Braves Celebration Time

I wish I could say I’m going to put in my two cents’ worth, but the following is something from someone else that I saved. Someone with a much more optimistic viewpoint that even I have. I can’t recall who this is from, but hope y’all believe it’s as good a read as I do.

Think about it
The one criticism that Bobby Cox endures is that in 15 postseason appearances — he led Toronto to the first playoff appearance in franchise history before returning to Atlanta for the record-setting 14 division titles in a row — is that he has only one world championship — in 1995. And he is haunted by having taken a 2-0 lead in 1996 only to see the Yankees rally to win the World Series for the first of what became four world championships in five years.

Cox, however, not only managed the Braves to those division titles, but he was the general manager who put the foundation for the success in place before John Schuerholz took over the front office job when Cox returned to the dugout.

Cox also is fourth all-time in victories and the only manager other than Joe McCarthy to manage six 100-game winners.

And while he has managed only one world championship:

Since Cox returned to the dugout in Atlanta midway in the 1990 season, there are only four franchises that have won more than one World Series — the Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009), Boston (2004 and 2007), Toronto (1992 and 1993) and Florida (1997 and 2003).

Since Cox returned to the dugout in Atlanta midway in the 1990 season, eight teams haven’t even played in the World Series — Baltimore, Kansas City, Seattle, Texas, Washington/Montreal, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Eight teams have never won a World Series in their existence — Seattle, Texas, Washington/Montreal, Houston, Milwaukee, Colorado, Tampa Bay and San Diego.

Three teams have never even played in a World Series — Washington/Montreal, Seattle and Texas.

Here’s something about Bobby Cox that I find amazing: In the Braves’ 14-season playoff run, 1991-2005, the Braves had nine different pitchers who had 15 or more saves in a season. They had six pitchers BESIDES the Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz trio who won 15 or more games in a season. They had 17 players who hit 20 or more homers, and 10 players who stole 20 or more bases and 13 players who hit .300 or better in a full season.

I think this only begins to tell you just how good a manager Bobby Cox has been. The Braves always SEEMED the same, but they never really were the same. They had seven different Opening Day catchers in the playoff run, nine different first basemen, seven different second basemen, four different shortstops, and so on. The Braves even had five different Opening Day third basemen, even with Chipper Jones (you will remember he moved to the outfield for a while).

Looking back it seems clear: The Braves’ apparent consistency was an optical illusion, a magic trick, pulled off by three great pitchers and a manager who, perhaps better than anyone in baseball history, understood the rhythms and quirks of a long baseball season