Bobby Cox Inks One-Year Extension With Braves

Let's keep this brief.

Bobby Cox has signed a one-year contract extension with the Atlanta Braves.

This will be his last whoorah, as the 68-year-old veteran manager will retire following the 2010 season to take on an advisory role in baseball operations.

If there was any doubt about what the Braves aim to do next season, this should make it clear.

I'll give you a hint: they aren't rebuilding and they aren't shooting for the first round of the playoffs.

The Braves are shooting for it all; no way Bobby comes back for another season if that wasn't the case.

After all, to leave the level of talent that the 2009 version of the Braves had behind after failing to reach the playoffs would undoubtedly leave a bad taste in the all-time ejections leader's mouth.

There goes Ned Yost (sarcasm here).

I can't say that I LOVE this move, but this does solidify the Braves' appearance as a free agent suitor.

The AJC may have an ad reading "Atlanta National League Baseball Club seeking high-caliber, multi-talented, high-character corner outfielder/closer/infielder looking to reach the Series."

The past two months have made me pause when discussing Bobby Cox's competency, but the move has been done.

Let's hope he can see his mistakes with the bullpen and bench (ahem...Greg Norton...) and help to move this club back into the playoffs.

Let's hope for better management, super acquisitions, and better results in 2010.

As fans, that's all we can do.