MLB

The Florida Marlins Would Rather Not Honor Legendary Braves Manager Bobby Cox

Bobby Cox has had himself an amazing career as Braves (and, in the early-mid ’80s, Blue Jays) manager – just check the record. He’s so distinguished, in fact, that every team the Braves have played on the road this year has acknowledged Cox’ impending retirement in some way…until the Florida Marlins break the streak today.

Why wouldn’t they honor someone who’s been managing the Braves for longer than the Marlins have even existed? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien wonders if it’s because of a personal grudge on Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria’s part. Earlier this season, Loria fired manager Fredi Gonzalez, a longtime Cox associate, and understandably, Cox wasn’t happy about it:

“I know that guy [owner Jeffrey Loria] is unpredictable, but I was still [surprised],” Cox said that day. “After everything he’s done for that guy, are you [kidding] me?”

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“They’ve gone down to the end [competing for a playoff spot] every year, playing their asses off,” Cox said. “That guy [Loria] doesn’t appreciate anything.”

We can’t blame Cox for saying this – considering the Marlins’ payroll remains one of baseball’s lowest (and wouldn’t the man responsible for that be…Loria?), Gonzalez did a nice job managing the team, finishing with winning records the last two seasons. He’s the least of the team’s problems, and shouldn’t have gotten the ax.

But at the same time, they’re harsh words, and we also can’t blame Loria for not being in a big hurry to honor Cox when he knows the guy’s opinion of him is so low. If we were Cox, we probably wouldn’t even want a tribute from Loria.

And Cox wasn’t the only one criticizing Loria – Kevin Kaduk of Big League Stew, whose post on the matter is linked above (and here), said among other things that Loria’s “next classy baseball move will be his first.”

Loria just does not have a very good reputation in general. Considering reports like this one from 2006, it’s not a mystery why:

[Then-Marlins-manager Joe] Girardi, who was ejected Saturday for arguing balls and strikes, did not leave the dugout to question home plate umpire Larry Vanover when two borderline pitches by Florida reliever Taylor Tankersley were called balls. But according to media reports, Loria, sitting in the stands next to the dugout, yelled at Vanover, prompting Girardi to turn and ask Loria to stop yelling.

The Bobby Cox flap will likely only exacerbate Loria’s image problems. And even if it would have been strange if he had paid tribute to Cox’ career, Cox only talked smack in the first place to stand by a friend who’d been, by all accounts, done wrong by Loria. And around baseball, Bobby Cox’ word carries just a bit more weight than Jeffrey Loria’s.

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