Cox to welcome pitchers and catchers with familiar speech

<p>For the past 14 years Bobby Cox has given the same speech.</p><p>When his pitchers and catchers gather for their first practice Friday at Disney's Wide World of Sports, Cox will repeat the same words he says he could now give in his sleep. The pitchers and catchers reported to camp Thursday, but the first workouts are Friday.</p><p>Cox and the Braves have won 14 consecutive division titles.</p><p>Cox had to rely more on young players last season, including such rookies as Jeff Francoeur, Ryan Langerhans, Brian McCann and Kyle Davies, who are returning this spring.</p><p>Cox says he knows most of his players have heard his spring speech before, but they'll get the same delivery Friday because there isn't much new to say.</p><p>"We have a lot of veterans and they know what they have to do," Cox said.</p><p>Third baseman Chipper Jones, who first heard Cox's opening day speech in 1993, said he knows the words won't change.</p><p>"We have all been through it and we know what he expects," Jones said. "I am excited. Every year people pick against us and we just ignore it. We just go out and do what we have to do and end up getting it done."</p><p>Jones said he caught some grief from former teammate Tom Glavine when they met in New York during the offseason. Jones said Glavine was bragging about the Mets' chances to unseat the Braves this year in the NL East.</p><p>"You can't print what I said, but they have to catch us," Jones said.</p><p>The Braves signed right-hander Carlos Almanzar to a one-year minor league contract Thursday. Almanzar is expected to join the Braves for Friday's first workout.</p><p>Financial terms of the deal were not announced.</p><p>With the addition of Almanzar, the Braves will have 55 players in camp this spring, including 17 non-roster invitees.</p><p>Almanzar, 32, went 7-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 67 games for the Texas Rangers in 2004. He appeared in only six games for Texas in 2005 before an injury to his right elbow led to Tommy John surgery last May.</p><p>Almanzar has appeared in 210 career major league games with Toronto, San Diego, New York Yankees, Cincinnati and Texas. His career record is 13-13 with a 4.92 ERA.</p><p>The Braves used 18 rookies last season, and several of those weren't in the major league spring camp.</p><p>"They know what to expect," Cox said. "I like our young guys and we have a nice mix of young kids and veterans. Our pitching staff is as good as it gets, so I feel good about this team."</p><p>One staff member who will hear the speech for the first time is new pitching coach Roger McDowell, who replaces Leo Mazzone, now Baltimore's pitching coach.</p><p>Other newcomers include relievers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal, acquired in the trade which sent Johnny Estrada to Arizona, and shortstop Edgar Renteria, who was acquired from Boston to replace Rafael Furcal.</p><p>The Braves' position players are due to join the pitchers and catchers next week, though many already are in camp.</p>

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