAHAHAHA

October 6, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this

This is how you answer criticism of your sycophantic attraction with Cox?

With you love affair with the Barney Fife of baseball?

This is how you answer questions dealing with your lack of journalistic integrity because you and your ilk in Craplanta refuse to ask Barney Fife tough questions about his terrible October decisions and choke-fests?

HAHAHAHA!

You’re funnier than I am, Bradley.

How about this for undisputed fact.

If Joe Torre had managed this team, they might not have won one or two of the last division titles that you and the rest of the a*-kissers, not to mention all of the sister-kissers, love. But, I guarantee he would have gone to three more World Series (93, 97, and 98) with those great Braves teams (which were as good as any Yankee teams of the late nineties and early 00’s), and out of the possible 8 Torre would have taken them to, he wins at least 4 of them.

With Barney Fife, you have 1 World Series in 5 chances.

You’re a college educated man, Bradley. You’re not like the ignorant hicks who read your tripe. And yet you still want to excuse Barney Fife’s miserable managerial performance last night, and his performances over the last 14 years?

There is no way you are really that stupid.

Barney Fife should have put the right players on the field last night. He didn’t. Franco and Jordan left 5 men on.

Yeah, he’s great!

He left Hudson in too long, as he always does with his pitchers in the postseason, and then, he bringsa the wrong guys in, as he always done.

When is it ever Barney Fife’s fault, Bradley?

Is it ever?

I love the ignorance coming from the most ignorant city full of ignorant, sister-loving rednecks… Craplanta!

You guys just make my job too easy!

HAHAHAHA!

By Gritz Blitz

October 6, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this

HAHAHAHAHA: It appears your “job” is to post messages on the AJC sports page. Keep your head up, things will improve for you eventually.

By Gritz Blitz

October 6, 2005 04:31 PM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA!: It appears that your “job” is to post messages on the AJC sports page. If this is not your job, then your employer is getting ripped off. Keep your head up. Things will improve for you eventually.

By Reilly

October 6, 2005 04:34 PM | Link to this

Yesterday’s loss was a combination of two things. First, Hudson pitched a poor game and Atlanta’s strategy to pitch around Berkman failed miserably. Yes, Cox can’t be blamed for Hudson’s bad performance but I’m sure he had something to do with the “Walk Berkman At All Costs” plan. Besides that what Cox did that I found infuriating was that he all of a sudden changed his lineup. I mean I thought that this playoff spot was attained by the play by all of the “baby braves”. Didn’t these rookies earn the right to play in a postseason game instead of having Cox snub them for veterans that have been slumping and injured for most of the year? I’m sure that Cox felt it was too “risky” to put in the line-up that had one him another division title. Cox’s conservative managing style works wonders in the regular season because it calms the players, it gives them patience and the team has a lot of time to right itself in case they slump. But Cox’s style is not good for the post season because the team doesn’t have the luxury of time on it’s side. I mean after just one loss the Braves now have to beat Roger Clemens or they will be one game away from elmination going away from home. So C’mon Bobby after years of post season failure why don’t you roll the dice for once? Hey, it’s gotta work at least as well has what you have been doing.

By T Robb

October 6, 2005 05:08 PM | Link to this

Guys and gals, Ha ha ha is not a New Yorker - it is just another Matthew Cafaro nom de plume. Look at the writing styles, look at the paragraph styles. Even the slang and the predictable spelling errors line up. This guy has been f*&ing up the blogs for two years and they still haven’t managed to shut down his IP address.

But you are right, he is an unemployed loser who lives in his mother’s basement. My advice? Scroll down.

Now, to the Braves - Bobby’s public defenses of his players get a little disingenuous sometimes, his defense of Reitsma being the latest. And I don’t agree with his decision to play Brian Jordan to “catch lightning in a bottle.” I don’t care if Brian Jordan never gets another at bat. But Bobby didn’t lose that game (didn’t help, either).

The guy who’s got some ‘splaining to do is Tim Hudson. His effort was profoundly disappointing.

How you take $11m from a club to throw strikes and command the strike zone and this is what you produce, I don’t know how you sleep.

He’s been spotty all year, but guess what - YESTERDAY’s game was the one we hired him for, and he took the hose.

I’m not terribly emotional nor generally critical - I normally vent vicariously through Jerry and Carroll - but I have had it. Somebody needs to hold somebody accountable without this mild public front crap.

Hudson stunk and couldn’t keep a game club in the game. I hear how untouchable Pettitte was - he gave up three in seven innings, we ought to be in that ballgame. But no, Hudson was horrible and then the worst bullpen of the modern era came in and demoralized them the rest of the way.

They need to prove to me pretty early tonight that they’re not already beaten. I think they probably are, but I hope I’m wrong. Prove me wrong, guys.

If Smoltz comes out and gives up a two-run blast in the first, I’m turning over to watch HGTV or something, ‘cause it’s over.

By Ben

October 6, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this

Comment on HAHAHAHA comment! Therapy helps!!

By HAHAHAHA

October 6, 2005 05:17 PM | Link to this

What the hell is a T Robb?

Is that inbred redneck for sister-kissing idiot?

Now I’m just curious.

T Robb.

Are you a redneck foreign orphan, T Robb?

And listen to the man who lives in the second most iliterate state in the Union comment on my spelling.

Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

Cheer on your Braves to another October Chokearama, and then watch your race cars on Sunday.

HAHAHAHA!

By T Robb

October 6, 2005 05:25 PM | Link to this

…comment on my spelling.”

I’ll take that as an admission, Matthew.

Just for the hell of it, I have three children by a woman who is not my sister - at least, not that I remember - am only a casual NASCAR fan, and have a Juris Doctor from a top twenty school, which should compare favorably with the Sally Struthers degree you’ll be awarded next summer if you work hard (which seems doubtful, since you’ve got to be spending 14 hours a day on the internet).

By T. Lynn

October 6, 2005 05:47 PM | Link to this

Bradley’s the biggest ‘front runner’ known to sports writing. Wonder how he’ll react when the Braves win this series? Of course, we know that he’ll take after Cox if they lose.

As for the rest of you Cox-Kickers, you don’t deserve the Braves. No, you need to be a fan of a team that’s consistently out of it by the first of August and trying to decide who to fire and who to hire.

By Stevie T.

October 6, 2005 07:56 PM | Link to this

HAHAHAHAHA really hates hicks and rednecks…why is that?

Maybe one got HIS sister pregnant in a car next to HIS rented house one summer on the Jersey shore…

By HAROLD LEE SCOTT

October 6, 2005 11:40 PM | Link to this

HAVE FAITH! YOU KNEW BOBBY COX WAS POSSIBLY THE GREATEST MANAGER OF ALL TIMES! EVERYBOBY IS HUMAN! EVERYONE SOMETIMES MAKES A JUDGEMENT THAT DOES NOT WORKOUT. HE HAS DEVELOPED ONE OF THE GREATEST TEAMS OF ALL TIMES. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THESE ROOKIES WOULD HAVE RESPONSED AS THEY HAVE. ALSO GIVE THE LEADER VETS A LOT OF CREDIT FOR HELPING TO DEVELOPING THE OUTSTANDING ATTITUDE OF TOGETHERNESS, FIGHT, DETERMINATION, DESIRE, DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN APPROACH, AND NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE. I’M PROUD OF YOU! GO BRAVES!!!! DON’T LET UP NOW! SEE YA IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!

By HobNailBoot

October 7, 2005 12:56 AM | Link to this

Couldn’t resist, could you Cafaro? One question? Concerning the Braves bullpen; with the available personnel and the on again-off again nature of their performances this season, how does one know who is the right one to bring in before the ninth? Cafaro, how do you know the answer to this question and Bobby Cox doesn’t? Do you have a power of knowing what’s going to happen in advance?

By Jim

October 7, 2005 07:13 AM | Link to this

You got it ALL WRONG!!! The veterans are learning from the ROOKIES … learning how to fight back when you’re down, the way the game is played for fun! This bunch of ROOKS carried this team with the help mainly from ANDRUW …

By Rob

October 7, 2005 07:40 AM | Link to this

Mark I thought when you mentioned bloops that you were talking about BCs ideas of starting veterans in playoff games instead of he players that actually got him there. Those are the real boo boos.

By Ron Roberts

October 7, 2005 08:41 AM | Link to this

Where’s “HaHa” Cafaro after a 7-1 THUMPING of Roger Clemens?

By Scott Hudson

October 7, 2005 09:20 AM | Link to this

Cabrera hit that ball pretty hard in 1992, for what it’s worth.

By Jim

October 7, 2005 09:34 AM | Link to this

This game was of course a great win, but it wasn’t just the rooks that won it , it was an entire “team” effort with just about everyone “chipping” in… thanks Chipper for those two great plays esp the single bound bouncer by Biggio that sealed the 7th for Smoltzie!

Make no mistake about it… this team is fueled and oiled by the rookies… without them we’re no better than third in the division this year.

Cox’s omission of them in the lineup Wed was a cataclysmic blunder… make it again Cox and the team goes home again early in October…

Get it Bobby?

THIS BUNCH HAS ZERO CHANCE WITH THE ROOKIES SITTING ON THE BENCH… ZERO!!!

Jordan and Julio are there for pinch hitting and lifting these guys up…that’s it…

Estrada…. he’s a backup now thanks to Ersted maybe, but no matter McCann has earned the job. Johnny do the right thing and tell Bobby you need time to regroup and get your act together…

Cox… do you hear Smoltz praise McCann for his CATCHING skills???? Not the clutch hitting, now but his defense and leadership with a hall of fame pitcher on the hill…

That Bobby is John’s way of telling us all it is time for Brian McCann to be the number one behind the plate…

Cox… do these things and we’ve got a chance…. do it “your way” like Sinatra and guess what… we’re all dead…

No Bobby there is no time for “bloopers” and your decisions are the real “bloopers” here… especially the lineup Wed night…

By livin2do

October 7, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

Reminder: Cabrera’s hit in ‘92 was a rope. You meant Jerry Willard’s jam job for deep sac fly, right?

Jorge Sosa becomes the key to the whole season. Anyone miss Nick now?

By law

October 7, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

I will take 14 years, 162 games a year any day of the week over 5 games. No other team will ever touch that record. No matter what, the Atlanta Braves are the best team in the history of baseball. Thank you Bobby Cox. We love our Braves.

By dave

October 7, 2005 10:33 AM | Link to this

I’ve been a loyal braves fan for 60years from boston.Went to the 1948 world series against clevland.I’m more excited about this team of rookies then i’ve ever been about a braves team in all my 60 years of being a fan.go braves

By Jay

October 7, 2005 10:46 AM | Link to this

Bobby played the percentages with the lefties against the righties in game one. The Baby Braves are mostly left-hand hitters. They would have caught hell hitting against Andy P. Cox knew when Clemons pitched the Baby Braves would get a chance to hit. Boy, did they come through!!

By Rhonda

October 7, 2005 11:06 AM | Link to this

When I moved here in 1987 I would rather eat fried dirt than watch a baseball game. My husband tricked me into watching a Braves game one night and I have been a loyal fan ever since! I agree with “Law”. 14 division titles after playing 162 games each year? That shows consistency, dedication, good leadership, a top-notch manager(even with these various mistakes, he’s human, right?). All the Bobby Cox bashers, how many of you go to work every single day, make ALL the right decisions, never make a mistake and earn every employee award given every single year? When you can do that, then I believe you have earned the right to blast Bobby for each and every mistake he makes. After all, baseball is his 9-5.

By VOLMAN

October 7, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

How can anyone trash Bobby Cox? He gets the most out of what he has than any manager in baseball. Having Bobby miked during the season has been an added pleasure while watching the kids play the game for the fun of the game. Mangers have always scowled at calls and played umpires. Bobby is better at this than most managers. Lay off Bobby, he is one of those managers who will beat you with his team and then beat you with your team.

By Wendell Prater

October 7, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this

What does Bobby Cox have to do to stop the whining,b@#!%#&? We now know Bobby is going to heaven,he has had enought hell in Atlanta

By Randy

October 7, 2005 11:56 AM | Link to this

As much as it pains me to say so, I agree with haha on one thing,,, Joe Torre is a much better manager than Cox. If you remember correctly, the Braves floundered in 4th and 5th place in the late 70’s under Cox. Torre came in and they won the division his FIRST year here, with the same players Cox was losing with. Then Mr. Torre was un-ceremoniously DUMPED the next year, in mid-season, when the team had dropped to (ugh) second place. My philosophy differs a little from the current regime. They say, and I agree, that you get to the play-offs with pitching and defense,,,BUT, we desparately need to go further. There-in lies the problem. Int the post-season you HAVE to be able to HIT also. Historically the best way to beat the Braves is to throw a pitcher at them that they have never played against.

By Bob from Butthood

October 7, 2005 12:00 PM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA! is such a breath of fresh air. Just like the air near his row-house on the New Jersey turnpike, where the wetlands have been toxified by the creosote refineries. Ahhh .. that scent .. I think it’s called, “A Night in Newark.” But we love you HAHAHAHA! PS: If “this” is your “job,” you may want to consider a step up. I hear Burger King is hiring.

By ho ho ho

October 7, 2005 12:43 PM | Link to this

thank you HA HA HA for always making me grin when i read your “comments”. it’s not just your genius in coming up with such clever names as Craplanta or Barney Fife that get me; today is was your use of the word fact. really? it’s a fact that Torre would’ve won 4 series for the Braves? it’s undisputable? the great thing about reading your comments, HA HA HA, is that even when i’m having a lousy morning, when i’m in the absolute worst of moods (sometime brought on by reading this very page…i know, it’s my own darn fault) i can always count on you to make me glad i’m not you keep up the good work pal, you are a true comic genius

By Gail

October 7, 2005 12:55 PM | Link to this

Hey Hahahaha, In case you did’nt notice, our Bravos were 7-1 winners last night. So quit hiding under that flat rock behind your mother’s house.

By Gail

October 7, 2005 01:06 PM | Link to this

Hey Hahahaha, How does it feel to be known as the person with the incest fetish? Really something to be proud of.

By geechee

October 7, 2005 01:23 PM | Link to this

“Torre came in and they won the division his FIRST year here, with the same players Cox was losing with. Then Mr. Torre was un-ceremoniously DUMPED the next year,”

Randy, if you’ll remember, the Braves were swept by the Cardinals 3-0 in ‘82 when Torre was mgr. So that kind of skews your argument. Also he was not dumped as you say the next year it was two years later.

By jw

October 7, 2005 01:37 PM | Link to this

OK, I can’t resist: did y’all notice HAHA mispelled “illiterate?”

By T Robb

October 7, 2005 05:14 PM | Link to this

Yeah…how beautiful is that?

What a nimrod. He’s one of those guys who smarts off to the wrong guy in a bar and gets a deeply-needed a*-kicking. If his father had kicked his a* when he was younger, maybe he wouldn’t be the asshat we know today.

By john

October 7, 2005 08:34 PM | Link to this

joe torre would have could have nothing look at this year. bc didnt stop on second(lonny smith) throw a hanging slyder with the best fast ball in his back pocket ( wholers) and hang a 69 mile/hour curve to the best hitting center fielder in bball in 2004 ( reitsma/hampton/ortiz) get over it 14 yrs is something even the $202,000,000 yankess(8 yrs row) will accomplish. b*** if the dont make it and claim they choke when they do get over it. ATL bball has been berry berry good to this city

By MikeyMike

October 7, 2005 09:47 PM | Link to this

The Braves will go as far as the starting pitching lets them. Throw out Hudson’s first start - he got in the zone for a couple of innings and he’s top notch. He’ll be ok next start. Cox should be able to see that he needs to go with what got ‘em here and play the baby Braves from this point out, win or lose. Why even acknowledge whoever HAHA or HEEHEE is?

By Mantuan

October 8, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this

Mark:

Returning to your original theme, that Cox seems to explain away losses with the bloop explanation, yes. Many of us have noticed it. It does happen. Like many have noted here, my own guess is that Bobby does it to show public support for a less than desired effort. Is it annoying? Probably. Is it news? I leave that to you and the others.

When Joe Torre took over the Braves in the early 80s and won the NL West with his first team, he was very gracious. He repeatedly described the team as “Bobby’s Team”. I do think that Atlanta has been blessed with two excellent managers for the last 25 years. Of course, we won’t mention the story between Torre and Cox. Pretty sad. I recall an article somewhere/sometime (maybe in a parallel universse) that when GM Cox recommended that Russ Mixon be fired in 1990, Ted was a little exasperated with the situation and insisted that Bobby take the team. I don’t know if true. If yes, then, thanks Ted for getting exasperated.

But …. it is October. I am a Braves fan since the 60s when they moved to Atlanta. I am still cheering for my favorite team in October. I love it. Is my favorite team the NYY of the 90s/00s? No. But with Divisional Series/League Series before they go to the WS, it could be argued that the NYY of the 20s/30s/40s/50s would not be the NYY we look back on and look upon as the gold standard for dominance.

Your Grace is requested for spelling errors. I did think this was a Blog — and most Blogs I am exposed to have some tolerance as it relates to punctuation, spelling, and grammar was excused, even from the terminally stupid. Maybe I am wrong, probably am. Blogs with 12th grade English teacher operating as police are not fun.

Remember: you could have been born terminally stupid and a Mets fan at the same time. That has to be it’s own private hell in and of itself. Yes?

Returning to the theme. Bobby does what is suggested. I now ask: So what?

Peace and Grace to all — even the TSMF.

By Mark

October 8, 2005 08:40 AM | Link to this

hahaha…what team do you root for? It obviously isn’t the Braves and by the way, hockey sucks!!!!!!!!Get a life and let real fans post on this board. Go Braves!!

By Sports Fan

October 8, 2005 11:28 AM | Link to this

Your commentary about Cox seemed trivial when I read it. It also felt a bit self-gratifying…I don’t know if it matters that this bothers Mark Bradley (sorry). That said, you bring up an insight that many of us fans probably missed. I wonder if excusing the bleeders speaks more to Cox’s ability, or lack thereof, to motivate his team. I would have liked to see you make that connection in your commentary because that’s a much bigger issue with this team.

By Joe Roman

October 8, 2005 02:00 PM | Link to this

Oh right, Mark. The smart thing for Cox to do was to rip his team. Make them feel like crap. That would do a lot of good. Go out an win a couple of Pulitzers, then you can second-guess Cox’s approach and judge the Brabes by your lofty standards. The best words to come out this post season are John Smoltz’s “overcoming the negativity in Atlanta” is the hardest thing. Thanks for your contribution. Sometimes I wish all the pro teams would leave Atlanta so you and the other legions of the “nothing is ever good enough for us” crowd could devote yourselves to ripping college students, high school kids and team up with those obnoxious parents berating grade schoolers from the sidelines. The last line of the NY Times report on the Sox-Sox game last night on the Red Sox fate says it all. “For the 86th time in 87 seasons, it’s wait until next year.”. Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?…….oh, excuse me, Atlanta will settle for nothing less than perfection, right? THAT ATTITUDE MAKES ME SICK!

By Gail

October 9, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

Hey Hahahaha, Your comments are a prime example of what happens when you fart in the bathtub and bite the bubbles. It’s called brain damage.

By WIFEBEATER

October 9, 2005 06:12 PM | Link to this

LOOK OUT MRS. COX,

BOBBBY WILL BE ON THE WARPATH TONIGHT.

By bill

October 9, 2005 07:33 PM | Link to this

Braves lose in 18! yes. they choked again. by the way can someone start www.firebobbycox.com. the dude is way old and needs to go. Hope all of you watch the astros/cardinals.

By Dave

October 9, 2005 07:41 PM | Link to this

Okay, so the Braves just lost the game on a home run. Of course, they actually lost the game in the 8th and 9th inning when Farnsworth gave up two home runs, a grand slam on a pretty decent pitch over the short left field fence. I don’t have a real problem with that one, because we still led by a run. What was unforgivable was giving up the game-tying home run to a catcher who had three home runs the entire year.

Now I can’t to see all the blame being heaped on Bobby Cox. However, this time, Cox is NOT TO BLAME!

There is, however, plenty of blame to go around. LaRoche dogged it from first base when Francouer hit that double and was thrown out by 15 feet at home plate. He runs full speed and he probably scores.

The Braves went 1 for 16 with runners n scoring position.

McCann struck out with bases loaded and one out. A deep fly ball would have won the game.

All that said, I sincerely doubt that the Braves would have won more than one or two games against St Louis. In fact, I predict that St Louis will win the National League pennant in not more than six games.

There are some good things that came out of this game, this series and this season to look forward to.

While the bullpen gave up three home runs to lose the game, they did hold the Astros scoreless for eight innings. We have some talented young pitchers in the bullpen who should grow from this playoff experience. There will be plenty of candidates for the bullpen next year.

Starting pitching looks very good. Even with the loss of Mike Hampton, a rotation of Smoltz, Hudson, Ramirez, Sosa and Thomson remain, with Kyle Davies waiting in the wings. Hudson proved today that he can be a big-game pitcher, as did Sosa on Saturday night. Barring injury, next year’s rotation could rival the 1998 Braves rotation with five pitchers winning 16+ games each.

The Braves rookies give us a deep outfield (Jones, Francouer, Langerhans, Johnson), even with the retirement of Brian Jordan. They are two deep at catcher (McCann and Estrada, with great talent in the minors for backup; I expect eddie Perez to retire), two deep at second base (Giles and Orr), two deep at shortstop (Furcal and Betemit), and two deep at third base (Jones and Marte).

The only questions that need resolution is whether the Braves will pay $40M for five years for Furcal (guaranteed that at least two other teams are willing to spend that kind of money) and whether they will pay to bring back Farnsworth.

Perhaps the Braves have underachieved in the past 14 years, but this year they overachieved splendidly. I anticipate quite a few more division championships, league pennants and, hopefully, a few World Series rings

By John Oare

October 9, 2005 09:20 PM | Link to this

Blah! Blah! Blah! I am a Georgia nativek and college educated Redneck and I am not on this site to argue with others…..14 Years One World Series… If you looked at your chances of that in a statistical way it would have to be 30% chance of winning two or more Championships…..Lets talk about what a great year it was in a week. You dance with the one that brought you and Bobby decided to go on a hunch. What is insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Bobby has been managing on a hunch for 14 years doesnt he realize by now his hunches SUX!! Start managing with your head not your heart Bobby. If there were one trait that I wish Braves Fan would develop, it is the Yankees Fans win or else mentality. If the CEO of Lowes was told outproduce Home Depot or else then that guy would not have lasted 14 years rest assured. I believe it would cool to watch another manager take over the Braves. Great we have set the 14 year record for most divisional championships but I do not know about other Braves Fans but that just does not do it for me anymore.

By Tony

October 9, 2005 10:04 PM | Link to this

Bobby C. Great season, send me the resume of your best candidate for your position. You had a great run at it. It is time to hit the trail. Most important we deserve what we pay for, a mediocre manager …. just kidding … but please let someone else try .. Thanks for all the work in Atlanta I am sure you will remain in the team in some capacity ….. Yor are best coach in baseball …. well second to Ozzie how is that ….

By braves are pathetic

October 9, 2005 10:54 PM | Link to this

**face it fans;

just as the leaves turn color in the fall, so do the braves choke in the playoffs.

if bobby would stop beating his wife, andrew would stop living at ho/strip bars, and chipper would stop fathering illegitimate babies…. maybe the sun would shine on them.

But the fact is that they have shown their true character, and as usual, they have lost in the playoffs again.**

By tim page

October 10, 2005 08:21 AM | Link to this

The bullpen was a “problem” ALL SEASON….so why give Bobby and especially Leo a pass on that? A manager MANAGES and when it comes to the pen, Bobby and Leo (penty of time to watch ND football, now) dropped the ball BIG TIME and went into the post season totaly UNPREPARED if the starter couldn’t go 9 or 18!

By Didn'tGetFooledAgain

October 10, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

See, THIS is why there are 10,000 empty seats at playoff games. I quit wasting my money on this outfit a long time ago. Living in the ATL, I would love to be the biggest Braves fan there is, but this is crap. Stop comparing this to the Cubs, also. I would rather know the team was a bunch of useless losers by September 1st, and not get my hopes up over it.

Phooey.

By Mr. Numba Wan

October 10, 2005 09:58 PM | Link to this

* Right about now there are quite a few of us Braves fan feeling the usual October gut wrenching dissapointment we usually experience this time of the season. He are a few observations from a somewhat knowledgeable fan. Let us begin with what transpired. What went wrong?, well lets examine…. A few offseason mistake acquisitions (A)Trading for one Dan Kolb… “Brewers” closer, LMAO. (B)The Raul Mondesi expirement, more LMAO,(C)Sentimental return of Brian Jordan, even more LMAO.(D)Trusting the starting pitching to a group career injured list players, Mike Hampton, John Tompson,(E) A bullpen full of question marks. (E)”Mrs October” Chipper Jones missing extended time on the injured list.(F) Nagging injuries to Julio Franco Marcus Giles, Adam LaRoche’s miserable July and August slump. Now for the Positives Folks…. Andruw Jones finally had a career year in homeruns and RBI’s albeit a 265 averaget with his usual stellar defense. The baby Braves got invaluable experience from going thru the heat of a pennant race and even a taste of the playoffs though shortlived as it was. We now have the luxury of jetisoning high price creaky free agents making huge bucks and delivering little. Face it ladies and germs… no one picked the Braves to win the division for a 14th consecutive year. I really hate to see the crying and the whinning as to how the Braves broke our hearts again.. Bu…hit!, they over achieved and captured the hearts and minds of all real braves fans with outstanding play, as well as entertaining us nightly with enthusiasm and spunk not seen in recent Braves teams. Lets give credit where credit is due and realize that the reason the braves win every year with different players is, the oustanding coaching and scouting from the lover minor league teams all the way up to the major leaghe club. It is no accident the braves have done it for 14 years in a row. Bobbie Cox is an excellent skipper and surrounds himself with knowledgeable coaches. Lets go Braves !!number 15 is next .*

By the real native american

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

Your use of the dubious bullpen will come back to haunt you.

By the way, change the demeaning name of your team from “Braves” to something more appropriate like “Cavemen” or “Rednecks”. In this manner, you can trade in those obnoxious foam hatchets for clubs or tire tools, and your fans can beat each other into unconciousness. This will provide two benefits - the fans won’t have to watch the team play, and those of us watching on TV won’t have to watch the obnoxious fans.

By Ralph

October 11, 2005 07:20 AM | Link to this

In Baseball when a infielder or outfielder drops or throws the ball away it called an ERROR When a catcher misses the ball its called a PAST BALL which is an ERROR. When a pitcher throw the ball away its called a WILD PITCH. When a manager a bad decision its called its the PLAYERS FAULT. So lets have a new section in the score card and call it MANAGERS ERROR.

By Farrell

October 11, 2005 09:09 AM | Link to this

Players come and go. The only constant has been Cox. I would like to see a change. Maybe that change is the catalyst towards World Championship. Complacency comes when one gets set in their ways. Braves organization must to set the bar higher. Winners are always winners with the right attitude. Rookies have been the Hero’s the entire series on most clubs. High price player let downs and injuries happen to all sports teams. It the leadership that a good coach brings to get the most out of his players.

By Randa

October 11, 2005 10:33 AM | Link to this

Cox not at fault in game 1? He walked Lance Berkman 3 times to get to Morgan Ensberg, the Astros LEADER in rbi AND slugging! What was he thinking! Ensberg gets 5 rbi, the Astros win by 5!

By Mark

October 11, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this

oK, I’m late I know, but hey, here I am! HAHAHAHAHA how about backing up your “undisputed FACT” with something other than a hypothetical scenario. That was just dumb.