SB Nation Profile of Leo Mazzone

[MadduxFanII]

Not much new ground broken for lifelong Braves' fans, but it's always good to catch up with Leo.

[Hawk]

Mazzone won’t utter a cross word about Cox. But he is upset that his former team hasn’t reached out over the past eight years. When Mazzone left the Braves in 2005, former GM and current president John Schuerholz and Cox told reporters that the pitching coach never approached them about staying, that he had an opportunity to make more money and he took it. Strictly business; no hard feelings. (The Braves did not respond to requests for comment from Cox, Aaron, and Schuerholz for this story.) Mazzone admits he never tried to negotiate with Schuerholz. The Braves usually only signed coaches to one-year deals and were known for not paying them very much. He says he left for the money and the contract, and the chance to work with Perlozzo.

And while Mazzone isn’t expecting Atlanta to displace their current coach Roger McDowell, who’s held the post since Mazzone abdicated, he would like to be involved. Perhaps a position in the farm system overseeing development, or being sent to some outpost to scout a young pitcher with promise, or simply be invited down to spring training to help out. He’s been at camp as part of the radio crew, but never went into the clubhouse. “I could go down,” he says. “But when you’re not invited … a lot of people prefer you not.”

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Sad. The Braves hold grudges well it seems.

[thewupk]

Sad. The Braves hold grudges well it seems.

It's the Braves Way

[chop2chip]

Mazzone won’t utter a cross word about Cox. But he is upset that his former team hasn’t reached out over the past eight years. When Mazzone left the Braves in 2005, former GM and current president John Schuerholz and Cox told reporters that the pitching coach never approached them about staying, that he had an opportunity to make more money and he took it. Strictly business; no hard feelings. (The Braves did not respond to requests for comment from Cox, Aaron, and Schuerholz for this story.) Mazzone admits he never tried to negotiate with Schuerholz. The Braves usually only signed coaches to one-year deals and were known for not paying them very much. He says he left for the money and the contract, and the chance to work with Perlozzo.

And while Mazzone isn’t expecting Atlanta to displace their current coach Roger McDowell, who’s held the post since Mazzone abdicated, he would like to be involved. Perhaps a position in the farm system overseeing development, or being sent to some outpost to scout a young pitcher with promise, or simply be invited down to spring training to help out. He’s been at camp as part of the radio crew, but never went into the clubhouse. “I could go down,” he says. “But when you’re not invited … a lot of people prefer you not.”

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Sad. The Braves hold grudges well it seems.

By all accounts (shanks) he was quite the ass hole.

With that said, he was a key cog of the franchise's high peak that they'll never repeat again. It would be nice to see him recognized at some point.

[Julio3000]

He seemed like a prickly guy, and there might have been some fire where we saw all the smoke, but the m.o. of ****-talking the guy and attacking his character on his way out of town seems mighty familiar.

Smells a bit like pinstripes and suspenders and CYA.

[MadduxFanII]

He seemed like a prickly guy, and there might have been some fire where we saw all the smoke, but the m.o. of ****-talking the guy and attacking his character on his way out of town seems mighty familiar.

Smells a bit like pinstripes and suspenders and CYA.

Mazzone was pretty much the first guy who made me notice that, truthfully.

[sturg33]

I didn't hear any of the negative talk about Leo until after he was gone. I get really tired of the Braves ****ting on people after they leave. Even if there were issues - just keep your mouth shut about the. He's gone - no need to drag his character through the mud

[thethe]

Can someone tell me which person from the Braves organization talked **** about Leo after he left and link the article? Thanks...

[chop2chip]

Can someone tell me which person from the Braves organization talked **** about Leo after he left and link the article? Thanks...

After he left there were a flood of articles that came out about how abrasive he was to everyone. I don't think it's as organized as the Boston Red Sox mud raking, but there was clearly a few guys on the inside that had loose lips.

[thethe]

After he left there were a flood of articles that came out about how abrasive he was to everyone. I don't think it's as organized as the Boston Red Sox mud raking, but there was clearly a few guys on the inside that had loose lips.

So just some speculation passed off as fact. Thought so...

[chop2chip]

From the spin machine Bowman:

Fans and some journalists have gained the belief that Mazzone is one of the greatest pitching coaches ever. The success has created the credentials to make that argument. But during the years I've spent on this beat, I've never felt that that same attitude exists within the Braves clubhouse.

During the 2003 season, an anonymous survey conducted by a highly respected sports publication asked players to name the best pitching coach in the Majors. Let's just say a heavy majority of the veteran Braves pitchers chose not to list Mazzone. Again at the end of this past season, one of the club's veteran pitchers said he thought it might be best for Mazzone to go elsewhere.

As for departing free agent pitchers over the years, their common statement is that they're going to miss playing for Cox. I've not heard many say the same about Mazzone.

When players make such comments, I tend to listen, so I believe that maybe it was time for Mazzone to end what was undeniably a successful tenure in Atlanta. It's also time for the Braves to prove life can be just as good without him.

[thethe]

Just so you guys know the stuff shanks reported was based on his observations and what the kids told him whom hr had relationships with. May have someone in the organization given him more information? Anything is possible but this conept the Braves **** on people on the way out is absurd and not founded in any supportable proof. Just more of the same from the bitter fanbase.

[chop2chip]

So just some speculation passed off as fact. Thought so...

Did you expect a press release from the Braves?

Spiders spin their webs in the dark.

[The Chosen One]

Shanks was laying into Mazzone pretty bad.

Have to admit that Smoltz's homeboy upstairs jab made me question the upstairs rift if there was any.

[thethe]

From the spin machine Bowman:

Fans and some journalists have gained the belief that Mazzone is one of the greatest pitching coaches ever. The success has created the credentials to make that argument. But during the years I've spent on this beat, I've never felt that that same attitude exists within the Braves clubhouse.

During the 2003 season, an anonymous survey conducted by a highly respected sports publication asked players to name the best pitching coach in the Majors. Let's just say a heavy majority of the veteran Braves pitchers chose not to list Mazzone. Again at the end of this past season, one of the club's veteran pitchers said he thought it might be best for Mazzone to go elsewhere.

As for departing free agent pitchers over the years, their common statement is that they're going to miss playing for Cox. I've not heard many say the same about Mazzone.

When players make such comments, I tend to listen, so I believe that maybe it was time for Mazzone to end what was undeniably a successful tenure in Atlanta. It's also time for the Braves to prove life can be just as good without him.

So nobody in the Braves Braves organization outside of the players said something based on this report.

[thethe]

Did you expect a press release from the Braves?

Spiders spin their webs in the dark.

Again, we are spinning off fact without any proof whatsoever.

[thewupk]

From the spin machine Bowman:

Fans and some journalists have gained the belief that Mazzone is one of the greatest pitching coaches ever. The success has created the credentials to make that argument. But during the years I've spent on this beat, I've never felt that that same attitude exists within the Braves clubhouse.

During the 2003 season, an anonymous survey conducted by a highly respected sports publication asked players to name the best pitching coach in the Majors. Let's just say a heavy majority of the veteran Braves pitchers chose not to list Mazzone. Again at the end of this past season, one of the club's veteran pitchers said he thought it might be best for Mazzone to go elsewhere.

As for departing free agent pitchers over the years, their common statement is that they're going to miss playing for Cox. I've not heard many say the same about Mazzone.

When players make such comments, I tend to listen, so I believe that maybe it was time for Mazzone to end what was undeniably a successful tenure in Atlanta. It's also time for the Braves to prove life can be just as good without him.

Well with all our injuries to the pitching staff over the years since Mazzone left that turned out to be a big bucket of nope.

[The Chosen One]

So nobody in the Braves Braves organization outside of the players said something based on this report.

I'm certain the actions of not inviting Leo to do anything in the organization is an eye popper. He's been acclaimed by some as one of the best assistant coaches in professional sports. Yet 10 years later the organization he was successful with for a decade and a half does not want anything to do with him. Not even induct him into the Braves Hall.

[chop2chip]

Again, we are spinning off fact without any proof whatsoever.

It's difficult to find articles that are 10 plus years old, but there were also reports of fellow coaches resenting Mazzone for taking so much credit that they felt deserved to go to Bruce Del Canton. I remember Shanks talking about that one.

[chop2chip]

Well with all our injuries to the pitching staff over the years since Mazzone left that turned out to be a big bucket of nope.

I will say that I think Roger McDowell is one of the best if not the best in baseball.