Bobby Cox Wins 2000th Game

No. 2,000 for Bobby Cox (AJC)

Instead of just handshakes, there were hugs. This wasn't just another victory. Not for manager Bobby Cox. Not for his players. Not for Braves fans. After the final out was recorded of his milestone 2,000th win, Cox was embraced by his players on the field, then serenaded by a rousing chant of "Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!" from the crowd of 22,000 at Turner Field. Cox is a master at deflecting attention from himself. Wednesday, he couldn't pull it off. "It's his day," Braves pitcher John Smoltz said. "This is for all the times he has passed the credit to us and away from himself."

Cox, 63, is just the ninth major league manager to reach 2,000 victories. And his winning percentage of .566 over 23 seasons is better than all but two of them -- Joe McCarthy (.615) and John McGraw (.586). "It's been a long trip," Cox said.

A successful one, too. The Braves' 13 consecutive division titles is a pro sports record.

"We all know where he is going to end up," said Smoltz, referring to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The emotion of his milestone hit Cox when he was hugged by coach Terry Pendleton in the dugout, then met by his rejoicing players in the infield. Smoltz, who was acquired from Detroit by Cox in a 1987 trade, not only gave his manager an embrace, but the ball with which the last out of the 6-3 victory over the New York Mets was recorded. "It was heartwarming," Cox said. "I thought we'd shake hands and get off the field like always." "I think it shows the love we all have for Bobby," said Pendleton, who was National League MVP when the Braves started their run of division titles in 1991. "It's not just for Bobby the manager, but Bobby the human being." "We know he is going to shake it off and not want the attention," he said. "But we just wanted to show him how much we appreciate him." As Cox returned to the dugout, he waved his hat to the cheering fans and allowed himself a big smile. "I honestly didn't expect anything," Cox said when asked about the ovation. "It was really terrific."

"I'm so happy I could be here to see him do it," said longtime Braves fan Sarah Jane Wollison of Atlanta. "He doesn't get the credit he deserves. People say he's only won one World Series. But look how many games the Braves have won during the season. I remember when the Braves lost all the time." So does Cox. He was fired as Braves manager in 1981 after four seasons, although owner Ted Turner later called it the dumbest move the team ever made. Fortunately, the Braves brought Cox back, first as general manager in 1986 and then manager in 1990. "I've been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time," Cox said. "In baseball, you can never look too far ahead. With a manager, your job is always day-to-day."

Cox's first stint with the Braves began in 1978 at age 36. He says he can't recall who his first victory came against. "I was probably too excited to remember it," Cox said. Braves second baseman Marcus Giles was born in 1978. "It's great to just be part of this," he said. "What Bobby has done is unbelievable."

Quite so. It's certainly true that he has had more than his share of talented players over much of this go-round with the Braves, including at least three pitchers who will likely wind up in the Hall of Fame with him in Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz. But there have been a lot of managers who can't juggle the egos of star players and watch their teams fall apart around them. That includes some pretty good managers, including the last few with the New York Mets. Cox has also led some teams that didn't have the talent on paper, including this year's squad, to division titles.

AJC has a pretty good photo gallery featuring Cox. A couple classic shots:


You don't become Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991 without a little help. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone (left) and Cox have been trading game strategy since the start of the Braves' amazing run, continuing to nurture an ever-changing roster this season as well. (AP-AJC)



Oh, those umps: Cox and starting pitcher Mike Hampton argue with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after a balk call in a 2003 game against the Montreal Expos. Cox's battles with various major league umpires are legendary. (AP)

from OTB

Baseball in D.C.

Baseball, Angelos Close To Deal (WaPo, Ao1)

Major League Baseball and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos moved closer to agreement on a compensation package yesterday as District officials prepared for what they hoped would be a formal announcement today that baseball would return to the nation's capital after a 33-year absence.

The broad outlines of an agreement were in place last night that would give Angelos certain financial guarantees to offset the impact of a team in Washington. Although the Orioles owner said more discussions were needed before a deal is finalized, District officials said they believed Angelos was no longer an obstacle to the Montreal Expos' arrival in the city in time for Opening Day 2005.

At long last, D.C. lands Expos (ESPN-AP)

Richard Nixon was president and man was still making trips to the moon the last time the word "Washington" appeared in Major League Baseball's standings. On Opening Day, April 4, 2005, look for the nation's capital to return. Baseball was to announce Wednesday that Washington will be the new home of the Montreal Expos, according to a city official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The city was to celebrate the news Wednesday afternoon with a news conference featuring people associated with the old Washington Senators, the official said. "I think we'll be in a position where we can have a celebration tomorrow," Mayor Anthony Williams told WUSA-TV late Tuesday. Williams was noncommittal at his regular weekly news conference Wednesday, telling reporters he was still waiting for official notification from Major League Baseball officials.

The announcement comes one day before the 33rd anniversary of the Senators' final game. The team moved to Texas after the 1971 season, which was also the last time a major league team was relocated.

A crucial hurdle was cleared this week when, according to the city official, baseball reached an understanding with Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who had previously objected to having a team relocate just 40 miles from the Orioles' Camden Yards stadium.

MLB lays out incentive plan for Angelos (Jayson Stark, ESPN)

What is it worth to Peter Angelos to pull up his roadblocks and allow Major League Baseball to move the Montreal Expos 40 miles down the highway from Camden Yards? According to baseball sources, MLB offered the Orioles owner two fascinating incentives:

Baseball is willing to guarantee that the Orioles will earn a still-to-be-negotiated minimum in annual revenues. If their revenues fall below that figure, MLB would make up the difference.

Baseball also is willing to guarantee a minimum franchise value for the Orioles. So if Angelos attempts to sell the team and can't find a buyer willing to pay that amount, MLB also would make up that difference.

Beyond those measures, baseball will help establish a new regional sports network in the Baltimore-Washington area that would enable the Orioles to continue to televise games in Washington and its Virginia suburbs.

Interesting. Of course, this doesn't exactly give Angelos much incentive to learn how to run a business. He's managed to ruin one of the most profitable teams in Major League Baseball, despite having perhaps the best facility and a history of winning.

More importantly, I'm still dubious of the logic of bringing a team into a very small city that lacks the infrastructure for handling 81 home games a year. While the conventional wisdom is that baseball does better in urban settings while pro football does better in the suburbs, the traffic and living patterns in the D.C. area would seem to go against that trend. The proposed site in Dulles not only would be easier from a parking and commuting perspective, but is actually closer to more people who would likely go to games. Most of D.C.'s Maryland suburbs would seem a more natural fit for Orioles games and most people who work in D.C. actually live outside the District. Indeed, Fairfax County alone has nearly twice the population of D.C.

Update (1534): The Washington Exposés! I like it.

Update (1626): Breaking News - Baseball Comes Back to District (WaPo)

Commissioner Selig tells Mayor Williams the news is official.

Read more »

Braves Win 13th Straight Division Title

Braves clinch division title the hard way (AJC)

When they were finally able to scream and smile and squirt champagne all over each other Friday night, winning their franchise's 13th consecutive division title didn't feel as good as some Braves veterans thought it would. It felt better.

Marcus Giles capped a stirring three-run rally in the eighth inning with a two-out single, driving in the tying and winning runs in an 8-7 victory over the Florida Marlins that brought a more spirited celebration than usual from the Braves. "Right now it's off the charts," said closer John Smoltz, who induced a double-play grounder for the final outs and his 41st save. "I should be old-hat at this by now, but it feels brand new, to be honest with you. I'm very happy for this team."

One would never have known this clinching thing is an annual exercise for them. The NL East still belongs to them, and they'll cherish it more than they have in some time.
"For me, every year you go out and win the division is amazing," said center fielder Andruw Jones, who hit a home run in the second inning and a single to help load the bases in the eighth. "This year is a great year because a lot of people doubted us when we left camp, saying we were going to be in fourth place. "There was a lot of talk that this year the Braves were not going to do it. We proved ourselves again, and now we're celebrating."

After saying last week that his 11th division title with the Braves would be the best since his first one, Chipper Jones said the feeling late Friday was everything he expected and more. "Definitely," he said. "It feels better, with the way we did it. If we had won 10-0, it wouldn't have matched the way this team has gotten things done all year. It's only fitting that it happened the way it did."

Just when it appeared the Braves would keep their champagne on ice another night, and Russ Ortiz (2 1/3 innings, five runs) would have to stew over another poor start, they rallied in the eighth against overpowering relievers Guillermo Mota and Armando Benitez. "This is nice, but it's only part of our goal," said Giles, whose opposite-field single to right drove in Andruw Jones and Charles Thomas, who had stolen second base when Benitez didn't keep him close enough. "Our main goal is to have three more champagne parties [through the World Series], and I won't be satisfied until then."

***

"It feels better than I thought it was going to feel," said general manager John Schuerholz, dapper as always but soaked in champagne and beer. "Because it's a new bunch of guys. Old guys, young guys, guys brought in from all over the world. "It's thrilling. I'm glad for the guys. It's not the same old, familiar guys. There's a bunch of guys celebrating in there like it's the first time, and for a lot of them it is."

Now they need four wins in their final eight games to make Bobby Cox the ninth manager in history to record 2,000 wins, another goal that's high on the players' lists.

The Braves overcame another alarmingly poor start by Ortiz, whose past nine starts have yielded one win, a 7.32 ERA and 16 home runs. He has worked less than six innings six times in that stretch. But the Braves had his back Friday. "That's the thing about this team -- it's an actual team, where everybody pitches in," Ortiz said. "Everybody has picked each other up."

Braves clinch 13th in a row (Guy Curtwright, AJC)

Nothing can match the worst-to-first season of 1991, but these '04 Braves also proved the doubters wrong. In Atlanta, there is nothing unlucky about 13. It's a very, very good number when it comes to consecutive baseball division titles. "What this team has done is an amazing feat," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. The Braves clinched the National League East title Friday night dramatically by beating the defending World Series champion Florida Marlins 8-7 to the delight of 28,632 at Turner Field. "What a great way to close out an improbable season," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said after embracing pitcher John Smoltz at the end of the game. "In some ways, it's as good as the first time," said Smoltz, the only remaining Braves player from 1991. "I think everyone had a little doubt."

Picked in the spring to finish second or maybe even third, the Braves instead kept their record streak of titles alive. Forget a reduced payroll. Forget having to replace Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux and Javy Lopez, who all signed elsewhere as free agents. Forget the grave spring predictions, the embarrassment of May and the losing record through early July.

The Braves can't be matched — at least over the long haul of the regular season. "No way I thought they'd do it again," said fan David Foster, who makes one trip a season from Kannapolis, N.C., to see the Braves. "I figured they were dead. It's amazing what they've done and I get to be here to celebrate. It's unbelieveable." "I never gave up on them," said season-ticket holder Ilene Schroeder of Atlanta, who wore her graying 1995 "World Champs!" T-shirt to bring the Braves good luck. "But I wasn't sure they could do it again."

ESPN has an interesting interactive graphic feature which shows the incredible turnover in personnel during this run, which began in 1991. Indeed, the only player remaining from that team is John Smoltz--and even he has gone from being an ace #1 pitcher to being one of the premier closers in the game. And, of course, Bobby Cox has been the manager throughout the run.


Courtesy ESPN


AJC has a photo gallery here.

St. Louis has to be the overwhelming favorite to win the NL pennant. Still, this year will be the first in a long while when "only" winning the division won't be a disappointment.

from OTB

Rafael Furcal Arrested on DUI Charge

Furcal arrested on DUI charge (USA Today/AP) [ESPN version]

Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal was arrested early Friday on charges of driving under the influence, according to police. After being arrested on Interstate 85, Furcal was booked into the Atlanta city jail at 6:25 a.m., authorities said. He was charged with DUI, speeding and reckless driving. Furcal had his first court appearance where a judge set his bond at $3,200. Furcal apparently visited a couple nightclubs after Thursday's loss to Philadelphia, WAGA-TV reported.

His next court appearance is set for Oct. 14 in Atlanta Municipal Court. It was not immediately clear if he took a blood-alcohol test. It is the player's second DUI arrest. Cobb County officials told the jail on Friday that he also has violated the terms of his probation from a June 2000 drunken driving conviction, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gayle Middlebrook. Furcal's 12-month probation sentence would have expired Oct. 29, said Cobb County Solicitor General Barry Morgan. Furcal was previously sentenced to a year on probation, a $500 fine and 40 hours of community service. His court appeals on the June 2000 arrest delayed the start of his probation until last year, Morgan said.

In the 2000 case, Furcal registered a blood alcohol level of 0.11, above the legal Georgia limit of 0.08. In 2002, the Georgia Supreme Court turned down a challenge arguing that police officers must translate drunk driving charges for non-English-speaking drivers.

The Braves have surprised everyone by running away with the division--again--in what most thought would be a rebuilding year. They don't need this distraction. And, really, if he was going to drink and drive, couldn't he have waited another month?

Update (1511): Mac Thomason adds, "Damn it, Rafael, why can't you be more like Andruw and just hang out with strippers?"

Quite right. These kids today have no respect for tradition.

from OTB