It's Wednesday afternoon, I'm driving on I-285 and I hear there is breaking news on Bobby Cox. My mind races and I get a burst of energy and enthusiasm that our Braves leader in the dugout has realized the time has come for him to step away, spend time with the grandkids, and go out as the Hall of Fame manager he is with his head held high. My sudden energy is quickly deflated as the horror of Bobby's contract status thru 2010 has been confirmed. I get an immediate sinking feeling recalling the last 10 years, watching a stagnant, emotionless, and dare I say gutless team is going to be back for another year.

How he thinks he can effectively lead anymore is beyond me. I know the players love him and wouldn't you love your boss if they never held you accountable for your performance? If they never lit a fire under you to perform up to your capabilities, would they get your best effort?

How Frank Wren can see the writing on the wall and have the balls to tell Smoltz we don't want him. He has the balls to tell Tom Glavine that he isn't good enough to pitch anymore AND release him after several minor league rehab starts, just before he is about to don the "A" on his cap again. Does Frank Wren have the balls to tell this Hall of Fame coach, thanks, but no thanks? No he didn't. He could've done it behind closed doors, letting him bow out gracefully, but instead he looked Bobby in the eye, gave him another year, and decided that Bobby Cox was the best person to lead this team in 2010. Are you kidding me? The Braves have underperformed for 4 years in a row and with Cox at the helm again, there is no reason to think things will be different next year.

Cox has never been a great strategist but this year progressively got worse and worse. You can look back over the last 18 years and find just about any series you want to look at and question something he did. We tolerated it because we were winning the Division and making the playoffs every year but this is what happens when you make those decisions and your luck has run out. When Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux aren't there anymore to bail you out.
When Gant, Justice, McGriff, and Chipper are hitting 30+ home runs, you can get away without bunting and hitting and running and sit back and wait for the much coveted 3 run homerun. However, when you don't have a home run hitting team, how long should it take you to figure out that small ball might be your best option to win games. Well, Bobby still hasn't figured that out but yet there are going to be those who are going to say what a great manager he is because of the 14 division titles in a row. Do you think he is the only manager that was capable of winning with that pitching staff and our incredible offenses during that time? I think every manager in the majors (except for Bobby Valentine and Larry Bowa) would've been successful with those teams.

Which managerial decision of 2009 most infuriated you?

Cox burning Gonzalez and Soriano in 4, 5, 6, and 7 run games all season, using them for the 2nd and 3rd day in a row in meaningless situations, and therefore having to sit them in close games the following night.

Despite the 2nd best ERA among starters, we have 3 of the top 7 relievers in appearances, and no 9 inning complete games until mid September.

The tolerance of the ongoing pathetic performances of Kelly Johnson, Jordan Shafer, and Jeff Franceour while Martin Prado waited out his turn patiently.

9/9 - With 98 pitches, 8 innings, 5 hits, no walks, 7 K's, Cox removes Hanson in favor of struggling reliever, Rafael Soriano. The Astros are all relieved, the Braves announcers and millions of fans are all in disbelief as the Braves lost 2-1 on the road in Houston. The stud rookie said all the right things after the game but the look in his eye said everything that Braves fans were all thinking......"your actually taking me out of this game, are you crazy?"

9/18 - Teams leading hitter and outside of Diaz, our hottest hitter. LaRoche hits in the 8 hole vs the Phils in a must win game. Oh, Diaz, he's hitting 7th.

As much as Bobby has done, his tenure to motivate has run its course and a new spark is desperately needed as much as the Braves players don’t want to admit it. I know they love him, but frankly, does he still get the most out of his players?

An honest answer to that is obvious, even for the most loyal Cox supporters.

Looking ahead to next year, the Braves have some tough decisions to make. Soriano (6.35M) and Gonzalez (3.45M) are both free agents. Knowing the Braves, they don’t like to pay big money for relievers (never have) and I think we’re lucky to resign one of those guys.
At 12M, I can’t imagine we are going to resign Hudson who will be 35 next year and coming off surgery. Not worth the risk especially given the depth of the current rotation.
I would not trade Vasquez or Jurrjens. Lowe is nearly untradable at his salary as is Kawakami, and Hanson is untouchable of course.
Given that, I think there is 15M off the board with Hudson gone and I think we have a good trade fit with the White Sox. We need a stop gap 1B and a power hitting righty in the lineup. Paul Konerko is in the last year of his contract, making 12M, and leads his team in HR, RBI, and OBP. I think the Sox would possibly be interested in a some combination of prospects, as well as Kelly Johnson, or Kris Medlen, and maybe Canizares among others. Konerko would be a 1 yr guy while our future first basemen, Freddie Freeman, gets one more year of seasoning. Make a run at Chone Figgins, free agent from the Angels and plug him into our leadoff spot. Figgins can play all the OF spots, as well as 2B and 3B and is a true leadoff man we have lacked since Furcal left.
We need to spend some money on the bullpen but I can see Moylan closing next year and Campillo in the mix with whoever we can sign. There are some decent lefties available if we can’t resign Gonzalez.

Hudson 15.5M
Soriano 6.35M
Gonzalez 3.45M
Kotchman 2.885M – his $ and not Laroche are being paid now
Anderson 2.5M
Norton 800k – there’s no way! Right?
K.Johnson 2.825M

That’s $34,310,000 off the books.
I don’t know what built in raises are coming up but here’s a guess for replacements.

Replace with:
Konerko 12M (the following yr, Freeman 400k)
Figgins 9M (3 yrs, 27M)
Kevin Gregg RP 2.5M?
Gonzalez or Joe Beimel or Scott Eyre
Heyward 400k

Other FA decent bullpen options:
Will Ohman (again)
Chad Cordero (can he be healthy again?)
Chad Bradford
Gary Majewski

Imagine this offense:

Figgins SH (switch hitter, .299 avg, .399 OBP, and 42 steals right now)
McLouth LH (imagine 2 guys w/ speed at the top again - hadn't seen that in a LONG time)
Chipper SH – can’t possibly be done yet, needs more protection in the lineup and I think he'll be fine
Konerko RH (sorry LaRoche fans, Freddie Freeman is waiting in the wings at league minimum in 2011)
McCann LH – I love McCann, but he more dangerous as a 5 hitter
Escobar RH – a full year in the 5/6 spot = 100 RBI’s if healthy
Heyward LH – or Diaz, probably both
Prado RH – or Infante

You have Figgins, Prado, and Infante that can play multiple positions and give us alot of flexibility for when Chipper, McClouth, or Escobar are hurt.

We have some much needed speed at the top and at least 4 guys capable of hitting 25-35 long balls.

What are your thoughts?