COX A PROVEN WINNER VETERAN SKIPPER MANAGES TO KEEP BRAVES WINNING.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Bobby Cox has always been a winner. He won a World Series title in 1995 and has directed the Atlanta Braves to 12 consecutive National League East title. It seems he's been there forever. And, in this era, 19 years with the same organization is forever.

But for all of the 100-win seasons, and there are six, this season has to be Cox's finest work.

The Braves lost Gary Sheffield, Vinny Castilla, Robert Fick, Javy Lopez and Greg Maddux in the offseason. They lost Tom Glavine the year before. On paper, it seemed their stranglehold on the NL East ended before the season even started. And when the Braves fell 6 1/2 games back on June 23, it seemed like the run had finally come to an end.

Atlanta - which is notoriously known as a slow-starting team - was 32-38. Then, as always, the Braves got hot. The Braves won 26 of their next 34 games and were back in a familiar place - first place.

No matter who the Braves lose or how bad things start, Cox always seems to find a way to turn things around. The Braves (69-51) have been rolling along in August and now have an 8 1/2-game lead over Florida.

``We've been together 14 years and it's the person (Cox) is,'' said Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone. ``It's not something he can teach to somebody. You're consistently doing things right. There's no quick fix. It's how you act, your professionalism and knowledge you bring to the game. Any organization would have to be a damn fool not to want that on a yearly basis.''

Cox, 63, has stood the test of time. And one reason has been a dominant pitching staff.

Mazzone said Cox's biggest success is the way he handles his pitching staff. They were certainly good in July. Starters Russ Ortiz (Montclair Prep), Mike Hampton, John Thomson and Jaret Wright went a combined 16-1 in July. The Braves are still without the services of lefty Horacio Ramirez, who has been on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis since May 26.

It's been quite a turnaround, especially after the Braves lost eight of 10 in one miserable stretch in June.

``I have no idea how he does it or what he does but the bottom line is that he does it,'' Dodgers first-base coach John Shelby said. ``You look at the start of the season and those guys may not be there but you can count on those guys always ending up at the top. This year, with the players they lost, you didn't hear about the Braves. I remember them being down. I looked in the paper one day and they were back on top.''

J.D. Drew - acquired in a trade with St. Louis in the offseason - has been a huge contributor for the Braves. He matched a career-high with 27 home runs and has reached base in 99 of 108 games.

Then there's John Smoltz, Marcus Giles, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and the usual cast of successful characters.

``A lot of people like him because he's a players' manager,'' Andruw Jones said of Cox. ``Everyone feels comfortable with him. If you play good and do what he wants, you won't have a problem. He knows what players need to be successful.''

And Atlanta knows just what it needs to be successful: Bobby Cox.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, left, congratulates Andruw Jones after a home run. Cox, who has led the Braves to 12 consecutive NL East titles, has his club in first place again.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press