For years I have watched baseball and preached that Bobby Cox is an average coach that always had a star-studded cast. With names like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, David Justice and Fred McGriff he has never really had to be a great coach to win.
This year was different because they were finally going to be down and slumping, and I was loving it.
Now though, after seeing the Braves dominate and control the National League East, I will proclaim that Bobby Cox, the leader of my most hated team, is doing the best coaching job I have ever seen this season.
After collapsing short of the World Series again last season, Braves’ management decided not to keep free agents Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez, Vinny Castilla, Maddux and Jason Marquis. They did not add any big-name free agents to replace them hoping that some pieces would tie together, but realistically looking at this season as a rebuilding season with a new youth movement. Their opening-day roster included the likes of rookie Adam LaRoche and Mark DeRosa.
Shortly after the season began, the injury bug hit the Braves and it appeared devastating. Young All-Star Marcus Giles was put on the shelf for two months.
Then Horacio Rameraiz, who at the time led the team with a 2.32 ERA, went down and has yet to return.
The team considered trading John Smoltz who is the last tie of the early ’90s teams that began this run of 13 straight division titles.
They limped into the break five games back of the division leading Phillies, with J.D. Drew and Johnny Estrada as their major statistical leaders.
Chipper Jones, who has been the foundation of this franchise since breaking in at age 22, was hitting a cold .214 at the All-Star break with only 12 HRS and 34 RBIs. The career .305 hitter, with six consecutive 30 HR-100 RBI seasons, was having trouble with nagging injuries and position changes again, this time back to his original position of third base.
This all changed in July when the Braves made the move and leaped from five back to nine up in the matter of one month.
Jones’ average is up to .251 on the season and now has 25 HRS and 69 RBI.
His play has been even better as of late with nine bombs in the last two weeks. His consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBI is still in doubt, but now is in sight needing only 31 more with six weeks remaining.
The pitching staff is why the Braves are now where they are. They are constructed with a legitimate ace and a bunch of “has beens” filling out the rest of the starting five.
They have an above-average bullpen with a lights-out closer in John Smoltz. Leo Mazzone has shown that he is still atop of his game as well as Cox. Last year he rejuvenated Mike Hampton. This year’s project was Jaret Wright.
Wright once pitched in the 1995 World Series for the Cleveland Indians against the Braves when Atlanta won their only World Series.
After a string of arm troubles and stints with a couple of teams, he made his way to Atlanta last season working out of the bullpen.
This season Mazzone gave him an opportunity to start once again.
He was on a very short leash in the beginning with control problems, but with each start, he earned more trust that solidified his spot in the rotation. He has arguably been the best pitcher in the National League and on his staff this year.
He has posted a sub 3.00 ERA with 11 wins and has good strikeout numbers as well.
Leo Mazzone has a way of leading his pitchers to finding their former selves.
Usually coming in as the favorites, winning the division, and then falling short come October, this team is much different that those of years past.
They were counted out long before the season started, fought, and have overcome adversity all season long.
So with this, will the Atlanta Braves finally win their second World Series, which they have been searching for oh so long? I would say probably not largely because Tony LaRussa’s St. Louis Cardinals stand in the way. One thing is for sure – I would not count them out.

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