Cox unfazed by Braves' spring challenges

<p>Fourteen straight division championships give Bobby Cox confidence that spring training will provide solutions to the latest challenges facing his Atlanta Braves.</p><p>When pitchers and catchers report to spring training Thursday in Kissimmee, Fla., followed by the rest of the team next week, most of the roster will be set. But the few holes are significant.</p><p>The Braves need a new leadoff hitter, they must find a closer, and they must adapt to new pitching coach Roger McDowell after having Leo Mazzone on the job for 15 years.</p><p>After losing shortstop Rafael Furcal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves have no obvious candidate to hit leadoff.</p><p>No problem, says Cox, even while acknowledging the speedy Furcal was "ideal" for the role.</p><p>"I've had all kinds of years with no speed there," Cox said. "Furcal was good, really good. He was ideal. But teams can win without speedy guys at the front, that's for sure."</p><p>Possibilities include second baseman Marcus Giles, who has been the team's No. 2 hitter, and Ryan Langerhans, assuming Langerhans beats out Kelly Johnson for the starting job in left field.</p><p>If Giles is the leadoff hitter, new shortstop Edgar Renteria likely will hit second.</p><p>Kyle Farnsworth signed to be a set-up man for the New York Yankees, leaving the Braves with no established closer.</p><p>Farnsworth, Chris Reitsma and Dan Kolb worked in the role last season. Kolb was traded back to Milwaukee after his disastrous (3-8, 5.93 ERA) season in Atlanta.</p><p>Reitsma enters camp as the favorite for the role. He converted 13 of 15 save opportunities in June and July last season before trying to pitch through a knee injury. Ultimately, he lost the job to Farnsworth, but Cox says he remembers that Reitsma was effective before the injury.</p><p>Cox also says he still has confidence in Joey Devine, the Braves' top pick in the June draft last year. Devine was rushed to Atlanta only to earn the indignity of becoming the first pitcher to give up grand slams in each of his first two major league appearances.</p><p>Two more 2005 rookies _ Blaine Boyer and Macay McBride _ and offseason acquisition Oscar Villareal also are candidates to close games. There is room for a surprise to emerge in Florida, and a reliever to watch is minor league free agent Brad Baker.</p><p>With a shrug, Cox says he'll somehow find one or more answers.</p><p>"We like what we've got," Cox said. "We've done it before with pieces and we'll do it again."</p><p>Braves general manager John Schuerholz was outbid for such veteran relievers as Todd Jones, Tom Gordon, Bob Wickman and Trevor Hoffman, and he couldn't reach a deal for Tampa Bay's Danys Baez.</p><p>"We were interested in some of the free agents, but quite honestly a lot of them are pitching at 39 years old and just signed huge, huge contracts," Cox said.</p><p>Schuerholz says his staff will continue to look for help in other major league camps, hoping for a spring trade similar to the one which sent Jorge Sosa to Atlanta last year.</p><p>"We will be scouting every major league training camp, looking for the possibility for that to develop," Schuerholz said.</p><p>Also, for the first time in his 16 years as Braves manager, Cox won't have Mazzone at his side in the dugout. Mazzone left to become Baltimore's pitching coach.</p><p>The picture of Mazzone, always nervously rocking, sitting beside Cox became so familiar to TV viewers that it's difficult to imagine anyone else claiming that preferred dugout location.</p><p>"I guess it will be a little bit strange," Cox said.</p><p>"The fact is you are focused so much on the game, quite honestly, you don't even know who's in the dugout or not. Leo wouldn't know and I wouldn't know because the concentration level is so high."</p><p>More important than finding a new bench buddy for Cox is the task facing McDowell in his first major league coaching job. The leap from Mazzone, regarded as perhaps the game's top pitching coach, to the unproven McDowell is significant.</p><p>"I think Roger is going to do a magnificent job for us," Schuerholz said. "I'm really, really positive about what he will do for us. Having said that, what we've accomplished in the past is pretty remarkable. If we can continue at that level, I'll be very pleased."</p><p>Some Braves veterans have said as Mazzone's reputation grew, he might have been an intimidating presence for young pitchers. The younger McDowell may be easier for young pitchers to approach.</p><p>Cox wouldn't touch that suggestion.</p><p>"I don't know about that," Cox said. "What I'm saying is the relationship with Roger and the pitchers is already an excellent relationship."</p><p>McDowell tipped his cap to Mazzone by refusing to call his pre-spring throwing program at Turner Field "Camp Roger." McDowell said the Braves' old "Camp Leo" program was a much-deserved title, given Mazzone's tenure on the job.</p><p>"You're as good as your team," Cox said when asked about the inevitable comparisons between McDowell and Mazzone. "But Roger is really an excellent guy. He fits perfect."</p><p>Now Cox must find similarly perfect fits to bat leadoff and close games.</p><p>"I'm just anxious to see them all," he said. "When we see the games start, that's when you start forming your opinions."</p>

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