Cox Has Finally Managed to Get Some of the Credit

Because of the Atlanta Braves’ decade-long success, Manager Bobby Cox hasn’t received much credit recently.

The exceptionally talented Braves began their impressive run in 1991, and Cox was selected the National League manager of the year that season. He hasn’t won the award since, in part because the Braves are expected to win.

Many believed Cox simply filled out the lineup card and watched the Braves do their thing.

The view has changed this season. Cox has deftly overcome the loss of key players to injuries and illness while guiding the Braves to an unprecedented eighth consecutive division championship.

And Cox has made many bold moves during the playoffs that have paid off big. He has received good reviews from his peers, and much of the credit for the team’s performance.

But Cox said he’s unfazed by opinions about his performance.

“It’s not something that ever bothered me,” said Cox, also selected the American League manager of the year while with the Toronto Blue Jays. “Being the manager of the year is a great honor, and I’ve had it twice, in the American League and National League. I like getting those [awards], but it’s certainly nothing I think about.”

Cox has been praised for his maneuvering during the championship series. Some have suggested that the Braves took the first two games at Turner Field because Cox outsmarted New York Met Manager Bobby Valentine.

Cox doesn’t agree.

“I don’t think I’ve outfoxed anybody,” Cox said. “Both of us are going to make moves, and some of them are going to work, and some of them won’t. I don’t think any manager has ever actually been responsible for becoming the world champion. You’ve got to have the players, and you’ve got to keep them motivated and moving in the right direction.”

Cox has done that, with some help.

“Basically, that’s what we do as an organization,” Cox said. “It is hard to keep a team pumped up year after year after year, going after the same thing. I try to help in that direction.

“But the moves are moves, and sometimes they work. If they didn’t work, I would have been the dumb guy. Fortunately, they did work.”

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John Smoltz will make his 25th postseason start tonight for the Braves. The right-hander is the major leagues’ all-time leader in playoff victories with 12. He earned the victory during the Braves’ division-series clinching victory over the Houston Astros, and his first save in Game 2 of the championship series.

“This is definitely the role I relish,” Smoltz said, “and the role I want to be in.”

Rick Reed, who will oppose Smoltz, earned the victory in Game 3 of the division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, marking his first postseason appearance.

“I’m going to approach it as an ordinary game,” Reed said.

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Cox described the firing of Cleveland Indian Manager Mike Hargrove, who had led his team to five consecutive division titles, as a shocker.

“I’m flabbergasted,” he said. “He’s done a super job there. There must have been underlying problems with the front office. That’s the only thing I can think of.”

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Amid news reports that he has been offered the Chicago Cubs’ managerial job after having been interviewed in Atlanta by club President Andy MacPhail and General Manager Ed Lynch, Braves’ batting coaching Don Baylor said, “We haven’t discussed length of contract or money. There is no agreement. The last thing they said to me was that they wanted to talk to other candidates.”

Baylor said he has had several conversations with Milwaukee Brewer General Manager Dean Taylor about their managerial position. Asked if he was being pursued by the Brewers, Baylor said, “Yes, I’d call it a pursuit.”

The former Angel reiterated that he has heard nothing from the Angels except for a call from Bill Bavasi the day before Bavasi resigned as general manager.