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Life after Cox?
Written by Colin on January 24, 2008 – 12:36 pmSo we need to realize as fans of the Atlanta Braves that the time may come after this season for one of the greatest managers of all time to retire. Bobby Cox has been managing the Braves since the middle of the 1990 season and has provided a strong backbone of leadership and encouragement through the 1990 dynasty and now well into the 2000s, but he’s not getting any younger (he turns 67 this year), and he’s made no bones about the fact that he wants to do other things after baseball.
Cox has certainly been successful – his overall record as a manager is 2255-1764. He led the Braves to the post-season for 14 straight seasons and has a reputation across baseball as extracting the best from his players in a positive manner. Players love to play for Cox. One of our favorite stats is how often he’s been thrown out – he holds the record for most ejections, if you didn’t know. His ejection total shows how much he protects his players – he would rather himself be thrown out than his players.
But what comes after the Bobby Cox era? Who will be at the helm of the Braves’ organization? I have my thoughts on who I’d like to see take his place – I feel that the new manager needs to come from within the Braves organization and know how things are done around Atlanta. They need to have been around Cox and know what made playing for him so attractive. Ideally, they need to have coached with him, even.
This makes Terry Pendleton a leading candidate for the job, in my opinion. He was around throughout the 90s and has been back with the organization as the hitting coach. His experience as both a player and a coach would benefit the organization in the managerial position well.
Who we don’t want to see around here is Eddie Perez – nothing against Eddie, but he needs more coaching experience before he turns into a big-league managerial candidate. I could also see good ol’ Julio Franco as a Braves coach in a few years – start at the minor league level before coming up to the majors, but the man has a wealth of knowledge in him. I doubt he’ll start coaching til after this year – the man wants to play ball til he’s 50, and he reaches that goal this year.
Whether or not this is Bobby’s last year, we’ll miss him once he retires. Once he’s out of the picture, I think TP is one of the better options to replace him. Whatever the case, I hope Bobby decides to stick with us for a few more years.
Posted in General | 18 Comments »
By Ethan on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Very true, Bobby is one of, if not THE best managers in the business. And like you said he can’t go on forever no matter how much we want him to. I totally agree that his replacement should come from within the organization to be able to keep his legacy going. Someone that has been around the Braves who knows how things are ran, has a good relationship with the upper management, and has learned from Cox how to treat players as well as manage a game will be the ideal replacement for the Braves.
By Jonathan on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I’ll be very sad to see Bobby go. He and Smoltz have always been my big icons of the Atlanta Braves. He’s a great manager and he’s appreciated by the players and the front office.
When it comes to a replacement, I agree that TP is the way to go. He’s been a respected part of the organization as a coach and a player and is the right person to step into the role when Bobby decides it’s time to step down.
Give us a few more seasons Bobby!
By SSherylheryl on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I believe Terry would be a great choice.
And I agree with Jonathon—give us a few more years—at least one more. My goal is to get to spring training next year and I sure would like for Bobby to still be coaching.
He’s awesome!
By Joey Smith (Smitty) on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Say it ain’t so! Bobby is gonna leave us some day? Here I was hoping he would hang around another 15 or so years. Maybe we could clone him?
Hey, if we cloned Bobby, and the clone used profanity, AND we tripped the clone-Bobby and he fell down, would we then get arrested for (drum roll, please….) making an obscene clone fall?!?!
Ahem. Sorry.
(You slow kids might want to read that again if you didn’t get it the first time).
It’s true that no person is bigger than a franchise, but it would be difficult, well, impossible, to consider the Braves recent historic success without Bobby in mind. Reading John Scheurholz’s book, “Built to Win,” you see how much of the Braves DNA was “coded” by Bobby Cox. Hard to imagine the team without him.
Having said that, yes, Terry Pendleton seems a likely cantidate. In fact, I have heard that he has been lured by other teams for the honcho job and hasn’t bitten. Yet. Though I’m not as familiar with him as a coach than as a player (just being honest), I totally agree the new Big Cheese(tm) needs to be of Braves lineage. You just have to have someone who has “grown up” in the Braves culture.
Hmmm. Glen Hubbard, anyone?
Blessings,
Smitty
By Cameron on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
In addition to TP, Glenn Hubbard seems to be a good candidate, at least in my opinion. He’s been in the franchise in some form for-it seems like-ever, both as a player in the sucky days and a coach during these recent glory years. Either way, Pendleton or Hubbard, I don’t think you could go wrong.
By Joey Smith (Smitty) on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
Honestly, I threw out Hubbard’s name for sentimental reasons, I just love the guy. Ever since he was part of that awesome double-play threesome in 1982 (or 83) Ramierez/Hubbard/Chambliss, I have always thought the world of him. Then he personally coaches Kelley Johnson into infield relevance—you just can’t *hire* someone to do that on the professional level. You’ve got to have a willing student and an able teacher.
But, as they say in Japan, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
However, his contribution to the team has always seemed to be the “quiet professional in the background” type that any team would kill for. But do you really see him walking out to the plate, blistering an ump and getting thrown out of the game? Tthen again, who says he (or anybody) has to do it just like Bobby? Nobody will ever be Bobby but Bobby.
I feel for anybody who has to step into his shoes; the comparisons will be inevitable and unfair.
Kinda like me being cast to replace Henry Winkler as Fonzie.
Still, you gotta love Glen.
Smitty
By Jonathan on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
I agree that nobody will be able to replace Bobby as Bobby. Its really is a tough spot to fill, but I think that’s all the more justification to have someone that is already a part of the organization and well known to the fans beforehand.
You can’t question Glen Hubbard’s ability to coach; he’s proven himself time and time again throughout his tenure with the Braves. It’s hard to tell if someone’ll be a good manager however until you see them in action. Hopefully TP has the personality to fit the role as well as the respect of the players.
By Colin on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
I think Hubbard would also be a good coach – he has certainly shown his loyalty to the organization. I just always imagine a Braves coach having the umpire blistering ability – that should be a key part of the audition and interview process.
By Rue Grant on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
he should just pull a Joe-Pa.
By Nicole on Jan 27, 2008 | Reply
I would hate to see Cox go after this year. I’ve never really thought about him leaving though. It would surprise me if he was ready to leave after this year though. I know he’s getting up there in age. Maybe I just really do not want him to go.
I agree about Eddie not being the most valuable candidate. The only thing I hope that even if it is not someone who has been around Atlanta as everyone would like, that they know what they are doing. And, even if their coaching style is different I’m sure the guys will carry some of Cox’s wisdom around with them.
By Ethan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Very true, Bobby is one of, if not THE best managers in the business. And like you said he can't go on forever no matter how much we want him to. I totally agree that his replacement should come from within the organization to be able to keep his legacy going. Someone that has been around the Braves who knows how things are ran, has a good relationship with the upper management, and has learned from Cox how to treat players as well as manage a game will be the ideal replacement for the Braves.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I'll be very sad to see Bobby go. He and Smoltz have always been my big icons of the Atlanta Braves. He's a great manager and he's appreciated by the players and the front office.
When it comes to a replacement, I agree that TP is the way to go. He's been a respected part of the organization as a coach and a player and is the right person to step into the role when Bobby decides it's time to step down.
Give us a few more seasons Bobby!
By SSherylheryl on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I believe Terry would be a great choice.
And I agree with Jonathon—give us a few more years—at least one more. My goal is to get to spring training next year and I sure would like for Bobby to still be coaching.
He's awesome!
By Joey Smith (Smitty) on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Say it ain't so! Bobby is gonna leave us some day? Here I was hoping he would hang around another 15 or so years. Maybe we could clone him?
Hey, if we cloned Bobby, and the clone used profanity, AND we tripped the clone-Bobby and he fell down, would we then get arrested for (drum roll, please….) making an obscene clone fall?!?!
Ahem. Sorry.
(You slow kids might want to read that again if you didn't get it the first time).
It's true that no person is bigger than a franchise, but it would be difficult, well, impossible, to consider the Braves recent historic success without Bobby in mind. Reading John Scheurholz's book, "Built to Win," you see how much of the Braves DNA was "coded" by Bobby Cox. Hard to imagine the team without him.
Having said that, yes, Terry Pendleton seems a likely cantidate. In fact, I have heard that he has been lured by other teams for the honcho job and hasn't bitten. Yet. Though I'm not as familiar with him as a coach than as a player (just being honest), I totally agree the new Big Cheese(tm) needs to be of Braves lineage. You just have to have someone who has "grown up" in the Braves culture.
Hmmm. Glen Hubbard, anyone?
Blessings,
Smitty
By Cameron on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
In addition to TP, Glenn Hubbard seems to be a good candidate, at least in my opinion. He's been in the franchise in some form for-it seems like-ever, both as a player in the sucky days and a coach during these recent glory years. Either way, Pendleton or Hubbard, I don't think you could go wrong.
By Joey Smith (Smitty) on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Honestly, I threw out Hubbard's name for sentimental reasons, I just love the guy. Ever since he was part of that awesome double-play threesome in 1982 (or 83) Ramierez/Hubbard/Chambliss, I have always thought the world of him. Then he personally coaches Kelley Johnson into infield relevance—you just can't *hire* someone to do that on the professional level. You've got to have a willing student and an able teacher.
But, as they say in Japan, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
However, his contribution to the team has always seemed to be the "quiet professional in the background" type that any team would kill for. But do you really see him walking out to the plate, blistering an ump and getting thrown out of the game? Tthen again, who says he (or anybody) has to do it just like Bobby? Nobody will ever be Bobby but Bobby.
I feel for anybody who has to step into his shoes; the comparisons will be inevitable and unfair.
Kinda like me being cast to replace Henry Winkler as Fonzie.
Still, you gotta love Glen.
Smitty
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I agree that nobody will be able to replace Bobby as Bobby. Its really is a tough spot to fill, but I think that's all the more justification to have someone that is already a part of the organization and well known to the fans beforehand.
You can't question Glen Hubbard's ability to coach; he's proven himself time and time again throughout his tenure with the Braves. It's hard to tell if someone'll be a good manager however until you see them in action. Hopefully TP has the personality to fit the role as well as the respect of the players.
By Nicole on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I would hate to see Cox go after this year. I've never really thought about him leaving though. It would surprise me if he was ready to leave after this year though. I know he's getting up there in age. Maybe I just really do not want him to go.
I agree about Eddie not being the most valuable candidate. The only thing I hope that even if it is not someone who has been around Atlanta as everyone would like, that they know what they are doing. And, even if their coaching style is different I'm sure the guys will carry some of Cox's wisdom around with them.