John Schuerholz Bobby Quotations

We're not announcing it, because we don't know who it is going to be. Bobby has done this many times in the past when we've had openings at various positions. We'll let them compete for it, and whoever impresses the most will get the opportunity to be our closer.

There are two components. It's a process that keeps our organization filled with talented players because we have excellent people involved in scouting and the minor league system. The second part is Bobby Cox and his coaching staff, who take this talent wherever it comes from and blends it as effectively as any staff in the major leagues can do.

With the core group of leaders we have on this team, it has an uplifting effect on all of the rest of the roster. The environment, which they and Bobby and the coaches create, also has an uplifting impact. People rise with the tide of professional expectations. It's happened here for 15 straight years.

We feel that Bobby is the best manager in the game and his leadership has helped the Braves to set a very high standard of excellence -- not just in major league baseball, but in all of professional sports.

Bobby is going to have to decide on his lineup to decide who's the leadoff hitter and decide who the closer is going to be, so we have some spots on this roster and on this team that are going to be big decisions. But we have plenty of time and feel we will be able to get it done in spring training.