The sporting world is currently a mess. ESPN is reporting that former NBA referee Tim Donaghy plans to plead guilty to betting on games that he officiated. Later this week, Michael Vick will most likely plead guilty to a brutally descriptive dogfighting indictment.

Thank goodness Bobby Cox has given us a feel-good story in the world of baseball. Wait, is this a feel-good story? Cox set the major league record for ejections Tuesday night, getting tossed for the 132nd time in his career after arguing a called third strike on Chipper Jones in the fifth inning of the Giants-Braves game at Turner Field. The record caught few people by surprise - we here at Umpbump have been tracking Cox’s progress for a few months now. But, despite all the time to contemplate the meaning of this “accomplishment”, it’s still difficult to pinpoint how fans should feel. Right?

On one hand, just a few weeks ago, Cox himself admitted that approaching the record was downright “embarrassing”. On the other hand, the record signifies that Cox is a true player’s manager, a man that stands up for his players and their emotions. It’s a managerial approach that has garnered respect with ballplayers throughout the league, hence Cox’s reputable standing as one of the game’s all-time greats. In a post-game show on FSN SportSouth following Tuesday’s game, Chipper Jones suggested that he was “honored” to have been the player for whom Cox broke the record.

Perhaps the most notable characteristic of Cox’s record-breaking performance was what followed after he was ejected. In their next turn at bat, the Braves rallied to erase a 3-0 deficit on their way to a 5-4 victory. Many will claim that Cox’s shenanigans provided the Braves with the emotional spark to tally an important victory, keeping the team within arm’s reach of both the Mets and Phillies in the NL East. In a world where all that matters are wins and losses, shouldn’t this be the one thing that fans remember from Tuesday night?

Atleast one thing’s for sure - that’s how Bobby would have it.

After the Marlins dismissed manager Joe Girardi at the end of last season, they offered his job to Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton. When Pendleton passed, it was easy to guess why. Braves manager Bobby Cox is getting long in the tooth (whatever that means) and most everyone figured Pendleton had been promised Cox’s job. The safe bet was that Cox would step down at the end of the 2007 season and Pendleton would take over.

Then the Braves gave Cox an extension through 2008. Then they traded for stud 1B Mark Teixeira. Now there’s new life breathed into Turner Field. The Braves, after And one wouldn’t blame Cox if he decided to stick around another year. Or two. Or three.

Which leaves Pendleton…where exactly?

Of course, he could always continue waiting for Bobby to retire. But here’s a crazy idea about where Pendleton might end up — Kansas City.

Royals manager Buddy Bell announced just yesterday that he will step down at the end of the season, so KC GM Dayton Moore needs to find a new skipper. There are already names being bandied about. According to The Sports Network, bench coach Billy Doran is a top candidates, as well as former Royals players such as George Brett and Frank White. But what about Pendleton, who has a relationship with Moore dating back to the GM’s days as John Schuerholz’s protege?

The Royals have been a terrible team for a long while, but lately they’ve shown signs of improvement. Although the Royals remain at the bottom of the American League Central, they have notched wins in five of their last seven games heading into this weekend’s road series with the Yankees. And they’ve had a winning record in each of the last two months.

So there are less appealing organizations (see: Pirates, Nationals, Orioles). And if you’re Pendleton, you’ve got to be itching for the chance to manage. Sure, Atlanta might be your first choice, but the more you think about it, Kansas City sounds better and better.

As promised, we here at Umpbump are chronicling Braves manager Bobby Cox’ assault on the history books. Cox got thrown out of last night’s game against the Diamondbacks. He was ejected as soon as he stepped from the dugout, the 128th ejection of his career

Chipper Jones didn’t think the ejection was warranted. He criticized home plate ump Bob Davidson.

From the AJC:

“The second Bobby stepped out of the dugout, [Davidson] was gunning to throw him out,” Jones said. “Bob Davidson feels like the thousands of people in the park come to see him. He’s always been like that. It’s a joke among the players.”

Regardless of what Chipper thinks, Cox is now just three ejections behind all-time leader John McGraw. Here’s hoping he makes the record breaking ejection one worth remembering. Maybe he could even kick some dirt or throw his hat.

Bobby Cox is creeping up on a milestone. According to the AJC, Cox, who was ejected from Sunday’s game for the second time in a week and 127th time in his career, is only four ejections behind all-time leader Jon McGraw.

The Braves manager was thrown out by home-plate umpire Paul Emmel in the sixth inning after Cox came out of the dugout to complain about the strike zone following a walk to Shawn Green.

You’ve got to hand it to Cox. He’s had quite a career. A world Series championship, 15 straight NL East titles, and now this. Also, I think it says something about a guy that he can maintain a reputation as a “players’ manager” while simultaneously getting thrown out of a record number of games. That’s not easy to do. Short tempers and player relations don’t always go hand in hand (see: Larry Bowa).

Breaking the record for most ejections is a pretty big deal, so Umpbump will do its best to chronicle each of Cox’s next four ejections, leading up to the record breaker. Stay tuned.

The fans in Atlanta are excited about the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen. Last season, the team traded for Cleveland closer Bob Wickman. This winter, they traded for Pittsburgh closer Mike Gonzalez and Seattle setup man Rafael Soriano.

On paper, the Braves’ pen looks great. But will it live up to expectations?

Bobby Cox seems to think it will. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The bullpen is so strong that manager Bobby Cox believes it’ll have an effect on the starting rotation akin to what good hitters can do for other hitters in a lineup. In other words, give them protection and make them better.

The Braves believe they have basically reduced games to six innings.

Starters don’t have to pace themselves and try to get through seven or eight every night, now that they know now that the trio of Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, and Bob Wickman is anchoring a ‘pen that has gone from perhaps the weakest in the NL to potentially one of the two or three best in baseball.

Here’s the problem with Cox’s optimism: building a bullpen isn’t an exact science. And Cox should know that better than anyone. In 2005, the Braves thought they had a sure thing in closer Dan Kolb, who pitched 57 innings the previous season for Milwaukee and recorded 39 saves and a 2.98 ERA. But Kolb didn’t repeat his success in Atlanta. In 2005 he pitched 57 innings, recorded 11 saves and a 5.93 ERA. Ouch.

Relief pitchers are by far the most unpredictable players in sports. Players like Rheal Cormier, Guilermo Mota, Mike Stanton, Jose Mesa and Armando Benitez have great years followed by bad years followed by great years.

Other players, like recently departed Braves closer Chris Reitsma, just fall off the map entirely.

But one thing is for sure: the Braves’ bullpen needs to be better than it was last season, when it blew nearly half its save opportunities. Again from the AJC:

Last season the Braves lost a division and finished under .500 (79-83) for the first time since 1990. They finished 18 games behind the New York Mets.

The bullpen blew 29 (of 67) save opportunities - the second-most in the majors behind only Kansas City (31), which is to assume Kansas City is in the majors.

The Mets blew 15 saves.

Do the math. There’s a race buried in the difference.

The Braves honestly believe that if they had Bob Wickman all last season, they would have made the playoffs. And maybe they’re right. Who knows?

But here’s some food for thought. While Wickman was good last year (33 saves) and better the year before that (45 saves), he was lousy in 2004, recording only 13 saves and a 4.25 ERA.

The lesson: with relievers, you just never know.

The Nationals wanted Joe Girardi to be their manager. He said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

The Nationals wanted Terry Pendleton to be their manager, but he said, “Talk to the hand.”

Does anybody want to manage the Nationals? Reports are that the team is now focused on hiring Mets 3B Coach Manny Acta. What happens if Acta bails, or if he’s hired by the Giants or A’s? Do the Nationals have a plan D? And why doesn’t anybody want to work for a franchise with a supportive fan base, a new stadium under construction, and a future all-star in Ryan Zimmerman?

As far as Pendleton goes, rumor is he could be in line to replace Braves manager Bobby Cox.