Bobby Cox's Bullpen

Bobby Cox has achieved above and beyond what anyone could have asked for when he took over as the Atlanta Braves skipper in 1990. However, let's look at the reality of the fourteen consecutive division titles. Ted Turner provided the money, John Schuerholz chose the players, and Bobby Cox watched. Sure Cox drew up the lineup card and gave encouragement from the top step of the dugout, but when you have three Cy Young Award winners in your rotation your impact is not felt.

 I am not trying to completely bash the only manager I have ever known for America's team. He was a typical "player's manager" and he always will be. Unfortunately for Cox and the Atlanta Braves organization, they have not had the "players" for the past three years and his managing has been openly scrutinized. The most glaring weakness in his managing has been with the bullpen. Whatever the reason may be, Cox seems to have an obligation to at least one reliever a year that he must get 75 innings out of, blown leads be thrown to the way side. Last year it was Blaine Boyer. He threw the most innings of any reliever on the team (76) and posted an awful 5.88 ERA. In 76 innings Boyer gave up 10 homeruns. That same year, Jair Jurrjens surrendered 11 homeruns in 188 innings.

Predictably we have a new Blaine Boyer this year. A guy that in 2007 was very dependable. One year removed from Tommy John surgery and we do not have the same Peter Moylan pitching in the seventh inning. Yet Cox continues to bring him in every seventh inning, in every meaningful game. In essence, Peter Moylan isn't only a reliever that Cox uses too much, he is our primary setup man. So far this year, in 16 innings, he has given up 11 runs, 15 hits, 14 walks, and has hit 2 batters. In Moylan's defense he probably still isn't 100 percent healthy from the surgery he had almost one year ago. He also never made any statement before the year that he expected to get the ball every seventh inning.

This is clearly another infatuation Cox has with an underachieving relief pitcher. Hopefully he realizes we have better options (Eric 0'Flaherty) and gets over his yearly man crush. This team has a chance. The starting pitching has been very solid this year and Cox must not continue to put our bullpen in positions to fail.