Sports Radio Interviews

Bobby Cox and His Long Farewell

Last September, Bobby Cox signed a one-year extension and announced that this would be his last season as Manager of the Atlanta Braves.  During his 25-year tenure in Atlanta, Cox has won five pennants, a record eleven straight division titles, one World Series title in 1995, and is currently fourth on the all-time wins list with 2,413.  That to me sounds like he will be a definite lock for induction into Cooperstown during his first year of eligibility.  Cox is one of the most low-key managers in the game and he always deflects his success to the players that were out on the field.  He resists talking about himself, his impact, his place in a game in which only three managers have ever won more.

As a lifelong Braves fan, I feel as though the Braves could have done more.  They went to the postseason year after year and only have one World Series title to show for it.  Don’t get me wrong, I am glad the Braves won at least one title, but getting your hopes up time after time to only lose in the postseason when they should have won gets redundant.  I know that I sound like a cry baby but damn we should have won at least one or two more World Series.  I am definitely grateful for what Cox has done for this great organization and we will miss him.

Bobby Cox joined WCNN in Atlanta to talk about Tim Hudson’s return from Tommy John surgery and how he looks so far in spring training, how Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus are playing so far this spring, and how their number one prospect, Jason Heyward, has been able to handle any challenge thrown at him thus far this spring training.

On Tim Hudson’s return from Tommy John surgery and how he looks so far in spring training:

“Yeah he threw a lot of strikes.  Unfortunately he threw too many and they hit a lot of pitches we made outs on them real quick.  He went down in the bullpen and threw some breaking balls down there afterwards to get a little more work in, but I was very pleased with Timmy.”

How Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus are playing so far this spring:

“Yeah we are going to take it slow with the both of them in the beginning.  They will have a lot of at-bats before the spring is up.  Troy hit a ball, he hit a bullet today that was caught.  Chipper I think he hit two ground balls…  Two at-bats and we will get them going.”

On Jason Heyward being able to handle any challenge thus far:

“Well you know he is twenty years old and he has been very special so far down here guys.  He has got great instincts, he is strong, he has already walked like three times and he has only missed one pitch.  The other ones that he has swung at, he has hit bullets.”

On Derek Lowe getting the Opening Day start:

“Yeah we are pleased to do that.  He had a great one last year.  He went eight innings and a two-hitter in Philadelphia against the Phillies.  He is a veteran guy that he had the most wins on our team last year and he fits in perfect for that.”

Bobby Cox on WCNN in Atlanta with Buck and Kincade

Tags: 2, 413 wins MLB, 4th all-time on wins list, Atlanta Braves Manager, Bobby Cox, final season as Braves manager, fourth on all-time wins list, Jason Heyward, long bid farewell, MLB Playoffs, National League East, World Series Title