Bobby Cox's 2000th win as a major league manager

[Mitchell]

This afternoon, my beloved Braves beat the New York Mets by a score of 6-3. It was a relatively meaningless game in the standings, as the Braves have already won the National League East, and clinched a playoff spot, but it was a special day because it was the 2000th win in the career of one of the game's truly great managers, Bobby Cox.
Bobby has had quite an amazing career. After managing the Braves with little success from 1978 to 1981, former team owner Ted Turner fired Bobby in 1981, as Bobby left to manage the Toronto Blue Jays, where he stayed for four years. In 1985, with the Braves mired near last place, Ted rehired Bobby to be his general manager, and to rebuild his battered and weak franchise. As general manager from 1985 to 1990, Bobby rebuilt the team from the ground up, and drafted many of the players who have made the Braves the dynasty they have been for the last 13 years. In 1990, with the team not coming along fast enough, Bobby resumed duties as field manager, and turned over General Manager's duties to another genius of the game, John Scherholtz. Together, over the past 13 years, these men have won more than 1000 regular season games, 13 straight division titles, 5 National League Championships, and one World Series. While everyone always criticizes the Braves by saying "They have won all those division titles, but only have the one World Series. While that may be true, no other team in baseball has matched the success of the Braves over this length of time. The only team that may be better than the Braves in the last ten years is the New York Yankees, and only because of the four world championships. Not even the Yankees have 13 straight division titles. Bobby is one of the game's best managers, and will hopefully have a place in the baseball hall of fame when he retires. He has put together a tremendous run of success.
So, congratulations to Bobby on this milestone, and good luck to the Braves in the playoffs. Hopefully this will be the year you bring home that second championship for your loyal fans.

Mitch

 

[jugner]

I'm sure he will be in te Hall of Fame. I'm sure any true baseball fan will agree that 13 straight division titles is phenominal.

 

[Mitchell]

Thank you for that assessment, jugner. To me, anyone who criticizes the Braves for having 13 division titles but only one world championship isnt seeing the greater picture. As you said, a long run of success over such a long period of time is amazing.

Mitch

 

[leafstk]

Bobby was the best Manager the Toronto Blue Jays ever had and damn it all, they were so close to winning it all with him in '85 🙁 Sure, the Jays finally won two World Series with Cito Gaston, but any oaf could have managed that team to victory 😉

 

[Mitchell]

Thank you, leaf. The Jays were quite awesome back then, as I well know. Ugh, what might have happened if Jeff Reardon didnt give up that homerun in the 9th inning of Game 2 in the 1992 World Series. If the Braves win that game, they likely win the series. You probably could say the same in 96. If Wohlers saves Game 4 of that series, and the Braves go up 3 games to 1, Smoltz probably finishes them the following night. I still have had a great ride with them, though. It's nice to know that a fan in another city appreciates Bobby so much. He was your manager for four years, and now has been with us for 19 straight as both GM and manager. He's been a godsend to this team over the last 13 years.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

To put into historical perspective of important events in history of just how long this run has gone on, in 1991 when the Braves first won the division and went to the World Series, George Bush was president, THE FATHER GEORGE BUSH. Bill Clinton was an unknown southern governor, George W Bush was not on the political radar. Dick Cheney was defense secretary in Bush 41's administration. This run has lasted for three presidential administrations, through a new decade, century, and millenium, I was 21 years old, had just become legal to gamble and drink, and was a junior in college, and now Iam nearing my 35th birthday. My father was 50, and now he's nearly 64 and collecting a social security check. My cousin Mike was 4 years old, and is now 18 and a member of TMF, having been born 7-30-86. George Bush 41 was 67 and president, and now hes 80. This run has gone on for a LONG TIME! I have never been more proud of my team then Iam in 2004, and really for the last two years, as they have undergone so many personnel changes, and are back in the playoffs again. This has been an amazing run, and I'm thrilled to have a chance at another October.

Mitch

 

[leafstk]

I agree with you Mitch, but that '92 Blue Jays team was really a team of destiny 😀 It was a hell of a series, to be sure. Remember Pat Borders was named MVP? 😱 Unbelievable, but I was very happy that Dave Stieb was there to be a part of it, even if he wasn't pitching... he'd been our ace for years 😀

Bobby's tenure with the Braves has been nothing short of superb. He'll definitely be in the hall of fame and rightly so 😀

PS: How times change, eh?

 

[giantfan121262]

I'm a die hard Mets fan so I have seen it from the wrong side of the tracks all too many times. With that considered, I have to give credit where credit is due. Cox has done a phenonimal job with that team. This is especially reflective over the last few years because of the changes the Braves made with free agents and trades. You can't say he did it because of the players he had b/c of the dynamics in the off season. He did it because of the system he instilled and he made it work. He is a great motivator and the players like to play for him.

Another person that deserves honorable mention is Leo Mazzone. He has done a great job with the pitchers and ressurected a few careers, take Mike Hampton for example. they have always been about pitching. You've heard me say it before and I'll say it again. good pitching ALWAYS stops good hitting. I've seen it playing and watching as well.

Cox, hall of famer, no doubt.

 

[Mitchell]

Thank you for the kind words, Giant. Those were classy things to say. Yes, you are right about good pitching usually stopping good hitting. Look at 1995, and that awesome Indians lineup that series. In the four games the Braves won, Cleveland scored two runs, three runs, two runs, and no runs. Glavine (While it galls me that he went to the Mets) stopped them cold in that series, especially in Game 6 with eight shutout innings of one hit ball. Avery was masterful in Game 4, and Maddux did a fine job in Game 1. I also believe that most of the time good pitching stops good hitting. Look at the 69 World Series. Those Mets pitchers stifled that fearsome Orioles lineup.
Thanks for the kind things you said about Bobby and Leo. They are amazing, and, except for last year when they uncharacteristically won with hitting, they usually have good pitching year in and year out. I hope they can have stifling pitching one more time this October, so we can squeeze one more ultimate celebration for Bobby.

Mitch

 

[giantfan121262]

I also believe that most of the time good pitching stops good hitting. Look at the 69 World Series. Those Mets pitchers stifled that fearsome Orioles lineup.
Mitch [/B]

Another example was in 1988 when Orel Herheiser had that scoreless string and was unbeatable at the right time. Everybody, including me, thought the Mets were going to take them out in the NLCS. Afterall, the Mets beat them in every game played during the season. Because of Hersheiser, they beat the Mets in 7 (much to my chagrin) and went on to beat the A's in the WS.

Another example was last years World Series. the Marlins starting pitching was superb, where they win it in 6.