Bobby Cox hints at retirement

Long time Atlanta Braves Manger Bobby Cox may retire at the end of the 2009 season. Cox has been the manager of the Braves for 19 years and he led them to the 1995 World Series title. Of course that would be a greater accomplishment had Cox had more success in the playoffs. His Atlanta Braves teams won 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005. In that stretch that played in four World Series only being able to win one of them. While clearly Cox is a great manager, it may be time for a change.

Never before has Cox faced so much criticism. If the Braves cannot complete a late season push they will miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. While Cox was the main man responsible for acquiring the talent of those great Braves teams the team needs a rebuild, and a new direction.

Many don’t remember that this is actually Cox’s second stint as manager of the Braves. His first lasted from 1978-1981 and is most noted for taking catcher Dale Murphy and transforming him into a Gold Glove winning Center Fielder. After the 1981 baseball strike he was fired and replaced by none other than Joe Torre.

In 1985 Cox returned to the Braves as their General Manager, in this capacity he collected that talent he would later use as manager to win all those division titles. He traded for a young prospect by the name of John Smoltz, drafted Chipper Jones, and signed David Justice.

Cox is 4th among all time Managerial wins, and first in managerial injections with 159. While he has hinted that he will make a decision about next year after the season, this is at least the third time, he has hinted about retiring.