Braves could lose Fredi Gonzalez to Cubs if they don’t hurry
Fredi Gonzalez isn't back in a Braves' uniform just yet.
Two months ago, when Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria outdid even his own usual moronic tendencies by firing manager Fredi Gonzalez, I wrote a blog suggesting the Braves needed to bring him into the fold immediately.
The obvious reasons: 1) He is the perfect candidate to replace Bobby Cox next season; 2) He would be in demand when other managerial jobs opened up.
Well, it just happened.
In the wake of Lou Piniella’s recent retirement, the Cubs reportedly have put Gonzalez atop their wish list. In fact, a story in today’s Chicago Sun-Times makes it sound like Gonzalez’ move to Wrigley could be imminent.
Here’s an excerpt:
Don’t be surprised if former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez winds up a leading candidate to replace Lou Piniella within the next few weeks.
Sources say that Gonzalez is at the top of general manager Jim Hendry’s wish list in the early stages of the process and that he prefers a manager with major-league experience — with Class AAA manager Ryne Sandberg considered the strongest, if not only, serious candidate without that.
Gonzalez would not comment specifically about the Cubs job, but he told the Sun-Times that he and Hendry “go back to my high school days. He coached one of the opposing teams when I played. And we worked together with the Marlins.”
This part of the story also is interesting:
At least one source close to the Braves said that while public perception has Gonzalez as Cox’s heir apparent, the Braves have not given Gonzalez any such indication — which would seem to leave a wide-open path for Hendry to pursue.
Personally, I’d be stunned if Gonzalez preferred the Cubs’ job over the Braves. He already lives in Atlanta and he certainly would be inheriting a better team here than in Chicago. But if the Braves wait too long before making a commitment, Gonzalez could opt for the sure thing.
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231 comments Add your comment
F-105 Thunderchief
September 1st, 2010
3:14 pm
Seems like in a couple of months they are going to need a manager. Wren has an opening, but doesn’t seem to be acting like it. Pendleton is not the guy, Fredi is.
BuckheadBrave
September 1st, 2010
3:15 pm
John Smoltz. He can keep up clubhouse morale by telling jokes.
Trade Nate for a Bag of balls
September 1st, 2010
3:18 pm
A Brave on the Heach in Hi : you are an idiot
No playoffs since Mazzone not Cox
September 1st, 2010
3:18 pm
Fredi Gonzales should instantly be hired as something to lock him.
ReddJonn68
September 1st, 2010
3:19 pm
@ hmmmm…. Sometimes money isn’t everything did you get a good look at his body language during our series & over this season. Joe looks like the Hollywood & the ownership out there has stolen his passion for the game, plus you can’t tell me he didn’t expect things to turn out the way they have out there.
ReddJonn68
September 1st, 2010
3:22 pm
Smoltzies jokes are like, getting teeth pulled with no anesthesia !!!
Hayseed Dixie
September 1st, 2010
3:23 pm
I don’t think it’s about upsetting the apple cart as far as TP goes.
Should Schuerholz want him, he has the juice and the integrity to say to Gonzalez, “we’ll negotiate in good faith at the end of the season, I want you here.”
And for Gonzalez to believe him, and leave it at that.
Jeremy
September 1st, 2010
3:25 pm
I’ll trust Wrens better judgement here… Let’s concern ourselves with this pennent chase, and then turn our attention to a new manager.
hmmmm.........
September 1st, 2010
3:26 pm
Torre’s record is great but until this year most of his success has had alot to do with the teams spending money. I don’t think i’ve ever seen him show any passion with the yanks or LA.
anotherdawg
September 1st, 2010
3:27 pm
Fredi might want to wait. Managing the Cubs is the “Kiss of Death”. Last world series win was 1908, picture a Model T Ford.
hmmmm.........
September 1st, 2010
3:27 pm
PS he made the postseason twice in LA and the NLCS once
JuneBaby
September 1st, 2010
3:27 pm
Terry Pendleton should be the next manager of the Braves. He’s the best man for the job by far. We already know that Fredi is a losing manager, he showed that to us in Fla. Plus by virtue of T.P. hanging around, when he may have had other opps. with other clubs, maybe there was an understanding that he would be high in consideration to take over from Bobby Cox. He would also, probably keep the staff intact.
No playoffs since Mazzone not Cox
September 1st, 2010
3:28 pm
The braves need to better plan for the future. Leo Mazzone is the reason for their past success because of pitching, not Bobby Cox. The Braves should lock up Gonzales now,and bring back Leo Mazzone. Cox should retire very soon after the season.
Braves73
September 1st, 2010
3:29 pm
Shultz, I agree with you 100%. The Braves should to what they can now to secure/assure Gonzalez that he is their guy. He got screwed in FLA while managing with a beer budget. Not to mention the fact that he is great at developing young players and his former ties to the Braves. He would be the best possible hire considering the alternatives and the current restraints Liberty Media puts on the payroll.
No playoffs since Mazzone not Cox
September 1st, 2010
3:33 pm
Mazzone left in 2005. There last playoff appearance was……..2005. Pitching won, not Cox. Fredi Gonzales should be manager and Leo Mazzone should be brought back as pitching coach.
ReddJonn68
September 1st, 2010
3:35 pm
No passion ??? The guy was balling like a baby when he left New York, also did you miss all of our series against the Stanks when he was there ??? What about when LA played like a little league team in the NLCS you don’t remember him calling his team out during post game interviews ???
GTI in Chicago
September 1st, 2010
3:36 pm
Do NOT underestimate the ability of the Chicago Sports Press to overstate any given situation. No other group I know can take a simple set of quotes and facts and extrapolate them beyond all recognition.
And Maybe
September 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
Maybe the past pitching success could also be attributed to having three Cy Young winners on the staff at one time. Not taking any thing away from Mazzone, but he didn’t fare quite so well in Baltimore. Actually, with any team, success comes from top to bottom.
Rick
September 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
You never know with Wren, he may want to go in a completely different direction than Bobby. He’s been known to march to his own drummer. I personally think it would be a huge mistake, but I also thought it was a big mistake to not sign Smoltzie last year, too. I would love to see Fredi take over, but I am starting to doubt that it will happen.
Rick S
September 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
Totally agree- Fredi Gonzales is the perfect replacement for Bobby Cox and even if the Braves Fronty Office do not want to upset members of the current coaching staff that might believe they have a shot at replacing Cox, at least begin communications behind the scene immediately and tell Gonzalez he is a serious candidate!
Darryl Blackberry
September 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
Torre acts like he’s got perpetual heartburn. We need another players’ manager like the one who’s on his way out…albeit one who also knows how to manage with small-ball, call hit-and-run plays, etc.
hmmmm.........
September 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
Yeah TP has done soo well as the hitting coach lets promote him.
No playoffs since Mazzone not Cox
September 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
And Maybe, we’d have cy young’s now if Leo was here. Not to mention a playoff appearence since 2005, which also just happens to be when Leo left.
T-Bone
September 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
I don’t see how anyone can say that TP would be a bad manager. He’s never done it before. The Braves are doing pretty good offensively this year (check the stats), and some of that credit should go toward TP.
hmmmm.........
September 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
Torre= walking coprse. Crying isn’t that a sign of weakness. Fredi is passionate and fiery.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
3:43 pm
Mr. Wren needs to talk to Mr. Fox and Mr. Pig and get his head on straight.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
September 1st, 2010
3:43 pm
The Braves are one of the top scoring teams in the majors. Dang I hate Terry eeeffffffen Pendelton! Freddi seems to get the same love Yost got a few years back.
ReddJonn68
September 1st, 2010
3:47 pm
Loyalty yeah thats a great trait TP will show he learned from Booby Cox ! Like leaving pitchers in too long & starting pos. players who are hitting worst than the pitchers. Yeppp straight off the old Cox tree !!!
KPH
September 1st, 2010
3:51 pm
I will go with PLATE APPEARANCE’S scenario posted at 2:33. Sounds good to me. And Chipper comes back and hits 330 with 35 dingers and 120 RBI. GO BRAVOS!!!!!
L. Jones
September 1st, 2010
3:51 pm
It makes no sense to wait until after the season to begin the process of deciding on a new manager. As for TP, he has absolutely no qualifications to be a major league manager. Might as well offer Chipper a player/manager job. TP couldn’t light a fire under a team if you gave him a flame thrower.
FullForce49
September 1st, 2010
3:54 pm
The worst thing the Braves can do is hire a manager now to replace Bobby. Talk about potential headaches? The chemistry along would be cause for concern. Not to mention the blow to the egos to coaches already there who think they’ll get a shot such as TP. Nothing wrong with taking a wait and see approach. If Freddie takes another job so be it. He’s not the only would be manager out there.
kgb
September 1st, 2010
4:02 pm
I have no idea who the Braves are considering for the job. But I bet Wren knows. If it’s Gonzalez then that base has been covered.
It's a shame what he did to that dog
September 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
Why not these guys?
David Justice, Otis Nixon, John Rocker or Brett Butler.
Darryl Blackberry
September 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
I’m sure Cox has talked to Gonzalez about this. The only question is: did he implore Fredi to wait before accepting another managerial position somewhere else? I mean, Bobby is going to the front office of the organization, so he knows full well who’s on the shortlist of potential replacements…
CraZyTRaDeMaN
September 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
L. Jones, Was Freddie qualified when he took the Fla Job. Was Ned Yost qualified when he took the Brewers Job? If so how were they more qualified than TP is now? I would rather have Freddie as the new manager but, TP may be more qualified than Ned or Freddie was when they left.
It's a shame what he did to that dog
September 1st, 2010
4:04 pm
Hey, maybe the Braves can hire Nick Saban away from Bama.
It's a shame what he did to that dog
September 1st, 2010
4:05 pm
Maybe Wren can get that old guy with the metrosexual glasses who coaches the Rays.
Darryl Blackberry
September 1st, 2010
4:05 pm
Otis Nixon would only make a good stand-in for Chief Nokahoma.
And John Rocker would only make a good effigy for burning at tailgate parties.
It's a shame what he did to that dog
September 1st, 2010
4:06 pm
“Otis Nixon would only make a good stand-in for Chief Nokahoma. ”
Well he was also good at dealing drugs so maybe he could deal us some good players as well.
Donny Corleone
September 1st, 2010
4:07 pm
If Bobby changes his mind and stays will he have to give back all of that cool stuff everybody has given him? ‘Cause that would be a downright shame to have to give back all of that stuff.
Jo-Bu
September 1st, 2010
4:07 pm
Jeff, if Freddie want to be a Brave it will not matter what the Cubs offer him. We do not know what is happening behind the scenes and for all we know a handshake deal has been done for his services next year.
And wouldn’t this Cubs things provide the perfect diversion strategy for the Braves.
Look, this is Bobby’s last season. The Braves aren’t gonna announce anything until the season is over and that’s the right thing to do in my opinion. The Braves senior management have had a couple of PR blowups in recent years and sending Bobby out the right way is one they really need to do right.
papadawg
September 1st, 2010
4:07 pm
Let’s see, choose the Cubs roster or the Braves roster, which one will I want to coach
ReddJonn68
September 1st, 2010
4:08 pm
If TP has a chance what about
Dale Murphy, Chris Chambliss, Bob Horner, or Bruce Benedict !!!
Donny Corleone
September 1st, 2010
4:09 pm
What about Lenny Dykstra? He could handle the money too. No, wait…….
Winnebago Brave
September 1st, 2010
4:10 pm
Our next manager wears a #10 on his back hoss.
No playoffs since Mazzone not Cox
September 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Harry the Hat
September 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Chipper is retiring as a player and will be manager next year. That’s what Cox and Schuerholtz want.
Jo-Bu
September 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Why not these guys?
David Justice, Otis Nixon, John Rocker or Brett Butler.
I know this was a joke but, boy, talk about a change in culture with those names — heck, that’d be culture shock!
Native Georgian
September 1st, 2010
4:12 pm
I want Mazzone back to. I don’t think it’s a coincidence either. Listening to him talk on the radio I believe he’d be open to it. I prefer Joe T over Gonzalez but I wonder how much longer Joe plans to coach. It felt good to have an institution here versus a short-term hire.
Donny Corleone
September 1st, 2010
4:14 pm
What about Pete Rose? He’s got a super hot girlfriend. I mean discounting all that suspended for life stuff.