Fredi Gonzalez is Braves’ perfect choice to replace Cox

First?

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FIST!!

This is a dum hire. Gonzales has a record. How is this better than Cox? They should of have hired John Smolts

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Thanks, Bobby. Welcome home, Fredi.

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We have wasted great pitching for two straight years with our lack of run production.

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Joe Tess Fish House, you meant to say YOU are a loser.

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“Joe Tess” congrats. Your post was one of the dumbest one ever posted. It was the perfect hire. Oh and who is John Smolts? Also, what does “dum” mean?

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Who will the “new” hitting coach be? TP will probably leave or get canned

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Well that’s one thing off the ol’ offseason checklist for the Braves. I’m glad to see they’re not wasting any time getting started in addressing the team’s needs. I think Fredi will be an excellent new manager for the Braves, hopefully for many happy years to come for the team and the fans.

Congratulations Fredi and Go Braves in 2011!!!!!

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I can post my ideals without name calling. U gys need 2 do the same.

THis is a dum hire. Loosing is contagous and Gonazles will bring that disases here.

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Need to wait and see what kind of coaching staff we get

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Joe Tess Fish House, I’m not going to call you a name, but you do need to learn to spell at least simple words. Not doing so makes your opinion seem much less intelligent.

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Wow, some people really shouldn’t be allowed to own a computer.

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Great hire by the Braves! He did a great job in South Florida in a crap market with no $ and a clown for an owner. Freddy should do very well in Atlanta!

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I here Leo on the radio and he is nice guy but he only no pitchin

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Jeff, upon thinking about it, this is probably a good move. In a way, it’s almost like deja vu.

Bobby is fired by Ted Turner in 1981, goes to Toronto for four years, and then returns as GM. He recruits all of the talent that eventually would turn us into a winner, but, it doesnt happen fast enough, so, after firing Russ Nixon, Bobby and Ted do the safe thing, and Bobby takes the job as manager. It worked out pretty well for 21 years.

I was never against Gonzalez. Until I saw that the players wanted it to happen quickly, I just thought maybe the team should wait a bit, to digest Bobby’s leaving, but, it was no sudden resignation, as we;ve known Bobby was leaving for a year now.

I cant argue with this choice. Hopefully, it will work out well for the Braves.

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I applaud this move. Keep TP for a year till Chipper retires and takes over for him. From everything I’ve read, sounds like he’s already the favorite among the leaders and veterans in the clubhouse, so that’s great. I’m sure it’s very rare that a transition takes place in such a manner.

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Joe Tess,

You missed the part where Jeff mentioned that the Marlins have one of the lowest payrolls and an idiot owner who steals money from Florida taxpayers. Gonzalez was miraculously able to get two winning seasons out of a garbage team like the Marlins.

Idiot.

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Why was Florida always such a pain in the ass for the Braves with a third of their payroll? I think Fredi had a lot to do with it. The games I saw, especially the ones that went down to the wire, Gonzalez out-managed Cox consistantly.

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Quite honestly, I’m disappointed. The Braves had a chance to go in new direction and failed…

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I agree with u Chris.

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Linda Jenkins, Leo Mazzone shouldn’t be hard to find. Call 404-231-1680 weekdays between 6 and 10.

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this is dumb. he sucks. I don’t care if he is friends with bobby, he still sucks. He can’t handle a bullpen worth crap. I’m telling you he will find a way to make us finish 3rd.

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Did you do your GTL today Pauly?

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Chris explain why this is a bad hire. You obviously don’t know baseball.

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Its a bad hire b cuz he has a loosing record.

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Joe Tess. Dude forget about baseball. Go learn how to spell and type etc… You have bigger fish to fry bro. Dum? Loose? Misteak? Smolts? Look, it’s Dumb. Lose. Mistake. Smoltz. We’ll work on numbers next week!!!

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At least I dont use curse words 4 my name.

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Steve sense you think you know baseball so well why is this a good hire? seems to suck, to me.

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Thanks Jeff…….agree too about keeping the coaching staff. Just thinking out loud.

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Chris, what does “a new direction” even mean? Do you think that Fredi, who hasn’t been in Atlanta since 2006, will become some sort of Bobby Cox robot? Should we have hired Joe Torre? Or would that not have been a new direction, since he played for the Braves in the 60s.

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Joe Tore would have of been a great hire.

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I had a misteak once…terrible. The seasoning was all wrong….

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Joe Torre will be the next gm of the Mets

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“Pauly D” I guess you need spelling lessons also? “Sense” should be since you moron. Good hire for all of the above reasons Jeff mentioned.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by hayleydrew, Sean Womble, Tim Yonkers, Rachel Baribeau, Jeff Schultz and others. Jeff Schultz said: Meet the #Braves new manager — and the perfect choice: #Fredi Gonzalez. Click: http://tinyurl.com/2fgmtg5 [...]

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Oh disregard, Joe Tess Fish House is a freaking moron! an ignoramous! I thought that he was just a little slow, He is freaking nuts!

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Well played, Demetrius.

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Haha……one email address with multiple names. Busted!

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See ya jimmymack

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Great, good choice, FG is just who the BRAVES need. GO FREDI, win us a pennant in 2011!!!!!!!

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Jeff who do like between the Giants and Phillies? I’m pulling for the Giants after the class they showed last night. Rough night for the Cox family.

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Just messing around with an idiot. Don’t be so sensitive.

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Think about it……Chipper back and Freeman at first next year. Pitching is fine and maybe a couple of new outfielders……looking good for next year

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Welcome back FREDI GONZALES, now hire CHIPPER as new hitting coach!!!!

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I am not even watching the game. I am watching the rescue of the chilean miners. Now that is amazing stuff.

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Fredi G. is a great hire and the Braves are lucky to have him. Just like Bobby Cox was, Gonzalez is well respected by the knowledgeable people inside of MLB.

Of course, it’s not a shock that the clueless ones who always bashed Bobby Cox after the games but would never give him credit for the moves that he made that worked – and there were many as you don’t win 2,500 games without knowing how to manage – they are wasting no time trashing Gonzalez and I’m sure will continue to trash him every year that he doesn’t win a World Series Title. It has never occurred to them that if it were so easy to win one then you wouldn’t have teams that have gone a century without winning one.

They may have the biggest mouths but, believe me, just as the Cox bashers were, they are in a very cluless minority.

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I hope he’s not a bobby clone.

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Texas up 5-1 in the 9th

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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Steve, that is the reply i get. That is weak. Really showed your baseball knowledge on that one, chump.

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first miner is coming up. and it’s not mike. hehe

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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!

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Hey Joe Tess, are you a Georgia Bull Dog football player?

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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…

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1 miner rescued out of 33. That’s almost as good a % as booby’s playoff %.

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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.

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Try frying fish and typing at the same time…..Joe’s done well!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Does anyone else get sort of a sour stomach looking at the ‘used to b ours guys’ playing for Atlanta West….um ..I mean Texas.

Will b interesting to see Cliff Lee battle his future employeer the NY Yankees

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I think the Braves should explore trading Heyward now… he is becoming Franceur without the defense…

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I JUST HOPE HE DOESNT HAVE FAVORITES LIKE BOOBY DID, AND WILL YANK SOMEONE WHEN THEY ARE NOT PERFORMING.

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INFANTE AND PRADO NEED THE BE AT 2ND AND SS PERIOD!

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Right call by Braves for Fredi.

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Fredi’s a good hire, brings that familiar face back into the mix. I’m curious if he’ll have the “Staying Power” that Bobby had … these days you just don’t see one team keeping the same manager for so long.

I like Roger McD too but Pendleton I’m not set on. I think the Braves need to go back to the player-manager days and finally set up Chipper in his second career while he’s still playing his first.

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Great choice indeed, but let’s hope Braves fans don’t hang him out to dry the first time they get shut out and clueless yahoos want to blame the coaching staff for not coming up with a better offensive game plan.

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BJ Upton CF and Evan Longoria 3B would be great additions over here.

Infield of Longoria, Gonzales, Prado, C Jones, with Infante and Freeman as backups
out field of Diaz Upton Heyward

Wonder if Joe Mauer can play 1b…Werth would be an interesting FA sign…Carlos Pena at 1b would be awesome too…

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The problem with Liberty Media is the same as with ESPN. Its run by people who were born and raised in the Northeast and by and large dont think much of Atlanta or care about the fans or the team. They are interested purely in the profitability of the enterprise.
MLB needs owners who are vested in their teams directly and we as fans need owners who are themselves fans. Look around at the successful teams in all sports. They are all owned by narcissistic egomaniacs. (Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban, Al Davis…)

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For a brief time, before I heard about Freddi being hired, the idea of Torre crossed my mind, except for one problem. He’s too old. Joe is 70, Freddi will be only 47 when next season starts. It isnt likely Torre would stay more than 2-3 years. If Freddi can be successful, he;s at the age where he can stay several to even 10 years.

Hopefully, Chipper will and can return. The pitching is fine, but we do need one more run producer to be a serious threat The offense in the playoffs was pitiful.

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I wouldn’t want Torre anywhere near the arms of our young pitchers in that bullpen.

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Hitting coach and playing 3B at the same time… that’s a pretty good idea but not sure if it would ever come about. Chipper would probably be fine with it as long as he’s here and playing, but once he retires I don’t think you’ll see him again unless it’s to accept some type of honor or seeing Bobby Cox honored in some way. He would be good at it, but I’ve seen his dad up close and personal as a hitting coach, and for more than a few minutes, and he would be a great pick for hitting coach… better than most I’ve seen in action.

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[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday. View. UPDATE 9:45pmPeter over at Capitol Avenue CluFredi Gonzalez – The Atlanta Braves are expected to hire former Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez as manager, [...]

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My guess is Fredi will keep Eddie, Roger and Glenn but he’ll want his own bench coach and 3rd base guy! As far as TP goes it’s a coin flip but I’ll bet he’s gone!

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I am pumped about Fredi. You know he’s gonna love it and have a great incentive to stick it to the Marlins every year. And he knows how to duke it out with the Phils. Not sure about the numbers but I think the Marlins have fared pretty well verse the Phils the last few years.

I would’ve been kinda happy too if they’d talked to Torre, but it’s a no brainer. Fredi is a perfect fit and so much younger.

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Great hire, don’t forget that screwy owner of the Marlins fired Joe G, the Yankee manager too. I’d like to see a new batting coach, can’t hurt.

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Good point about Fredi wanting to stick it to the Marlins, sportsmandh. If anyone were to ask him, I’m sure he would say that he has no desire to stick it to the Marlins and that they are just another team. But, Fredi would be less than human if he didn’t want to beat the crud out of the team owned by the egomaniac who had no appreciation for the fine job that Gonzalez did with the Marlins.

This is a welcome bonus as, I believe, that Fredi can be a major impetus toward finally being able to consistently beat a team that has seemingly had the Braves number ever since they came into the league.

Now, if only he can do something about those darned Nationals, as well.

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Fredi will be a great hire. Look at what he did with a whole lot less than Bobby had. Let him use the resources that Bobby had and see what he can do. It should make for some exciting years.

As for Fredi’s handling of the Ramirez incident, he won’t have to worry about that here. The Braves have always had a business-like, classy attitude amongst the players and coaches. No one was brought in that thought they were bigger than the team. And if the attitude began to emerge, the player didn’t stay around long. The players kinda policed themselves.

As for Chipper, I’m willing to bet he plays another year (if capable), retires a life-long Brave, then becomes the hitting coach. He’ll stay with the organization, but no way stay in an office. If he finds out in the Spring that he is unable to play the caliber he wants, he’ll be a hitting instructor in the minors for the year, then move up the following year.

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*snort*

Gonazles

*snarckle*

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[...] Original post: Fredi Gonzalez is Braves' perfect choice to replace Cox | Jeff Schultz [...]

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I read all the above blogs with interest and the overwhelming majority approve of the hiring of FG. I have no opinion until at least one full season
under FG is completed. However, I do wish him the best and hope Braves
will get the players they need to compete with the Phillies.

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Great hire. It’s the one I wanted and expected. The only coach I hope is replaced is TP. A good man, but I just don’t think he really is able to help hitters as effectively as you want in the bigs.

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Enter your comments here

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Good hire only if he boots TP out. We have needed a real batting coach for years. TP has taken many 300 hitters and in just weeks got them down to 150….

If TP goes the Braves will have a much improved team next year.

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Opps I hit enter 2 soon. Its good 2 see that oters see it the way I do and Gonzales is not the write hire. Thanks for the support.

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Guess Bobby got a gift from the Marlins afterall…

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Joe Torre? He is a terrible manager. He jumped ship in LA because the Dodgers wont give him talent. He is the most overrated manager. Anyone can win with the Yankees, look what Joe Garidi did in his first year

LaRussa had Carpenter, Wainwright, Pujols, Hallday and couldnt make the playoffs lol

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I’m find with the choice but he has to be his own man. I think they should try a different hitting coach. Please don’t start bring back Mazzone. Mazzone left on his own for more money and you see what happened. McDowell is respected by the pitchers and he is alot younger than Mazzone. I’m sure Fredi would want to bring in some of his coaches.

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Beautiful news! I knew it wasn’t a question of IF the Braves would name Fredi the new manager, but WHEN. Welcome back, Fredi!!

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I think this is a good choice. Hopefully Fredi can manage a pitching staff better than Bobby, that was Bobby’s main weakness.

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[...] 8:05 p.m. The AJC reported last night that Fredi Gonzalez will be named the next Atlanta Braves manager and will be introduced Thursday to the media. Two unmanned sources confirmed the report. Gonzalez, 46, will succeed his former boss and mentor Bobby Cox, who retired after 29 seasons as a major league manager, including 25 with the Braves. Jeff Schultz: Gonzalez is the perfect fit. [...]

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hiring a fired manager not the smartest move, they are usually fired for a good reason…Joe Torre already managed the Braves and everyone else, please just go away to the retirement home along with Cox, why does management keep hiring these people?

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let me clarify my comment: same low payroll without a bunch of stars in the lineup. and yet, the Marlins managed to compete.

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Mazzone got to much credit for what he supposedly did in the 90s. I could have coached that group of pitchers. He & Cox both are going to the hall of shame on the backs of Smoltz, Maddox & Glavine

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Now, get rid of TP and bring on Smoltz as pitching coach and Chipper as hitting coach.

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we braves fans look on the Marlins as a bunch of losers but the truth is they have twice as many world series wins as we do. How they went about it makes no difference. facts are facts. The Braves under achieved when they were the best team in baseball and overachieved when they weren’t. Good bye Bobby although you won’t be going very far to the front office. You can’t let a reliever with a 99 mile an hour fastball throw sliders from the front office so we haave a chance to win some big games.

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Perfect hire and glad he’s on board! The Organization rocks on!

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He’s permanent, right? Not a temp? I wish him well and hope he will conduct an entirely different spring training for these Braves. Let’s get the pitchers where they can run to base without pulling a hammy. Let’s get the fielders going to the right base and hitting the cutoff. Everyone learns to bunt and hit behind a runner. Everyone learns to run the bases. Less golf. Less fishing. Less NASCAR. More baseball. Win early. The early games count the same as the ones in September. Most importantly, no nose picking. None. Even a little dog knows not to pick his nose on television.

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Jack,
What do Casey Stengel, Leo Durocher, Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre, Tony Larussa, Bobby Cox, Lou Piniella and Fredi Gonzalez all have in common….They were all fired from managing positions..My biggest question is whether TP will be back and whether we will try to become a little more agressive offensively…I would like to see us run a little more, but that will depend on who’s playing LF and CF, as all the other positions are pretty much set.
I guess I’m fine with McDowell coming back as pitching coach, although I do think that we need to work on scouting and game plans with these young pitchers. It seems that too many times, the other teams were sitting on certain pitches, ala Huff against Dunn the other night..I think the key for Hanson, Kimbrell, Dunn, Venters as well as Beachy and Minor is to command the fastball, throwing it for strikes so they can work off it with their secondary pitches. that’s one thing that Leo seemed to pound into the guys and I’m not just talking about the big three. Guys like Remlinger, Burkett, Millwood were never better than when they were working with Leo.

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As long as he is legal, I have no problem with the choice.

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I love this hire, and saw it coming ever since Fredi turned down a shot at the Cubs. In Fredi we’ve got someone who is like Cox in all the best ways: loyal to players, dealing with issues behind closed doors instead of in the media (unless you are a bonehead like Hanley Ramirez, who went to the media first to whine). Plus, I happen to think he’s a slightly better in-game tactician than the great Cox. (Don’t get me wrong, you don’t win 2,500+ games without doing many things right, but I credit that more to Cox’s unerring ways in dealing with people than his knowing the exact right moment to make a pitching change.)

I think he’ll keep a lot of the same coaches — thank goodness — but TP may wish to move on of his own accord, since he didn’t get the job. He definitely should be a manager somewhere and deserves the opportunity. But I think we already have a darn good hitting coach already in the organization in Jamie Dismuke. Keeping Eddie Perez and Roger McDowell around is a must… particularly the latter. (Though I wouldn’t be surprised if Eddie ends up managing somewhere too — maybe in AAA.)

And if Chipper chooses to retire, we’d be idiots not to anoint him a part-time roving instructor and send him out to mold our youngsters.

As someone who saw an often hapless organization flail in the ’80s and remained a Braves fan anyway (hey, we’ll lose fewer than 90 games this year… right???) the way this organization now is going about his business is absolutely refreshing and great to see. I wish Fredi all the best and the opportunity to manage 20+ years, just like his mentor.

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The evidence is clear. Talent wins, not managers. Gonzales had friends in high places and most certainly was not hired based on his record, which really is not as important as talent. If Wren and Liberty Media give him the talent to win, he will, if they don’t, he won’t.

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The only thing surprising about this move is that it happened so fast. Great choice. Can’t wait for next season.

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Good hire. I think he has a little more fire than Bobby but generally runs things the same. I’ve often felt that edge is what the Braves needed in the postseason. I think if we can get the owners or a new owner that will support getting a complete team on the field then this could be a great thing for the Braves.

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They need a big bat but I’m worried that Werth only succeeds because of who is surrouding him in the lineup. He was awful during the injury issues with the PHillies. But, I’d welcome seeing him come on board. As for Crawford, he’s a headcase and the Braves don’t get invovled in that kind of thing.

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Gonzales was 35-36 when he was fired. The next manager went 45-46. If Gonzales made such a difference, there should have been a great drop off after he was fired. Where is it?

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This is more of the same mediocrity we’re all accustomed to – Freddie Gonzalez IS NOT the answer to the manager question. Wanted some with exposure to the Braves organization with some FIRE in his belly… the answer quite well might be Ozzie Guillen… I’m just sayin’…

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Jair Juurjens for Delmon Young. Anyone else interested in that deal…Then send McLouth, KK and Dunn to Toronta for Vernon Wells and cash…Resign Hinske and go pickup Wes Helms and a Coco Crisp type as the 4th outfielder and gave Vazquez an incentive laden contract and we are set.

Prado
Young
Heyward
Wells
Chipper
McCann
Freeman
Gonzalez

Infante
Helms
Ross
Crisp
Diory
Hinske

Hudson
Hanson
Lowe
Vazquez
Minor/Beachy

Venters
Kimbrel
Martinez
Moylan
Beachy
O’Flaherty

I like that lineup….If we are more agressive on the bases, Prado, Young, Wells and Heyward can all steal in double digits..We have too many slow guys locked in to turn into the ‘85 Cardinals…I think Young or Rasmus would be fair for Juurjens, as long as he’s proven healthy…Their salaries will be similar and he’s proven over 21/2 years to be a solid top of the rotation guy..I would feel better about having Vazqez in the rotation rather than both Beachy and Minor…A one year deal for him to reestablish he value and tide us over for Medlen, Teheran, Delgado or Beachy to be ready is fine with me..I will be curious to see, if they don’t trade Dunn, if Venters is given a shot at the rotation as some have speculated. His pitches would seem to play as a rotation guy. His stuff would seem to be wasted a little as a setup guy and I think Kimbrel is the man at closer.

We won 90 games with a mismatched lineup that got very little real power production and consistent starting pitching from really only three guys all season (Hudson, Hanson and Medlen) and inconsistent work in the field AND 2-3 black holes in the lineup AND no true SB threat AND injuries at every starting position AND lost 2 of their top 3 hitters and 2 starters basically for the season in August AND had last year’s team MVP go completely in the tank and Bobby still had the team in the playoffs (greatest runon sentence ever). Don, PL and the rest of clowns that have derided him over the years need to chew on that.
I would love to see him have one more year with the lineup constructed above.

My other big hope for the offseason is that Heyward gets healthy and gets those kinks out of his swing so he can go back to being the hitter he was earlier in the season.

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Great hire and I am glad Freddie is back with the team. As far as the coaching, I am pretty sure everyone will be back. I don’t quite get the Roger McDowell stuff. He has been a great pitching coach for the Braves and really did well working Lowe and Hanson through their troubles this year. Look at what they were at the end of the season and understand that Roger helped these guys get back on track. Both have given him credit for it too. I will hold judgment on Pendleton until he has a chance to work with Gonzalez. Got to remind ourselves about the talent we had this year was average at best.

Oh and Kudzu – Tony LaRussa had much more talent than Bobby Cox has had in three different places. In Chicago he got one measly AL West pennant. In Oakland he had the best team on paper hands down from 1988 thru 1992 and got one Championship out of it. Now in St. Louis, he has had one the best NL teams this decade and has only one World Championship to show for it and even that was a fluke. This year he had the best pitching staff in the league and couldn’t muster 90 wins. Don’t sell Bobby short, because the Braves ran into some bad luck during the 1991-1996 playoff run.

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Keep Lee and Gonzalez while Freeman and Hicks are coming up to speed. The pitching staff is fine as is. Spend the $$ and outbid the Yankees for Carl Crawford. We need the speed and power in the lead off spot. Write Kawakami a check and give him a plane ticket to Tokyo. They will win 100 games next year

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I like the fact they made this move quickly. This is a message to the players, free agents, and the rest of the league that the Braves believe in how they run the organization and are very comfortable with the people and direction.

This is a roster that needs help, no doubt. We will see more rehab-style rent-a-players in the short term because the farm system isn’t producing everything the team needs, they don’t want to move top pitching prospects, and the purse strings aren’t likely to loosen.

I hope Wren learned a big lesson last year in the Vasquez trade; i.e., when you trade something of value you have to get something of value back. Braves would have been far better off landing a couple of postion player prospects (or even one top prospect), and they STILL need that infusion of youth and speed. And, before you trade for a hitter you need to check the ballpark effect on his stats. The Cabrera performance was EXPECTED, and so was the Gonzalez drop-off (though I think they make that trade regardless).

It will be interesting to see which fading vets get another shot. There are so many.

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LOOK FOR A NEW BENCH COACH,3B COACH. DON’T KNOW ABOUT TP, ROGER AND PEREZ SHOULD STAY. FIRST BASE COACH TOSS UP.

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Misteaks is what some fish has between ther years, er gills, U no what I meen?

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I hope he brings Jim Presley with him as hitting coach.
Jim was a brave in 1990, so that would at least make him eligible to be a Braves coach.

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From what I read he wants to bring some guys in. I hope he replaces TP.
But it is going to be interesting who is on our team next year. Right now we have a lot of holes to fill
We have no left fielder, no center fielder, no third baseman.
Chipper is an unknown and if he plays he cant everyday. He showed this past year that he cant produce the numbers anymore.
The playoffs proved that we have no hitters. We got to go get someone.
free agents: glauss, hinske, infante, jurgens, diaz, melky, ankiel, and more that i cant remember.

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I feel bad for Chino. Jeff, do you think he becomes Director of International/Carribbean Scouting?

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[...] after word leaked that the Braves were going to hire Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager to replace Bobby Cox, speculation began on his coaching staff, most notably [...]

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Fredi is the perfect choice!

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Still reeling from Game 4, but must admit I’m not real happy with choice. I see this as a continuation of the current regime, which frankly, has not delivered. I was really hoping for someone outside the ‘family’ so we can start a new philosphy/style. All that being said, if Freddi is indeed the man, than i’m behind him 100%. Let’s go Braves!!!!!

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I think this is great. They get to things basically the same way but just enough different. I always thought Cox needed to be slightly less loyal or at least make the appropriate changes when people weren’t doing their part (this is in no way directed at Conrad)

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Lets not forget the last guy to get fired from the Marlins and go back to his original team to manage; Joe Girardi. He had a losing, or as Joe Tess would say “loosing”, record as well in his only year… I’d say that hire worked out well for the Yankees

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I agree but it does take some skill to maintain chemistry in a clubhouse full of stars

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i agree Joe. that is true.

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Most managers are only as good as the talent they manage, look up Casey Stengel, genius with the Yankees and a idiot with the early 1962 Mets.

Gonzalez at least knows the players, organization and did well manageing the Marlins against Atlanta. I’m sure he knows what is lacking with this team.

TP ?? thank him for his service as a player & coach, wish him well and help him move on!! I know alot of lost players hurt the offense ( Chipper,Prado & Lee) but for the most part other than Mcann and David Ross nobody hit for average with any power.

The pitching appears fairly solid for a few seasons to come but unless the dead wood on offense is let go and a few decent hitters are aquired not alot will change anytime soon.

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Let’s hope he can help the Braves get Uggla (a free-agent, right?), or some pop and speed from somewhere else.

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Last 3 seasons Gonzalez managed a 205-188. I throw out the first season becasue he had Girardi left overs. Looks pretty good compared to Braves last 3 years. Great hire! Now let’s tweak the team a little bit. Really like the pitching staff that will remain. I also like most of the hitters somewhere on the team. Role players Conrad, Kinske, Infante, & Ross … what a bench!

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Let me guess.He’s another players manager who will also make bonehead matchup decisions in which in the playoffs are useless remedies to other bad decisions. Won’t matter he doesn’t have what it takes or any hall of famers to get him far into the playoffs.Only reason why Braves made it to the World Series is because Glavine,Maddux and Smoltz. Mazzone proved he had nothing to do with their success but if the Braves were to somehow get Mike Maddux as a pitching coach that would help.

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Hopefully this manager won’t put free swingers in the 7th and 8th hole anymore unless they are just not an offensive threat. Hope Braves don’t get any more duds who can’t hit or field . Bring back LaRoche and K.Johnson just don’t waste them down in the order. Those two would be much more valuable than KK and the aging Chipper on the payroll. Braves need a starter that is consistently good. Hudson,Lowe and Hanson are not aces. Braves either need to adopt the LaRussa strategy of Starter and 2 or 3 one innning relievers or get pitchers who can last more than 7 innings. Just don’t be inconsistent with by committee crap.

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No one listens to T.P. and his batting tee. McLouth proved that. Get the AAA hitting coach before you retain T.P.

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Welcome Home Fredi

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Terry Pendleton new 1st coach and in field instructor….Glenn Hubbard and Chino is gone

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TP first base coach and infield instructor…TP get’s promoted by Frank Wren

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Fredi G. is a superb hire. For 40 years I have been following the braves, and in that time, this is the best move a brave’s general manager has ever made. He is bi-lingual, and with his excellent communication with hispanic players, he will make even the current team players, play better. I hope Frank Wren offers Chipper Jones the Hitting Coache’s Job, and make Terry P. Third Base Coach. With 14 millions we save per year for the next two years, we can get 2 great hiiters for the team, to play at First Base and the Left Field.

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nice move wren !! For all these supposedly fans of the braves but everything criticize , diganme who was best for MGR ? VALENTINE ? TORRE ? MACHA ? PENDLETON ? PEREZ ? Please , freddi is the best acquisition that the braves were able to make , , support to this team, which is the pass criticizing everything that this organization makes . IF THEY DON’T LIKE GET OUT !! WE DO NOT NEED OF FANS FOR EVERYTHING IS A CRITICIZES ..

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HEY FREDDI SIGN DON BAYLOR AS THE NEW COACH BATTING AND MATTER RESOLVED

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[...] and rehab from a major knee surgery — he seems more determined than ever to come back and is a big fan of new manager Fredi Gonzalez — means his $13 million salary will remain on the books. Closer Billy Wagner ($7 million) [...]

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[...] Bobby Cox. Gonzalez was an assistant under Cox and the decision was anticipated. Story. Photos. Jeff Schultz thinks it’s a good idea. Mark Bradley disagrees. DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis will appoint William O’Brien as police chief on [...]

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[...] The new Braves’ manager … Fredi Gonzalez? [AJC] [...]

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