Atlanta Braves Morning Chop, Box, and the Hot Seat
Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (center) talks to umpire James Hoye (92) during a game against the Washington Nationals in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
With two managers down, who will be the next to go?
It’s that time of year; we are at roughly the quarter-pole of the season. … I’m trying to find out which manager will be the next to go following the Marlins’ dismissal of Mike Redmond on Sunday.
Four possibilities:
…
The reconstructed Braves, at 18-19 [now 18-20], actually have exceeded expectations, and their weekend sweep of the Marlins in Miami helped trigger [Todd] Redmond’s dismissal.
So, what’s the rub, especially when Gonzalez is thought to be a favorite of both team president John Schuerholz and special assistant Bobby Cox?
He isn’t necessarily a favorite of the new president of baseball operations, John Hart. The Braves had lost five of six games before sweeping the Marlins, prompting internal finger-pointing, according to major-league sources.
It will be difficult for the Braves to justify a change if the team hovers around .500; hardly anyone expected them to contend this season. But it also stands to reason that Hart eventually might want his own man. The team’s previous GM, Frank Wren, reportedly wanted to fire Gonzalez at the end of last season but ultimately took the fall himself.
[ Ed. note: It seems to be a popular topic – to put Fredi G. on the hot seat. Frankly, getting him fired would probably be a popular topic here in Braves’ country, too. But at the same time, I have to wonder a couple of things:
- Why do so? Has anybody heard a quote from any player suggesting mistreatment or other irritation with how FG has handled them or some locker room situation? Is there discontent that needs to be squashed?
- Who would you rather have? Please don’t answer with a dismissive “anybody!”, for that’s not how the real world works… okay, except maybe in Miami. Terry Pendleton would be a reasonable choice, but you’d also have to ask whether he’d really represent a change. Bo Porter? Perhaps.
- To what end? As Rosenthal hints, this club is doing better than advertised thus far – though Hart would likely say it’s because he always said they’d be competitive. But all of that speaks to no change until the end of the year at the earliest. And should you fire a manager who exceeded expectations?
Fredi G knows he’s on the last year of his deal. That nobody has offered him an extension does speak volumes. If that doesn’t happen by the All-Star Break, then you can probably expect he’ll be shown the door in October… but be careful what you wish for: you might get it. ]