Fredi Gonzalez is Braves’ perfect choice to replace Cox
Fredi: The Braves have a jersey that will fit a little better than that one.
From the moment he inexplicably was fired as the Florida Marlins’ manager — and maybe even before — Fredi Gonzalez looked like the obvious choice to replace the Braves’ Bobby Cox.
Apparently, it was so obvious that Cox’s desk chair won’t have a chance to get cold.
Our David O’Brien is reporting that Gonzalez, the former Braves coach, will be introduced as the Braves’ new manager on Thursday — one day after Cox is scheduled to hold his going away news conference at Turner Field and three days after the team was eliminated in the National League Division Series.
If the timing is surprising, the choice isn’t.
Earlier Tuesday, I posted a column saying that the challenge of Cox’s replacement will be recreating the same clubhouse chemistry that Cox helped cultivate this year. Gonzalez will do that.
Braves general manager Frank Wren could not have made a better decision. Gonzalez is liked and respected by players. That was the case as a coach in Atlanta and the manager in Florida, despite being fired by Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins’ clueless owner. Loria is the same classless moron who ordered his team to not honor the retiring Cox in the Braves’ final visit in Florida, making Florida the only organization to do so. (Cox had criticized Loria for Gonzalez’ firing, and the truth apparently doesn’t go over well with him.)
I’ve banged the drum for Gonzalez before:
♦ Here when he benched the petulant Hanley Ramirez.
♦ Here when he was let go by the Marlins.
Gonzalez, who has maintained his home in Marietta, had winning teams in Florida in 2008 and 2009 despite working with the lowest payroll in the majors. He is like Cox in many ways in that he’s honest and up front with players, keeps an open line of communication and expects only hard work and unselfish play in return. He can be unlike Cox in that he will call out a player publicly if he is pushed to, as in the Ramirez case.
He does not play favorites, and that plays well in the clubhouse. Ramirez is Florida’s best player. But Gonzalez pulled him for loafing after a ball, then benched him the next night for throwing a fit and ripping his manager publicly.
Ramirez was quoted as saying:: “He never played in the big leagues,” and added: “It’s his team. He can do whatever he [expletive] wants.” He and Loria deserve each other.
Somehow, Gonzalez took the fall. But Gonzalez will end up with a better job, and the Braves will end up with the perfect replacement for Cox.
♦
EARLIER TODAY:
♦ Challenge of Cox’s replacement will be recreating chemistry
♦
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306 comments Add your comment
Hope
October 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
I hope he’s not a bobby clone.
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
The Imposer — Got no problems with posters messing with each other. Just have a problem with below-gutter references, if you know what I mean. It’s a public forum so just keep it clean.
Bobby C
October 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
Texas up 5-1 in the 9th
ADAM
October 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
Steve
Well how about this. The last 8 playoff series with the braves. They have lost the past 8 series at home. That is unacceptable and disgusting.
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
Younger Than That Now — I’m sorry. Were you reading the book? Fredi Gonzalez gets the job in Chapter 12.
Wandering Georgian
October 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
Really, this was the only call to make. Right guy for the job; if the Braves can stay healthy (unlike this year), they have a shot at the division and advancing past the first round of the playoffs.
Steve
October 12th, 2010
11:00 pm
I agree Jeff. Philly is amazing. I don’t see Leo ever being a pitching coach again. Not sure why people are hoping for that. Roger has done a great job.
Bobby C
October 12th, 2010
11:00 pm
Will mess yu Jo
Younger Than That Now
October 12th, 2010
11:01 pm
JS… seriously here, are there any rumors, rumblings or just plain ole gossip about a new owner (as in a real person) and releasing a few more $$$$? Inquiring minds want to know!
jimmymack
October 12th, 2010
11:01 pm
what happened to my second comment
dexterdawg
October 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
OR the Joe Tess Fish House impersonator is A Moron just freaking nuts a psychopath. That really sucks more than anything imaginable. Really really sucks. The internet is full of 35 year old adolescents that thrive on third grade pranks and fart jokes.They reside in moms basement and eat cheerios all day out of plastic bowls with forks. They arent happy unless everyone else is miserable. to the real Joe Tess Fish House I support your first amendment rights to stand up and say what you feel in a nice way. To the imposters of the world… get a life and a job. nuff said nuff respect. will the real Joe Tess Fish House please stand up. we got you back
Bobby C
October 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
Agree with our current pitching coach doing a good job.
Supes
October 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
I guess wait and see, no way to know if it’s a “good hire or bad” you’ve gotta give the new manager some time before you make a statement like that.
jimmymack
October 12th, 2010
11:04 pm
you blew me away with being so right
Pauly D
October 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
Steve, that is the reply i get. That is weak. Really showed your baseball knowledge on that one, chump.
Kimbrel4Closer
October 12th, 2010
11:07 pm
Jeff-
Have any idea if the Braves will try a sweep of the coaching staff (and trainers) or do you think they will stick with most of them?
Al
October 12th, 2010
11:07 pm
first miner is coming up. and it’s not mike. hehe
JRW7
October 12th, 2010
11:07 pm
Fredi Gonzales, NEW Atlanta Braves Manager, MLB Manager of the Year, 2011!!!
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
11:08 pm
Steve — Agree. I don’t get the criticism of Roger McDowell.
TN_BravesFan
October 12th, 2010
11:09 pm
I think I can be objective because I have never really liked Freddi. I probably look at him like someone explained about how they felt about Billy Wagner. I hated Billy when he was with other teams. After seeing him for a year and especially the SI article, I have a great admiration for him. Same for Freddi. I’ve now read some of his views and I do think that bunch in south florida deserve clowns of the year award. They will probably look at Freddi like Ted Turner looked at Bobby when he fired him. Ted was man enough to admit his mistake. I just hope the Braves stick with whoever they hire for the long term. I do feel that if its Freddi or someone else, they will be capable. I also hope they don’t try to fill Bobby’s shoes because if they try they will fail miserably. I do however hope he adopts Bobby’s skills handling players and making decisions based on his instincts rather than what the fans or media expect of him. The manager will be the one with the most information needed to make decisions and he should be allowed to do so. I can’t say it enough. The people ripping Bobby will get an education in years to come. I do think if it is Freddi, the transition will be a lot smoother. Bobby may be gone, but will never be forgotten. In 10 or 20 or 30 years any fan of baseball will be quite aware of who Bobby Cox is, but I bet if they know who Jeffery Loria is, it will only be because he was the only owner that failed to recognize and salute Bobby. Lastly, I have a deeper respect for Bruce Bochy and his players after their graciousness last night. There is not a lot of times in sports that good things make you teary eyed, It’s usually something bad that evokes the tears. My vote for Freddi’s replacement in a few years is Chipper.
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
11:10 pm
Younger Than That Now – Don’t hold me to this but I think for tax/ledger reasons, Braves will be in Liberty Media fold for at least one more year. I know. Not the answer you were looking for. (Or the passion.)
Brave Observer
October 12th, 2010
11:10 pm
I’m ready for APRIL!
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
11:10 pm
ALDS is over — Texas over Tampa. Home team LOST EVERY GAME. Oh, and Jeff Francoeur is in the LCS.
PMC
October 12th, 2010
11:11 pm
Great Choice for Freddie, that said. Jeff Francouer is about to play in a championship series. Currently he would be our 2nd best all around outfielder and possibly the best defensively. Wow.
Um. Frank Wren has a lot of work to do positionally.
Younger Than That Now
October 12th, 2010
11:11 pm
JS… I do have a good book recommendation for you. I got mine about two weeks ago after reading a plug that I saw in a Boston fan program… something like ChopTalk.
It’s titled “Big Hair and Plastic Grass… a funky ride thru baseball and America in the swinging 70’s”. Just came out this summer and it brings back a lot of things that I’d almost forgotten. GITU1!
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
11:11 pm
Kimbrel4Closer — Addressed that earlier, I think most will be retained but can’t be certain.
Jeff Schultz
October 12th, 2010
11:13 pm
Younger Than That Now — Hah. I like the title.
Ron Gardenhose
October 12th, 2010
11:13 pm
Let the choking continue with Fredi Cox.
BTW, Andrus and Francoeur are laughing at the Boobster.
Notch Johnson
October 12th, 2010
11:14 pm
Hey Joe Tess, are you a Georgia Bull Dog football player?
Bobby C
October 12th, 2010
11:14 pm
Jeff, off the topic a little but: Do you think Chipper will retire?
Kimbrel4Closer
October 12th, 2010
11:15 pm
Thanks…I may be stupid for feeling this way but we have had a lot of strains and pulled muscles in the past 3 or 4 years and I wonder if the training staff and/or coaches have anything to do with that…
ajc pariah
October 12th, 2010
11:17 pm
I, the pariah,approve this hiring.Now let’s hope we can scrounge up a thumper or two to help the pitching staff.With three top shelf starters,hopefully the exposure of Minor and Beachy will reveal a fourth and fifth until Medlen can get well.I am encouraged with our young relievers.Pray Venters arm doesn’t fall off.A little attention to fundamentals would be welcome also.
1/33
October 12th, 2010
11:18 pm
1 miner rescued out of 33. That’s almost as good a % as booby’s playoff %.
dale in newnan
October 12th, 2010
11:18 pm
Hell Yeah!!!! Love the hire. Quality manager who believes in the fundamentals; expects his players to be professional; gets a hell of a lot out of his talent. Feel exponentially better about next year. Now lets go get some power in the outfield.
TheAntiMe
October 12th, 2010
11:19 pm
Give Joe Tess a break. He’s got a right to his opinion and I’m not sure what his primary language is but I know that I couldn’t write using it in a way that anyone could comprehend. More power to him.
JASon
October 12th, 2010
11:21 pm
Bobby Cox was a holdover from a time in which Atlanta didn’t compete on a national level, in anything. He lucked into a system with a brilliant GM and an owner willing to spend. Lets be honest, a panhandler from woodruff park could have managed those teams to a world series. With Mike Smith and now Fredi Gonzalez, this city is finally on par with other national competitors and markets. Where it should be.
Bobby C
October 12th, 2010
11:21 pm
Try frying fish and typing at the same time…..Joe’s done well!
todd s
October 12th, 2010
11:22 pm
great hire.. and he can also speak spanish to all our young latino pitchers in the minors.. excellent choice.. a players manager in bobby’s mold. perfect fit!
Ueeediot
October 12th, 2010
11:23 pm
Fredi is a smart manager and a student of the game. People in this town wouldnt recognize baseball coaching if it smacked them. You think it was an accident that Eric Hinske was at bat in the bottom of the 8th Saturday night? Most of the people who post on this blog would have to fire themselves from every job they ever attempted, that is if they held themselves to the same standard they claim to hold Cox to.
I recall most of the managers in here wanted Glaus to start playing 3b back in mid august. Some even earlier. Did you see him last night? The man can barely walk much less jog to first.
rabiddawg
October 12th, 2010
11:26 pm
Great Hire!!! One thing that nobody has mentioned. FG was very well respected and liked among his Marlin players especially an all star slugging second baseman who is now a free agent. He would probably love to play with out lineup.
Peter
October 12th, 2010
11:27 pm
Hope..great point…..
Playing softball style baseball hasn’t been a great way to go.
The Rangers beat the Rays with speed and aggressive base running…….This is something the Braves have lacked, and then traded away.
If Fredi is a Bobby clone…..then a World Championship won’t happen.
The Braves need to get younger, and faster.
Biff Pocoroba was underrated
October 12th, 2010
11:31 pm
If Fredi and TP are buddies, it’d be hard to fire him. It’s also hard to keep him if Fredi thinks TP had designs on the job himself. Maybe Chipper would come back as hitting coach allowing Prado and Infante to play everyday. Maybe Chip would now, at last, move to first if Freeman is not ready. Maybe KK can be traded for two packs of rice a roni and spring training will get here quickly.
Joe
October 12th, 2010
11:31 pm
I believe Cox is Coxian except that he had to pull a player for loafing, and will bench a player for being very immature. My theory is that Fredi will make sure everyone acts like a Jason Heyward (patient, respectful to everyone, and is ready to compete day in and day out).
Speed will be a big big factor for the Braves on the base paths and small ball will be a great game factor that will cause a lot of errors on opposing teams, and Fredi will work on the Braves infield with fielding techniques, and getting some guys who have the capability of being Gold Glovers.
Daniel
October 12th, 2010
11:40 pm
1) I wonder if Fredi will let our starters go for complete games when they are dealing. We haven’t had a complete game thrown by a starter since 2008.
2) I wonder if he will give the bunt sign more than Bobby Cox did when he have a guy on 1st and no outs.
3) I wonder if he’ll keep his closer (Kimbrel??) in there if he gets in a rough spot and gives him a vote of confidence to settle down and put the opposing team away (unless of course our closer is in really deep trouble).
Gatorman
October 12th, 2010
11:41 pm
If he’s like Cox in some respects that’s fine, but he needs to understand what Cox never did, the Braves will never have enough money to load this team up with high priced free agents. If he’s to win here, it’s always going to be younger players with a blend of average veterans. They will have to concentrate of getting and keeping the best pitchers they can find. Chipper is playing his last year, and many of the veterans from this year will be gone. He’s got to have an eye for young talent like Minnesota has had to win anything, going to the world series is going to difficult, and winning almost impossible. He’s got to do better having a cohesive line up to play every day, and stop this insane platooning with most the outfield.
JRW7
October 12th, 2010
11:42 pm
Fredi, We need more hitting, more team speed, and more defense! GO BRAVES!!!
Daniel
October 12th, 2010
11:44 pm
I also hope he gives the righty-lefty, lefty-righty thing a break. It was kinda crazy watching Bobby put a pinch hitter in to have the other team change pitchers and then Bobby pinch hit for the pinch hitter, effectively burning a man.
myra
October 12th, 2010
11:44 pm
The Braves will surely not make the mistake of firing Roger McDowell. He has helped us win many a game. The pitching staff has responded to him way beyond our hopes. Great starting pitching,and fantastic bullpen. I give mad props to Rog.
TheAntiMe
October 12th, 2010
11:45 pm
I’m afraid that I’m not very optimistic about Liberty Media giving Frank Wren much if any more money to play with this offseason, so that means no Jayson Werth for the outfield.
That being said, Frank Wren can, hopefully, be a bit more creative this offseason and find an outfielder who can at least hit .275 with 20 HRs and 90 RBIs. Even though I would like to see better than that, it would be a great improvement over anyone the Braves currently have to play the outfield. Yes, J. Heyward hit .277 and was close in HRs but no other outfielder was close in the power department.
Also, since the Braves did finish 20 games over .500 with 91 wins, hopefully, Liberty Media will reward that very good performance by budgeting a few more resources for their Bravos. The last thing we need is for them to say, “Now that we’ve got Fredi Gonzalez, who has proven he can do a lot with a little, we can scrimp even more on the Braves.” I can dream, can’t I?
JOD
October 12th, 2010
11:51 pm
YES!!! THANK GOD, TOO BAD YUNEL IS NOT GOING TO BE MENTORED BY FREDI, AND BE ABLE TO PROSPER.