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DEL.ICIO.USCox learned to manage from shadows
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
So what if Bobby Cox is only a game or so away from getting tossed more times than anybody in baseball history? It is worthy of maybe a yawn while sifting through the record books. The Braves still function in the aftermath of those ejections as if their manager’s fingerprints are over more than just the lineup card.
That’s because they are.
“Yeah. Absolutely,” said Ralph Houk, 87, referring to how Cox and his peers usually operate in the shadows after their early departure from the dugouts.
Houk knows of what he speaks for so many reasons. He is Cox’s role model, and there rarely is a Braves game that he doesn’t catch in his Winter Haven, Fla., home between fishing, golfing and caring for his wife. He also built his fame with the New York Yankees of the 1960s before completing his 20 seasons as a manager with the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox. In the Bronx, he had Cox for two seasons, and the hitting-challenged infielder spent the time studying each breath of his legendary manager.
Many of those breaths featured sizzling words from Houk to umpires. Although Houk isn’t among the all-time elite for ejections as a player and manager, he ranks with the best ever for throwing a fit whenever he thought an umpire had temporary blindness.
If nothing else, Houk is the undisputed king of cap-kicking.
“Well, I know I must have kicked more than Bobby, because my knees have gone bad on me,” said Houk, the former World War II major, chuckling over the phone. “If you talk to Bobby, you tell him not to kick too much or else he’ll have the same kind of knees that I’ve got.”
Too late. Years ago, Cox had his knees surgically repaired, but not because of his antics before umpires. Earl Weaver was so into his confrontations that he spun his cap around backward to get closer to an umpire’s face. Billy Martin was a kicking and spitting fool. While Lou Piniella and Lloyd McClendon threw bases wildly enough to make the sports bloopers Hall of Fame, Leo Durocher and John McGraw just lost their minds. Cox sort of bounces from the dugout, says his little piece while looking as if he just swallowed a resin bag and leaves with his latest ejection in about the time it takes to find the prize at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. As a result, not only do Braves players respect Cox (especially since he mostly argues to keep them from getting tossed), but so do umpires. They know he isn’t pulling an Al McGuire, the old Marquette basketball coach who occasionally urged referees to give him a technical to motivate his players.
What about Houk? With Cox watching or otherwise, did Houk ever plan any of his ejections to help Mickey Mantle hit another blast or Mel Stottlemyre throw more strikes? “Not really, no,” said Houk, which means Cox also hasn’t done so.
Just like Houk, Cox was born in the Midwest (Tulsa, Oklahoma for Cox and Lawrence, Kansas for Houk). Just like Houk, Cox was a field manager and then became a general manager and then fired his field manager to become a field manager again. Just like Houk, Cox is considered the ultimate “players” manager. Just like Houk, Cox doesn’t mind doing whatever it takes to save a player from ejection, but he prefers to see his guys in person during games instead of through the alternatives.
“I didn’t like to manage too much from the runways,” Houk said, chuckling. “I’m sure Bobby doesn’t either, although we’d usually have a guy standing there at the head of the runway, and you’d tell him what to do. As long as you’re out of sight, and they can’t see you, you can have a coach or somebody you trust up there, and you can just yell at him. ‘Take him out,’ or ‘Put him in,’ or ‘Go check on him.’ You can run the whole thing.”
Which is what Cox does, no matter where he’s hiding for the moment.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
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By Ryder
May 29, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
Say what you want about Cox, but at the end of the day he does garner much respect among the players and his peers. Although I think he should’ve won more than one title in Atlanta, I will give him credit for how he’s maintained a professional clubhouse all these years. In addition, he does a great job of protecting his players. How often do you hear him call someone out? Not often if at all. I just wish he’d get more credit from people outside of the game. I’m sure if he had the same resources Torre’s had in New York he would win more titles.
By Vaughn
May 29, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Great piece, Terence. I’m surprised, to be honest, how much has been written about this topic recently, but talking with Mr. Houk was a great angle. And you’re right in that Bobby Cox avoids the base-throwing theatrics and just makes his point. I met you a few years ago during a Braves-Giants series and while I don’t always agree with you, you turn out great work. Keep it up.
By Coach
May 30, 2007 4:06 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget that Cox also was the Yankees first base coach in 1977 under no other than the infamous Billy Martin , so Cox definitely schooled under a couple guys who knew how to get in an umpires face.
By Kentavo
May 30, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
I’d love to know what Cox is saying to get him ejected - because it’s usally quick. Can somebody mike him?
By Kelley
May 30, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Great piece. If nothing else, this record is bringing more attention to Bobby. In my opinion, he is the most under-appreciated person in the Braves organization. Say what you will about “the Braves should have won more WS titles than one” with Bobby, but without Bobby, NO WAY you have 14 years straight of division titles.
I absolutely love to watch him get tossed. I also love it when the camera is close to him in the dugout and you can hear him yelling for his players at bat. No matter what the score or the count, the players have to feel good to know that he is there cheering them on.
He and JS set a high standard for the organization and constrantly strive for excellence; players know it will not be tolerated if they do not follow suit and follow that code of professionalism (wouldn’t it be nice if the Falcons could pattern their organization after the Braves?) In a world of over-paid, all about me athletes, Bobby and JS have done a good job of keeping a true team first concept on the Braves team.
Atlanta has been lucky to have No. 6 as our Skipper for so long. In my opinion, no one does it better, regardless of whether he finishes the game in the dugout or watching from the runway.
By Matthew At The SLC
May 30, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this
I’m lonely, will you be my friend?
Click here to be my friend
By Dumbing Down
May 30, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
Give me Liberty or Give me Death! Mr. Braves President… get the money from Liberty and earn your “pay” (HA)! Let John S. perform more majic.