Schuerholz can relate to Cox's retirement decision

By Carroll Rogers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If anyone knows how Bobby Cox is feeling right now, having just announced his retirement from managing after 2010, it's John Schuerholz.

The man who as Braves general manager shaped the teams that Cox managed to a record 14 consecutive division titles, stepped aside into the role of team president two years ago.

Schuerholz knows how hard it can be to let go of job in which he had been so successful. He also knows how easy it can be.

"It's at his time, it's his decision, on his schedule, and he's at peace with it, and so are we," Schuerholz said.

Schuerholz was with the Braves in New York until Wednesday morning and had a chance to talk to Cox leading up to this decision.

"Everybody in our circumstances who has a job where you spend a lot of time ... traveling and away from family, at a very competitive environment, it's, in one sense, pleasant to look forward to the new pathway of life that begins when a job like manager or general manager comes to an end," said Schuerholz, who's 68. "Especially when it's at your bidding, your plan."

Cox will finish his career ranked fourth on baseball's all-time managerial win list. Schuerholz knows his legacy goes well beyond the numbers.

"Not only do the numbers speak to it, but being around him and seeing how he's gone about it and the class and the style and the consistency says it as much or more than the numbers do," Schuerholz said. "There is a special place carved out for those kind of guys. ... There's also a place where they put plaques on the wall to honor you for a long time and that's Cooperstown, which is where he'll go as soon as they send a car for him."