The glorious days of the '90s playoff era for the Braves have long ended and so should Bobby Cox's tenure with the Atlanta Braves.
Make no mistake about it, Bobby Cox did an amazing job during that incredible run of playoff berths for the Braves.
The way he adapted to his constant roster changes and still managed to coach his team into the playoffs is something that baseball fans nationwide can appreciate. But, just like the altering of the other Atlanta teams, the Braves should consider the same.
Before you guys comment on how much of an idiot I am, let's face the facts. The Braves have not made the playoffs in three years, and in the four years before, they were kicked out of the first round.
There is also strong speculation that Bobby wants emerging superstar Yunel Escobar out of Atlanta. Word is he has grown tired of the Cuban native's on-field antics.
As I am a huge Escobar fan, I was in no support at all of the proposed Peavy deal, along with the majority of Atlanta.
The young shortstop has averaged a .303 average in his two seasons in Atlanta and has one of the best arms in the game. However, chances are that he won't be here when the offseason ends.
Braves fans, I am by no means taking away what Bobby has done as the manager of the Braves. But we live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, and that is a world in which Bobby has simply not succeeded.
Like I said in a previous article, the city of Atlanta is starving for a championship, and right now the Atlanta teams are fighting amongst each other in a race to see who can first satisfy the city, with the great play of the Falcons and the good play of the Hawks.
Just give Bobby this one season so you can see for yourself. With $40 million to spend this offseason, Frank Wren has assured Atlanta fans that they will be much more competitive.
Only time will tell with the moves that are made.
Let's face it, the Atlanta Braves love to settle. As much praise as they receive for making 15 straight postseason visits, they only have one championship. Open your eyes, Braves fans.
If the Braves fail to make the postseason for a fourth straight season, and Bobby still retains his job, it will truly prove that Bobby Cox runs the organization with an iron fist.
11 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
muzzle muzzle 7 months ago
What antics of Yunel Escobar are you referring to? Could you cite any sources available on the WWW for those of us who have never heard such things?
Getting into the postseason as often as the Braves have in recent years isn't a knock against them. No other team has been so successful. Here in Atlanta, I don't believe that we're starving for a championship sports team. Again, please share some data to back up this claim if you feel that your opinion should be considered to have value. Focusing on just baseball, Turner Field does not have a reputation for having sellout crowds like Fenway Park, Shea Stadium, or Yankeee Stadium do.
As for "what have you done for me lately" it is a commonly held believe that one of Bobby Cox's best seasons was 2005.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=atl&coachorstaffid=87101162759
It is also a well known fact that the Braves of 2007 were ravaged by injuries to the pitching staff. What would the manager do about that? He was voted in 7th place in the NL that year.
http://www.overthemonster.com/2007/11/6/14216/2582
The World Series Championship is the only championship any professional sports team has brought to Atlanta. The longevity of Atlanta's postseason appearances is unprecedented in any professional sports team in the U.S. Bobby Cox has the 4th most wins as a manager in all of baseball's history. If Bobby Cox is not a hero in the sports world to you, who is? If he is a hero in the sports world, who is worthy to fill his shoes? Obviously winning is what we all want, but hasn't Bobby Cox earned the respect of the organization by giving the team a chance to win a championship almost each and every year?
Write what you and I'll write what I want. We can politely disagree. I've enjoyed being a fan of the Atlanta Braves and Bobby Cox for many years. I don't always agree with his decisions on the field but I'll never try to use any of these almost but not quite champions, mysterious speculation, and recent bad luck, as reason to oust him. If you prescribe to a modern thinking of disposable heroes and labeling anything short of perfect as means for dismissal, then so beat. Someone else, a Braves fan like you, has a different opinion.
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Joseph Durst 7 months ago
Way to throw a first ballot hall of famer under the bus... Don't forget that before Bobby Cox became the Brave's GM, they were a pretty miserable team. He built the Braves from the ground up, first as a GM and then as a coach. Maybe you would prefer the Braves of the early 1980's?
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Chris Boyce 7 months ago
Guys, I am not at all taking away what Bobby has done for this team, but this coul;d be a case of just keeping up with the Jonses. The rest of the teams in Atlanta are making change for the good. What i'm saying is that the Front Office does have something to look at in this. I do understand that the Braves were decimated by injuries last year and they didn't have the pitching in 2007, but how many excuses can we make to continue to justify why Bobby should retain the job? Bobby did a tremendous job escorting the braves to the playoffs in the 90's. But every year since 2002, they have been kicked out of the first round or missed the playoffs altogether. As a die hard Atlanta fan, why would you want to settle for a early round exit from the playoffs?
The antics of Yunel that I am talking about is his constant bat flipping and his flashy play in the field.
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Abner Lope 7 months ago
As an ATL resident since 1984 and a Braves fan since 1980, I can assure you that Bobby Cox has made incredible strides toward our baseball franchise not only becoming a winner but staying a winner for so long.
As a GM, Bobby Cox was in on the following signings: Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, Ron Gant, David Justice, and Chipper Jones. This was the foundation of the Braves success. Players may rip this organization on the way out, but I have yet to hear one player rip Cox. Fred McGriff once told Eddie Perez that Cox was "the best ever". Bobby is notorious for having a very even keel and stable demeanor; he doesn't panic or shoot his mouth off. He doesn't rip his players when the team loses and he doesn't toot his own horn when they win. Players feel respected and that always brings aboou the best they have.
I find it very deserving that when the Braves did win game 6 of the 1995 World Series, Cox was int he dugout, Glavine had pitched a one-hitter and Justice had blasted the winnning home run.
People can argue that Cox and the Braves settled; I do not believe this for a minute. I think Cox always does his best to put the best player qualified in the correct spot based on his personal conviction and that of his coaches; after that, it is beyond his control.
How many players revived their careers under Bobby? Terry Pendleton, Lonnie Smith, Julio Franco, John Burkett, Russ Ortiz, and Brian Jordan to name a few.
I haven't always agreed with Cox's decisions or that of the front office. I still don't see how Marquis Grisssom and David Justice were worth Lofton and Embree, but I do know that usually players love giving their all when playing under Bobby. Andruw Jones is the only exception, but I attribute that to his failure to apppreciate playing in the minors to earn a spot in the majors. Because Jones was there for such a short time, he thought he already knew it all.
If Cox wants a player gone, I believe it is because he is not being a team player. John Rocker's verbal distractions earned him a ticket out. Jose Oliva's disgruntled attitude punched his ticket. Lofton's body language communicated dissatisfaction with his pitchers and Kenny's critical stance toward lesser fellow batsmen left a bad taste in Bobby's mouth.
The franchise has fallen into disarray and perceived mediocrity, but I think that started when the Braves let Leo Mazzone go to the Orioles. Pitching is what built this franchise up in the 90's. I also believe that the Braves need to go after some veterans and some youngsters who will set a high standard of play- consistently, but not necessarily superstars. When Maddux came to ATL, he had just won his first Cy Young while Fred McGriff was a mere 30 HR guy.
Bobby treats his players like adults and needs players who will be self-motivated enough that he doesn't have to kick anyone's keister. In this environment, Bobby can use his baseball mind on where and when people play the game and not motivating a team.
I respectfully disagree that Bobby's time in the South is over. I say that the Braves should re-hire Leo Mazzone as pitching coach and see what happens.
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Nate Myers 7 months ago
I completely see what you are saying Chris. However, none of the problems the Braves are having right now are a result of bad managing. They are results of injuries, injuries, and more injuries. When you are missing 4 out of your starting five it's hard to win. Easy to blame Bobby, but I wouldn't be so quick to judge a sure fire Hall of Famer.
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dave c 7 months ago
This article reflects totally the 'Fast-Food' mentality that seems to dominate sports writing these days. Didn't win a championship this year? Time to fire the manager. Came in second place again? Run the GM out of town on a rail. This 'Attention-Deficit-Disorder' approach to running an organization is what has most franchises lounging in perpetual turmoil. And that's something the Braves haven't done for near a quarter of a century my friend. During that time we've always been respected, we've always been that team that could come into your house and take what was yours. That's been the Braves, whether we've always made good on that aura or not. The Short of It- Bobby Cox has earned every right to manage this team for the next two years, which I'm safely guessing will complete his fantastic tenure with the Braves organization. How many teams would pay dearly to be in the Braves enviable position Atlanta has enjoyed over the past 20 years? How many teams would have jumped to hire Bobby Cox if we'd had let him go any time during the last 15 years? You stated that we live in a 'What have you done for me lately?' world. Well, perhaps you do, and many other lemmings out there do as well. But the truly great teams never do. They structure, they move forward, they quietly retool without ever having to rebuild. That's how Dynasty's are formed and maintained. You remove Bobby Cox from this equation you've got just another baseball team. With him here, thankfully, for another summer at least, we're still the Atlanta Braves. Keep writing, you're doing a good job... but take care not to step on the toes of an old Warhorse, especially ones like Bobby Cox who've spent their lifetimes earning the respect of an entire world full of baseball fans. You'll get kicked.
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PATRICIA FRIDDLE 7 months ago
I too agree that Yunel should be gone. I am also tired of seeing him flip that bat in the air when he actually hits the ball, and he has this better than anyone attitude that just not belong in the Braves orginazation. But, remember, Bobby Cox can only manager the players he has on the active roster. He can not go out and pitch for the pitcher, or hit for the batter, or field the ball for the defense. I think Bobby Cox is an excellent manager, coach, team leader, and the Braves should be honored that he has taken this horrible team and turned it into the powerhouse it is. They don't have the money to go out and buy the best of the best, but they have done a heck of a job with the talent they have. Keep up the good work Bobby, you are the best.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!
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Chris Boyce 7 months ago
The Braves are a far from a Powerhouse Patricia
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robert von mehren 7 months ago
Bobby is the best ever
And Chris in your comment you said:"The rest of the teams in Atlanta are making change for the good. What i'm saying is that the Front Office does have something to look at in this."
Well im saying if you get rid of Bobby NO MATTER WHO YOU GET TO REPLACE HIM IT WILL BE A CHANGE FOR THE MUCH WPRSE BOTTOM LINE!!!!!
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robert von mehren 7 months ago
BOBBY IS THE BEST
chris in your comment you said"The rest of the teams in Atlanta are making change for the good. What i'm saying is that the Front Office does have s"omething to look at in this."
NO MATTER WHO THEY GET TO REPLACE BOOBY IF THEY FIRE HIM IT WILL BE A CHANGE FOR THE WORSE BOTTOM LINE
cox is EASILY the best active manager(i know torri and larussa but hes better than them) and easily in the top 5 of all time maybe even the top 3 ever
NOW ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD GET RID OF HIM
you know he has had a hand in scouting over the years and we have consistently had one of the best farm systems in the leauge even when we didnt have high draft picks(tommy hanson-22nd round pick)
Hes a great judge of young talent and once they get to the malors he is the BEST at getting them in the MLB and being sucsessful right away
I hope he gets a situation like Joe Paterno where he stays as long as he wants until he retires!!!!
GO BOBBY
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robert von mehren 7 months ago
BOBBY IS THE BEST
chris in your comment you said"The rest of the teams in Atlanta are making change for the good. What i'm saying is that the Front Office does have s"omething to look at in this."
NO MATTER WHO THEY GET TO REPLACE BOOBY IF THEY FIRE HIM IT WILL BE A CHANGE FOR THE WORSE BOTTOM LINE
cox is EASILY the best active manager(i know torri and larussa but hes better than them) and easily in the top 5 of all time maybe even the top 3 ever
NOW ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD GET RID OF HIM
you know he has had a hand in scouting over the years and we have consistently had one of the best farm systems in the leauge even when we didnt have high draft picks(tommy hanson-22nd round pick)
Hes a great judge of young talent and once they get to the malors he is the BEST at getting them in the MLB and being sucsessful right away
I hope he gets a situation like Joe Paterno where he stays as long as he wants until he retires!!!!
GO BOBBY
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