Atlanta Braves: 5 Burning Questions for Rest of 2015
Sep 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager
Fredi Gonzalez(33, center) and Atlanta Braves pitching coach
Roger McDowell(45) are shown in the dugout during their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field. The Pirates won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Q2: What About Fredi Gonzalez and Roger McDowell?
Of all questions, this seems to be the elephant-in-the-room that nobody is talking about.
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Fredi Gonzalez is a lame duck manager. He has no arrangement to continue his job beyond 2015. Likewise, pitching coach Roger McDowell is only inked through 2015.
Customarily, the rest of the major league staff would be on the same contractual schedule, though it is unknown whether that extends to new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, as he was just lured away from Toronto… or third base coach and ex-manager Bo Porter.
- You could argue the Braves have over-achieved to this point in the season – despite bullpen and pitching woes.
- You could argue that whatever success the Braves have had is largely due to Kevin Seitzer‘s hitting program and that any manager would have done as well.
- You could argue that it’s Roger McDowell’s fault in not being able to get Julio Teheran (and others) straightened out (note that Teheran also had a bad 2012 in AAA after a mechanical change in his delivery; it was abandoned for 2013).
Whichever side you choose to pick, here we are at nearly the season’s halfway mark and even Bobby Cox hasn’t been heard from on the subject of getting Fredi a ‘re-up’ on his deal.
It’s starting to get… awkward.
Next: Picking a Peck of Pitchers