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♦ SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2006 2B Braves pair do best to learn from the best ByR. TRAVIS HANEY Morris News Service ATLANTA - They’re fun to watch on this lazy, hot summer afternoon as they Banter back and forth while overseeing batting practice at Turner Field. They pick on each other. They pick on those stand ing around them, feeding off one another. And then they pick on each other a little more. • Atlanta Braves assistant coaches Fredi Gonzalez and Terry Pendleton have a good time doing their jobs. Seems like they’re pretty good at them, too. That’s probably why a handful of major league teams have come calling about “Gonzo” and “TP” in regard to their open manage rial jobs. And why they’ll do so again in the near future. Both Gonzalez, in his fourth year as Atlanta’s third base coach, and Pendleton, in his fifth as its hitting coach, are somewhat reserved when it comes to talking about their career aspirations. They don’t want to offend their current employer, they say. But both admit being the skipper of a big league club is something they’d like to do one day. Perhaps they will relatively soon. Pendleton, 46, talked with Philadelphia a couple of sea sons ago about taking over for Larry Bowa (the Phillies hired Charlie Manuel). He interviewed, too, for the Los Angeles Dodgers position that went to Grady Little. Gonzalez, 42, interviewed and was thought to be in the running for the Florida Marlins job this past off-sea son, but they went with first time manager Joe Girardi. The Chicago Cubs have also been reportedly inter ested in Gonzalez if Dusty Baker is fired, as expected, at the end of this season. “Absolutely, they’d be great. Both of them,” said Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, a lock for the Hall of Fame. “They’ve got great qualities to go into that profession. Both of them are great com municators, know the game, love the game.” That’s a pretty good endorsement from one of the best endorsers in the game regarding that partic ular job. Consider this: In a survey of 470 major league players released this week by Sports Illustrated, 30 percent voted Cox baseball’s best manager. Detroit’s Jim Leyland was second, with 18 percent. So, Gonzalez and Pendleton are learning from the best, according to the players. And whose opinions should count more concern ing being managed? “Some of us may go into managing, and if we do, we’re going where Bobby’s been many, many years,” Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS GOLFER'S * homos l§||llmMK>( REFLEXIVELy iigisljigSsmV-Yg-/ \ $■ { return td 0 m»|'V .m ■■ JM^M| •SQUARE- Position I*' m 1 Mgk v 't J§l THROUGH. f Bgl. \'J| impact as MML \ MKm 1 ikH THEY SWING JIB" i f 1 : THROUGH vy impact Wll/AIiWH,,/ therefore the iw ■'SQUOPEK" TOO 'IHI BllllLißlllls set them at r - ROORESS, THE BETTER B ■ ■ |m YOUR CHRNCE OF R K ! ■ H J! ' SOLID HIT. f ■ _ilo “ .i-IL. He said it ... “At the end of the day when the race is done and your adrenaline wears off, you’re worn out. But when you’re in the car and the adrena line 's pumping, you don’t get in that smooth, calm rhythm that you do at a place like Michigan or California where you’ve got big, sweeping cor ners and long straight aways. ” - Tony Stewart, on Bristol Pendleton said of Cox, whose managerial career began in the minors in 1971, the majors in ‘7B. “So, we have to take some of that knowl edge and run with it if we get the opportunity to.” Since the Phillies inter view in 2004, Pendleton said he’s found himself becoming more and more observant of Cox’s style, both on and off the field. Gonzalez, who has long known he wanted to be a big league manager, said he’s done the same since he arrived in Atlanta in 2003. Pendleton said he’ll some times ease down toward Cox’s end of the bench to watch how the manager works the final innings of games. “His success, it speaks for itself,” said Pendleton, a Brave him self during the 19905. “I’ve played for him, I’ve coached under him and I see what he’s capable of and what he does. I PENDLETON try to soak it in.” Further, Gonzalez said he’s tried to watch Cox’s manner off the field - how he deals daily with players, coaches, the media and oth ers. “It’s the way he handles people and situations,” Gonzalez said. “When things arise over the course of a season in most places, it blows up. But he takes care of it, nips it in the bud and you never hear about it.” Also, Gonzalez said he’s come to appreciate what Cox offers in the way of consis tency. The media members that cover the team on a daily basis know what to expect when questions about the current struggles are thrown out. Cox typically responds with a shrug and says the season isn’t over and the team will simply try to win tomorrow. Gonzalez relayed a way of saying that through a tale that’s often used concern ing Cox. He said someone could go stay in the woods for three months, come back with no knowledge of the Braves, talk to Cox and still have no clue where the team is in the standings. “You’d have no idea if we’re up by 50 games or down by 50 games,” Gonzalez said. “It’s the even keel. That’s the one way I’d love to be like, the same guy every day.” Even though both are con sidered hot managing com modities in baseball, their resumes and pedigrees are decidedly different. Pendleton gets punch from the respect he earned in a major league playing career that stretched from slicing indicates 'YOUR HANDS ARE TOO FAR LEFT ON THE CLUE,. LEAVING ITS FACE OPEN! ST IMPACT. HOOFING INDICATES VOUF HANDS ARE TOO FAR RIGHT CLOSING THE FACE. ADJUST YOUR HAND POSITION UNTIL YOU REDUCE THE CURVATURE TO IYWNAGEB&LE PROPORTIONS. Perry’s Best Kept Secret Sfyete n/fte &Atey fljut ofenet. ♦ Beautiful 2 & 3 BR Apartment Homes ♦ Sparkling pool ♦ One Large 61 inch Screen TV! Cl/fo/wvifinent/ 1701 Macon R(l. • Perry, GA 31069 478-988-0917 1984 to 1998. He hit .319 in 1991, his first year in Atlanta, to earn the batting title and National League MVP honors on the Braves’ worst-to-first team that began the franchise’s run of division titles. “TP’s got the major league experience and brings instant credibility because he was an MVR” said Chipper Jones, who took over for Pendleton at third base in the mid-’9os. Gonzalez said he thinks, too, that Pendleton’s inten sity will suit him well as a manager. “He definitely doesn’t like to lose,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez, who never advanced out of the Yankees minor league system as a catcher, is more of a natu- GONZALEZ manager of the year. He led Atlanta’s Class AAA club in Richmond, Va., to a 75-67 record in 2002 before jumping up to take over as the Braves’ third base coach. Pendleton said he sees Gonzalez as “a big thinker,” a guy always interested in breaking down and ana lyzing situations. Chipper Jones called Gonzalez “a sponge.” “He soaks up everything,” Jones said. “He’s been on the field a bunch of years coaching third, in the battle. He knows all the moves, in and out.” To provide confidence, there is precedent for managerial success from the Braves’ fertile training ground. Milwaukee’s Ned Yost was a longtime Atlanta assistant before taking over the Brewers in 2003. Yost’s club won 81 games last year for the franchise’s first .500 season since 1992. Like Gonzalez and Pendleton, Yost said he watched Cox fervently and tried to emulate his blue print once he was given the reins. “Oh, I paid attention,” Yost said earlier this month at Turner Field as his team took the season series from his mentor. “He’s one of the best.” Yost’s Brewers are in the hunt for the NL wild card this season, a couple of games ahead of the Braves, actually. Stories such as that - and ones like Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox win ning the World Series and Girardi’s young Marlins overachieving - bode well for Gonzalez, Pendleton and other young managers look ing to break in. I SPORTS Tech's secondary shaping up ATLANTA - Georgia Tech opened preseason football practice with three proven defensive backs and hopes of finding a fourth in time for the season opener against Notre Dame. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta has found his fourth ... and a fifth and a sixth. Pat Clark, Jahi Word- Daniels and Avery Roberson will play plenty versus the Irish on Sept. 2. Clark and Daniels have shared practice snaps at comerback in the Yellow Jackets’ base defense, and Clark and Roberson are versatile enough to play mul tiple spots when the Jackets employ extra defensive backs in passing situations. “With those three, every thing has equaled itself out,” Tenuta said. “One guy does one thing better, another guy does another thing bet ter and we just have to play that out. I just have to move guys around to match up against what Notre Dame is doing.” The trio has earned the confidence of the lone returning starter in the Yellow Jacket secondary, comerback Kenny Scott. He can relate to their situation: He was thrown into a start ing role two years ago when Dennis Davis suffered a sea son-ending shoulder injury ral coach. He’s man aged seven different teams in the minors. Three times he’s been Baseball America’s league Joe T., Cox get all QB reps When Georgia held its final preseason scrimmage on Thursday, starter Joe Tereshinski and backup Joe Cox got all the quarter back work against a scout team simulating the defense of opening game opponent Western Kentucky. Quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said Georgia is set on those two playing in the sea son-opener and indicated that Georgia probably won’t use a third quarterback in the Sept. 2 game. “I wouldn’t expect to but you never know,” offensive coordinator Neil Callaway said. Highly-touted freshman Matthew Stafford and soph omore Blake Barnes worked as scout team quarterbacks. Coach Mark Richt had said previously that Stafford and Barnes had a chance to overtake Cox as the backup before the first game. Bobo was pleased with how Tereshinski, a fifth-year senior, directed the offense in a dress rehearsal where substitutions and sideline organization could be fine tuned. “My recollection is he might have missed two pass es not by much, but other than that he was pretty accurate,” Bobo said. “He looked real sharp managing the game out there, getting the team lined up and call ing the correct play. That’s where he’s really ahead right how.” Tereshinski said he took the first three drives, all at least 80 yards. He did not throw a touchdown pass but the offense scored touch pjAiasji «ii|*u P(K»M 3U I aj«aipuXs ssjntßaj itirx 9OOZ£» As a homeowner, you have lots of things to worry about—everything from frozen pipes to theft. That’s why it’s so important to insure your home with a company that you can depend on. At Cotton States, we’ve been insuring homes for residents of the Southeast since 1941. Generations of families, just like yours, have found that Cotton States offers a winning combination-a choice of quality products, competitive rates and dependable, personal service. So stop worrying. Call your local Cotton States agent today to find out more about our innovative homeowner policies and available discounts. in the second game. “Those guys are young, but they’re veterans in their minds,” Scott said. “ This is their time in history and they want to step up and make plays.” NEW ROLE, SAME GRIND FOR GAILEY: Game planning for Notre Dame began this week, and for the first time in NOTEBOOK By ADAM VAN BRIMMER Morris News Service “It’s amazing, noW that I’m not in the meetings, I wonder how I ever did meet ings,” Gailey said. “I’m doing so much other stuff.” That still includes game planning with his coach ing staff. They meet every morning. Gailey watches hours of Notre Damte game film - offense, defense and special teams - on his own each day. And he is impressed with what he sees of the Irish, ranked No. 2 in both the coaches and Associated downs on all of his posses sions. “When I was out there I felt like I managed the team well,” Tereshinski said. “Every series I was in on we scored on. You cah’t ask for more than that. There were some things that you can smooth out. There were a couple of reads here and there that looked Confus ing but ended up in posi tive plays.” Callaway said Cox looked good except one la NOTEBOOK By MARC WEISZER Morris News Service being finalized: Georgia and Oregon State are work ing out the final contract details for a three-game deal that would bring the Beavers to Sanford Stadium to open the 2007 season on Sept. 1. “Hopefully we cah get the financial pieces worked out,” associate athletic director Arthur Johnson said Thursday. “I feel good about them being the team but I get a little nervous until I have the coritracts signed.” Georgia would trav el to Corvallis in 2011 and Oregon State would return to Athens in 2017. The Pac -10 program had an opening on its schedule after New Mexico State pulled out of a scheduled game to get a larg er paycheck from Auburn, Sure, We Insure Homes. But Insuring Your Peace Of Mind Is Our Specialty. Jackie Whitley 1217-1 S. Houston Lake Road Warner Robins, GA 31088 (478) 988-7960 www.cottonstatesinsurance.coni Jackie.Whitley@cottonstates.com THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Press polls. “They deserve to be ranked No. 1, 2 or 3,” he said. PRACTICE SLOWS DOWN AS GAME NEARS: The Yellow Jackets don’t have an NFL-style train ing camp per se, but their practice approach made a dramatic shift at the start of this week. The Jackets devoted the first two-and-a-half weeks of preseason to honing their own schemes with players competing for starting jobs and playing time. his Georgia Tech ten ure, head coach Chan Gailey is not spend ing his days in meetings with the offense. He is no less busy, though. Attention shifted to the season-opening opponent, Notre Dame, on Monday, though. The Yellow Jackets still work on their own schemes but practice them against scout teamers simu lating the Irish schemes. Back-up quarterback Taylor Bennett said there is quite a contrast between the two practice approaches. “Everything moves a lot slower right now,” he said. “In camp, everybody’s mov ing 100 mph competing and stuff. Now that we’re in our game-plan mode it’s more mental than physical. I like both really. The intensity of camp is nice and gives you a good idea of what’s to come from everybody, but it’s nice to have some slow-down stuff too.” according to the Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard. “Imagine getting Georgia,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said at media day this month, according to the newspaper. “I’ve looked all the way back into the 1960 s and there’s never been a team of that notoriety play here. It would be the biggest nonleague game we’ve had here.” Georgia’s 2007 schedule already includes nonconfer ence games with Western Carolina, Troy State and Georgia Tech. ESPN is involved in setting up the Oregon State game for air ing on one of its networks. Oliver at it again: Senior comerback’Paul Oliver con tinues to pile up the pre season interceptions. Oliver had two more in the scrimmage, including one for a touchdown that defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said he returned for nearly 100 yards. “He’s got exceptional ball skills,” Martinez said. “When the ball is in the air he just has a knack of it. He’ll make an awkward interception or the easy ones.” intercep tion bn an out route, but Bobo' said it prob ably came because he made a bad play call. Oregon State series WABNQtSOUNI SUPPLY We Rent! 612 Ball St. Perry, GA 987-2334 States INSURANCE. Our Most Important Policy Is Trust.® or mmm 00037358