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Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2009

Cox’s future with Braves uncertain

With the Atlanta Braves looking more and more like they will be spending October watching the playoffs on television like the rest of us, the next item to watch will be the future of manager Bobby Cox.

Cox said last week he is not committed (yet) to managing next season, which is no surprise since this is the latest Cox has ever gone in his tenure without a contract for the next year.

Cox will be 69 in May, so he is obviously wondering if the rigors of a long baseball season are still worth it at his age. And with the Braves looking at a fourth straight season with no playoffs, fans are wondering if they want Cox back.

He has done enough in his Hall of Fame career to decide when it’s time to walk away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate on whether now is the right time for a change.

Sometimes change can be a good thing. Cox has been an outstanding manager, and I’m not going to imply that his age is the reason he should walk away. I just wonder if the Braves need a new voice.

The Yankees wanted that when they switched Joe Torre for Joe Girardi two years ago. Like Cox, Torre had great success, but it was just time for a change.

Mike Holmgren knew it last year when he left the Seattle Seahawks after 10 seasons as head coach. Bill Cowher knew it a few years ago when he walked away from coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers after 15 seasons.

And I wonder if Cox is figuring it out. too. He has been the Braves’ manager for 19-1/2 seasons (in his second stint). He has done everything a manager can do, and his place in history is secure.

It’s not going to be an easy decision for Cox. He loves the game. He loves the Braves. And he has to wonder how his life will change after doing the same thing for so long.

Cox almost quit in spring training this year. He was upset with some of the decisions made by the organization and had to be persuaded to stick around for this season. Many have wondered if his sometime shaky relationship with general manager Frank Wren (particularly compared to the great rapport he had with former GM John Schuerholz) could contribute to his decision.

But the improved season for the Braves could make it even more difficult for Cox to walk away. They’ll probably fall short of the playoffs, but this year has been much better than last year’s 90-loss team. And there’s reason to believe they’ll be even better next season.

With pitcher Tommy Hanson being a top rookie, and outfielder Jason Heyward the top prospect in the game, the Braves have some pieces in place to be a force in the next decade. That’s going to make it tougher for Cox to leave.

Even though Cox drives all of us crazy at times, particularly with the way he uses his pitching staff, he’s going to be missed when he does walk away. Regardless of who replaces him, Cox has been around so long we’ll use him as a reference as to how a club should be run.

This decision will be interesting. I really won’t be shocked either way. Cox loves baseball so much they may have to drive him away. And yet, at times this season I’ve seen a different look on his face, one of someone who doesn’t look like he’s having as much fun as he has had in the past.

Either way, you just have to wonder if a change would benefit the Braves. Sometimes change for change sake is good. And after almost two decades, you wonder if that time has come.

Talk Braves Baseball with Bill this from 3-6 p.m. today on The Bill Shanks Show on Fox Sports 1670 AM and online at www.foxsports1670.com.