Is Leo leaving something to do with Cox?

Question

I did not read any news or humors about the relationship between Bobby and Leo when he left but there were a lot of talk regarding to how he is the greatest pitching coach of all time in his final year with Atlanta. I know too much of that talk will p**s me off if I am in the Bobby’s position even Bobby has his own reputation.

In addition, after Leo left. Atlanta has not been winning and it mainly and pitching has been big problem since then (2006 Tim and bullpen, 2007 3-4-5 rotation, 2008 a mess). I would not think Bobby is too thrilled about Leo’s departure after all that.

If the relationship between them is one of the main reason Leo leaving, maybe Leo will be willing to takeover Cox once he is retired in 2009.

Just for the records, I love Bobby and I think he has done everything he could to save the team but there are so many indicators about him retiring which I certainly hope not. Maybe Leo Mazzone can be a nice change.

Your 2 cents please, I know a lot of Braves fans still hate him.

Answer 1

50-50 - Half new management in the front office (Time Warner sold out to Liberty Media), half he and Sam Perlozzo are very good friends.Could also have been that Leo saw the writing on the wall with who was going to be in the next generation of Braves' pitchers and decided to leave with his reputation somewhat intact. Let's face it ... who gets to work with three Hall of Fame pitchers for a decade? Now compare that to Reyes and James. The fact that they even thought of depending on Mike Hampton is scary enough.  

Answer 2

The new management had a little to do with it, but the big thing was that Sam Perlozzo talked Peter Angelos into spending a lot of money on Leo, he and Bobby were getting along fine but money talks and Leo walked with it.  He could be a successor but I would be more apt to think that it is Terry Pendelton's job to lose at this point.

THe problem with their pitching is less about coaching and more about over spending on bad deals as well as poor talent coming up from the minors.