Atlanta Braves Managerial Candidates

Is a Managerial change inevitable for the Atlanta Braves?  If so, fans should know the options for replacements

The calls for the ouster of Fredi Gonzalez are continuing to build.  Such will not come from this writer, but the fact is that this snowball is rolling downhill and it would seem that little short of the Braves’ picking up his 2017 contract option  – or a lengthy win streak – will change that.

The Braves are in a unique situation.  They are clearly in the midst of a rebuilding program, and significant changes will continue to be made over the next 2 seasons as prospects and free agents are under constant evaluation.

Thus, if Fredi Gonzalez is indeed let go sometime mid-season, how does a team garner interest for a new manager when he himself will not know what situation he will have in hand at any point for the foreseeable future?  Do they promote from within – slapping an ‘interim’ tag on the lucky sap that would merely keep the seat warm until the end of the year?  What promises might be issued to such a person about having a chance to get the full-time gig?  How much of the rest of the staff might also be removed in the process of eliminating Fredi?

All of these questions are part of the process and none of these questions can operate independently of the rest…but the bottom line has to be this:  if you fire Fredi, will the team end up in a better situation than before?  That question will have to be answered for each new candidate.

Let’s take a look at the most obvious applicants… and then a quick look at a list of those likely to also check in.

Next: Now or Later?

Bud Black

• Harry Ralston “Bud” Black
• AGE:   59 on June 30
• BORN:  San Mateo, California
• MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE:  Pitcher, 1981 to 1995 (Mariners, Royals, Giants, Indians).  121-116, 3.84 ERA, 296 starts, 11 saves.
  • Has connections to both John Schuerholz (Royals) and John Hart (Indians), though both would have been responsible for both acquiring and releasing Black from their respective teams while GM.
  • Was member of the starting rotation of the Royals when they won the World Series in 1985
  • Was member of the 1995 Indians club that fell to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, though was released on July 9 of that year.
• MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE:  Hired for Padres job Nov 2006, following Bruce Bochy.
  • Manager of Year in 2010, despite team blowing 6+ game lead in NL West (10 game losing streak).
  • Fired June 15, 2015.  Record: 1,362 games (8+ seasons); 649-713 (.477).
  • Pitching Coach for Anaheim (2000-2006).  Team won World Series in 2002.

  Bud Black was set to be hired by Washington for their managerial job this past off-season, except they opted to play him off with Dusty Baker, and Baker took the low-ball salary offer they made while Black refused.  He’s now a Special Assistant with the Angels.

  PROS:  Most major league experience of all known candidates.

  CONS:  Only one real year of success, but no titles or playoff experience.  Poor record could easily be written off to the San Diego personnel he had available.  Of note, Bruce Bochy was Padres manager from 1995-2006, netting 5 winning years and four division titles.  He also took them to the World Series in 1998 (before that team’s payroll was slashed).

  Black would most likely be an end-of-year hire after an interim manager completes the season.  He would undoubtedly want to bring in his own people to fill out the staff, which essentially would make this hire the most invasive and disruptive of all known options.  But if ‘disruptive’ is what you want, then Black would certainly change the culture… for good or bad.

  My own expectation is that if/when Fredi Gonzalez is removed, that coaches Roger McDowell and Carlos Tosca will be removed as well.  Whether Kevin Seitzer goes or not is an interesting call, but he could escape the axe.  The fates of Bo Porter, Terry Pendleton, and Eddie Perez would likewise be a coin flip under this scenario.

  Next: Home Grown Latin Flavor

  

  Eddie Pérez

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  • Eduardo Rafael “Eddie” Pérez
  • AGE:  48 on May 4th
  • BORN:  Zulia, Venezuela
  • MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE:
    • Catcher, 1995-2005 (Braves, Indians, Brewers).  .253, .687 OPS, 40 HR, 172 RBI in 564 games.  Was never a ‘full-time’ catcher as such, appearing in a maximum of 107 games/375 PAs in 2003.  Caddied for Greg Maddux during most of his Braves’ career.  Occasionally played first base.
    • Was member of the 1995 World Series Champion Braves as rostered player; saw no action.
    • MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE:
      • Player coach for Mississippi Braves (2006).  Hired as bullpen coach under Bobby Cox, 2007.
      • Managed Aguilas del Zulia (Venezuelan Winter League), 2008-10 (2 seasons), and also for 2014-15 season.
      • Managed Tigres de Aragua in 2015-16 season, winning the VZ WL title.
      • Managed Venezuela in the Caribbean Series, 2015, finishing second to Mexico.
      • Currently bullpen coach for the Atlanta Braves (2007-present).

      PROS:  Catchers are better managers overall, in theory.  Has added plus of working with directly with pitchers for 11 seasons.  Bi-lingual (many of the other candidates certainly could be – references are sketchy here).  Bud Black, for example, apparently has picked up Spanish along the way.

      CONS:  No direct managerial experience beyond Winter League play.

      A theme could be developing here:  Bud Black and Eddie Perez would both know pitchers very well.  While separate pitching coaches would need to be hired, if your major concern with Gonzalez involves his handling of pitchers, then either of these guys could represent some sort of improvement in that area.

      Major League Baseball would certainly approve of Perez’ hiring given his ethnicity, and there are definitely advantages to having bi-ligual speakers in this job – one big advantage that Fredi enjoys.

      Next: Career Brave

      

      Brian Snitker

      • Brian Gerald Snitker
      • AGE:  60,  will be 61 on October 17th
      • BORN:  Decatur, Illinois
      • GRADUATE:  University of New Orleans
      • MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE:  None.  Was drafted in 25th round, 1976 draft, by the Cubs.  Played on Braves affiliates in minor leagues – mostly as catcher – from 1977-1980.  Hit .254/.706 OPS with 23 HR in 872 PA at all levels up through AAA.
      • MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE (all with Atlanta):  2571 minor league games, 19 seasons (.499).  2 Championships.
        • 1982 Anderson/Sally League
        • 1983-84 Durham/Carolina Lg
        • 1986 Sumter/Sally
        • 2987 Durham/Carolina
        • 1992 Macon/Sally
        • 1996 Danville/Appalachian
        • 1997-98 Macon/Sally
        • 1999-2001 Myrtle Beach/Carolina
        • 2002-2004 Greenville/Southern
        • 2006 Richmond/International
        • 2014-15 Gwinnett/International
      • Third-base coach of Atlanta Braves, 2007-2013 (replacing Fredi Gonzalez)
      • Bullpen coach in 1985, 1988-1990

      PROS:  Most experience in managerial role of any candidate, though none at the major league level (not counting ML coaching).  Been in organization for 40 seasons…. been there; done that.

      CONS:  No glaring ones; apparently used Christian Bethancourt a lot as an English-Spanish translator.

      My own opinion is that Snitker makes most sense to succeed Gonzalez at the “interim manager.”  If I were to lay a bet on this entire sordid process, it would be that Snitker takes over by mid-season – or way earlier, if you believe Fred’s read on the situation – and that a full-on search for a “real” successor is held at season’s end.

      Next: Another In-House Option

      

      Bo Porter

      • Marquis Donnell “Bo” Porter
      • AGE:  44 on July 5th
      • BORN:  Newark, NJ
      • MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE:  Outfielder.  Drafted by Cubs out of Univ. of Iowa, Round 40, 1993.  Debuted in majors in May 1999 with Cubs.  Total of 89 game appearances (Cubs, A’s, Rangers) from 1999-2001.  .214/.617 OPS, 2 HR in 142 PAs.  Hit .269 in 10 minor league seasons.
      • MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE:
        • Hitting coach, Class A Greensboro (2005)
        • Manager, Class A+ Jamestown (2006)
        • Third-base coach, Florida Marlins 2007-09 (during Gonzalez’ stint there)
        • Third-base coach, Diamondbacks (2010), later bench coach
        • Third-base coach, Nationals (2011-12)
        • Manager, Houston Astros (2013-14).  300 games, 110-190 record (.367)
        • Third-base coach, Atlanta Braves (2015-16)

        PROS:  Some experience with tanking teams, as the Astros were at that time.  Could argue that Porter set up the Astros for the run they made in 2015.

        CONS:  Firing from Houston was apparently more about ‘tensions’ between General Manager Jeff Luhnow and he than it was the W-L record, and Ludhow effectively took responsibility for the W-L record, saying “That isn’t on Bo.”

        In my thinking, if Brian Snitker isn’t the “interim” manager, then Bo Porter would be.  The hesitation on suggesting Porter first is because a Snitker hiring would essentially scream “placeholder” to all those who might want the job.  Putting Porter there sound a bit more permanent – or that there might be a better chance to make the role permanent.

        Next: From the Other Side of the Diamond

        

        Terry Pendleton

        • Terry Lee Pendleton
        • AGE:  56 on July 16th
        • BORN:  Los Angeles, CA
        • MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE:
          • Easily the best player of any of the candidates listed here
          • Drafted by Cardinals, 7th round of 1992 draft from Fresno State
          • 15 seasons in majors (1982-1998; Cardinals, Braves, Marlins, Reds, Royals)
          • 7th in Rookie of the Year voting, 1982
          • 3 Gold Gloves (third base)
          • League MVP in 1991 (Braves), second in MVP voting in 1992, All-Star
          • .270/.707 OPS (hit .319/.880 in MVP year), 140 HR.
        • MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE:
          • Braves Hitting Coach (2001-2010)
          • Was involved late in process to be manager of Washington (2006) and Cardinals (2007).  Was candidate to replace Bobby Cox as well, though the timing of Gonzalez’ availability made him the obvious candidate at that time.
          • Braves First-base coach (2011-present)
          • No direct field managerial experience

          PROS:  Has a reputation of one who doesn’t tolerate slack play and doesn’t mind getting in the face of someone violating that principle.

          CONS:  No record to go on; candidacy (if he truly wants the job) is based on respect of career accomplishments.

          Can he do it?  Does he want to do it?  He’s had a couple of opportunities, but circumstances mostly conspired against him.  Certainly TP would be a fan-favorite, but that’s also not necessarily what we’re after here.

          Next: An Assortment of other Names

          

          Also Getting Votes…

          There are many others who would likely throw their hats into the ring:  the chance to start their own legacy in a new stadium with an improving team will certainly bring out multiple applications.  Thus these above are merely the most likely first candidates of what would undoubtedly be a wave.  Names that would come up include these:

          

          • Manny Acta (Indians)
          • Tim Bogar (long time minor league manager and coach)
          • Phil Nevin (minor league manager for several years)
          • Ron Gardenhire (very good option:  I almost put him into the main list; he looks older, but is only 58)
          • Ron Wotus (also of particular note: has worked with Bruce Bochy for years as bench coach)
          • Eric Wedge (Indians)
          • Torey Lovullo (long time minor league manager)
          • Dave Martinez (bench coach under Maddon at Tampa Bay)
          • Charlie Montoyo (would be out-of-box candidate; long AAA experience)

          Names that probably will be mentioned here and there, though will not get much consideration:

          • Cal Ripkin, Jr. (was mildly interested in the Nationals job; would not stray far from home)
          • Larry Bowa (he’s too old at this point; 70)
          • Ozzie Guillen (a PR nightmare)
          • Don Wakamatsu (things didn’t go very well for him in Seattle)
          • Raul Ibanez (no experience)
          • Craig Counsell (no experience)

          Next: Roster Disaster

          In total, this post constitutes ‘due diligence’ for those seeking a change.  While change for the sake of change can be a valid reason to fire a staff, the real test comes in deciding the kind of change you really want.  I am guessing that the Braves will make a move this season at some point; we will have to wait and see the direction that this change wind is blowing from.