was385
03-03-2007, 06:34 PM
Cox Gone After '08
Will Schaffer | Tomahawk Mania (http://www.tomahawkmania.blogspot.com/)
AJC broke this story today and it is quickly making its way around the baseball world. Bobby Cox, after a reporter jokingly asked if he would manage the next ten years responded by saying, "Not many more. This year and next year, and that's it". This is truly the end of an era. Cox has managed the Braves ever since 1991 and deserves a good chunk of credit for building the worst to first team since he was the General Manager for a couple years in the late 1980's. Cox accumulated 6 100-win season as the Braves manager, has managed 6 Cy Young Winners, and 2 MVPs on the Braves bench. He finished his disappointing 2006, the first time in 15 years that he has not reached the playoffs with a 2,171 wins, good for fifth all time. He will easily pass Sparky Anderson this year with only 23 wins separating the two and will retire fourth all time behind the likes of Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Tony Larussa. This is the end of an era of unprecedented divisional dominance that pro sports may never see again.
Now the big speculation for the next two years will be who will take over this team in '09? There are two in-house favorites in Bullpen Coach Eddie Perez and hitting coach Terry Pendleton. Perez would be my number one choice right now. He served as a player-coach in AA last year and will have two years experience as a full time coach by the time Cox steps down. Ever since he became the personal catcher to Greg Maddux, Perez drawn praise of people who said he has the making of a future manager. He has the ability to keep players loose and seems to have the same protective wing that made former and current Braves so endeared to Cox. Maybe we'll even continue the tradition of silly nicknames with Perez that we have grown so accustomed to hearing Cox shout right by the TV microphone. Joe Torre has already proven that former Braves catchers make good managers, hopefully can keep that tradition going.
Will Schaffer | Tomahawk Mania (http://www.tomahawkmania.blogspot.com/)
AJC broke this story today and it is quickly making its way around the baseball world. Bobby Cox, after a reporter jokingly asked if he would manage the next ten years responded by saying, "Not many more. This year and next year, and that's it". This is truly the end of an era. Cox has managed the Braves ever since 1991 and deserves a good chunk of credit for building the worst to first team since he was the General Manager for a couple years in the late 1980's. Cox accumulated 6 100-win season as the Braves manager, has managed 6 Cy Young Winners, and 2 MVPs on the Braves bench. He finished his disappointing 2006, the first time in 15 years that he has not reached the playoffs with a 2,171 wins, good for fifth all time. He will easily pass Sparky Anderson this year with only 23 wins separating the two and will retire fourth all time behind the likes of Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Tony Larussa. This is the end of an era of unprecedented divisional dominance that pro sports may never see again.
Now the big speculation for the next two years will be who will take over this team in '09? There are two in-house favorites in Bullpen Coach Eddie Perez and hitting coach Terry Pendleton. Perez would be my number one choice right now. He served as a player-coach in AA last year and will have two years experience as a full time coach by the time Cox steps down. Ever since he became the personal catcher to Greg Maddux, Perez drawn praise of people who said he has the making of a future manager. He has the ability to keep players loose and seems to have the same protective wing that made former and current Braves so endeared to Cox. Maybe we'll even continue the tradition of silly nicknames with Perez that we have grown so accustomed to hearing Cox shout right by the TV microphone. Joe Torre has already proven that former Braves catchers make good managers, hopefully can keep that tradition going.