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The Atlanta Braves Fired Fredi Gonzalez Because Fredi Gonzalez Was Failing At His Job

By Josh Brown

Aug 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on from the dugout prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on from the dugout prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 6, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) walks back to the dugout in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) walks back to the dugout in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

More More Valid Reasons

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for bringing in Jason Grilli in the bottom of the 13th inning with a guy on second base. Prior to that appearance, Grilli had a 27.00 ERA in his previous 7 appearances.

More from Tomahawk Take

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for starting Erick Aybar everyday. The front office is eating the enormous contracts of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, so they do not mind if Aybar is benched for a few games.

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for pulling Matt Wisler during a shut out.

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for platooning Mallex Smith with Drew Stubbs.

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for sitting left-hander Kelly Johnson against left-handed pitching because of his obsession with platooning, when Kelly Johnson has better numbers against lefties.

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for pulling Jhoulys Chacin during a scoreless game after 69 pitches against one of the best teams in baseball.

Fredi Gonzalez is to blame for pulling veteran pitcher Aaron Harang out of a no-hitter in the 7th inning because of pitch count in 2014.

When not challenging a call a second base earlier this year, Fredi Gonzalez said that he had the “worst seat in the house.” Because the top of the dugout is the worst seat in a baseball stadium.

The Atlanta Braves were 82 games over .500 (296-214) during Fredi Gonzalez’s first three-plus seasons as manager all the way through a 17-7 start in the 2014 season. Then, they were 62-86 the rest of the 2014 season. Then, after a respectable 42-42 start in 2015, the Atlanta Braves plummeted during a terrible second half to finish to 67-95.

This year, the Braves started off with it’s worst start to a season in franchise history and are currently 9-28. Certainly not all Fredi’s fault.

The Atlanta Braves did not fire Fredi Gonzalez because the team is 9-28. The Braves fired Fredi Gonzalez because they feel they are the best organization in baseball and they can do better in a manager.

Yes, John Coppolella miscalculated the 2016 Atlanta Braves roster badly. But anybody would have. I promise you no one looked at the Atlanta Braves Opening Day roster and thought they would be 9-28. John Coppoella has owned this in a professional and humble manner, in my opinion.

Next: Manager Gonzalez Relieved of Duties

When teams rebuild, they are usually not competitive in the interim. Look at the Cubs and Theo Epstein. But the managerial mistakes that Fredi Gonzalez has continued to make, coupled with his lack of leadership left the Braves with no choice.

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