Gonzalez keeps Pendleton but not as hitting coach (UPDATED)
Terry Pendleton has been moved from hitting coach to first base and infield coach.
(This is a rewrite of an earlier blog. Last updated at 5:45 p.m.)
New Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez apparently agreed with Braves fans who felt the team needed a new hitting coach. He just didn’t agree with them that Terry Pendleton should be removed altogether.
This morning’s blog on whether Pendleton and pitching coach Roger McDowell should be kept by Bobby Cox’s replacement stirred a lot of emotions. After over 3,000 votes, McDowell was an overwhelming popular choice to be kept as pitching coach (91 percent were in favor), but Pendleton didn’t experience the same popularity. Over 40 percent of respondents wanted him fired, 36 percent wanted him removed as pitching coach but kept on the team in another role and 24 percent voted to keep him in the same capacity.
The middle group won. Gonzalez did not name a new hitting coach Wednesday at his hastily called introductory press conference — which originally was scheduled for Thursday — but he did announce these changes:
♦ Pendleton will be removed as hitting coach but will be retained as first base and infield coach. General manager Frank Wren said: “It was time for a new voice [on hitting]. Terry’s really excited about having more influence in the game.”
♦ McDowell (pitching coach), Eddie Perez (bullpen coach) and Brian Snitker (third base coach) will be retained.
♦ First base coach Glenn Hubbard and bench coach Chino Cadahia will not be kept. Carlos Tosca, who was with Gonzalez in Florida, becomes the new bench coach.
Loading ... Loading ...All in all, the Pendleton move probably was a nice compromise, although I still believe he took way too much heat for the Braves’ hitting problems. Immediately after word leaked that the Braves were going to hire Gonzalez, speculation about Pendleton and McDowell started. Pendleton was a lightning rod every time a player went into a slump or the team struggled offensively. But he never received any credit for the success stories (Martin Prado, Brian McCann, Omar Infante, Jason Heyward, etc.).
Also, most seemed to forget this roster wasn’t exactly stacked with offensive talent.
McDowell has been terrific. Any criticism of him seems to stem from the blind loyalists to former pitching coach Leo Mazzone. The Braves have finished third in the majors in team earned run average in each of the last two seasons. Why replace him?
Gonzalez could’ve kept the entire staff but that never seemed likely. Managers in baseball, like head coaches in football, generally like to bring in some of their own people. A head football coach almost always brings in his own offensive line coach and his own coordinators. That possibly was mitigated somewhat because Gonzalez used to coach with the Braves but changes nonetheless seemed inevitable.
The only other question was whether Pendleton, who may have managing aspirations, wanted out when he didn’t get the top job. But he has long expressed a desire to remain living in Atlanta and obviously wanted to stayed in the organization. It’s also worth noting that he and Gonzalez are friends (as are Gonzalez and McDowell).
There’s your update. I’ll leave the two polls open if y0u still want to vote but at this stage I wouldn’t expect a change in percentages.
So what are your thoughts on the coaching changes?
♦
EARLIER TODAY:
♦ Fredi Gonzalez is Braves’ perfect choice to replace Cox
♦ Challenge of Cox’s replacement will be recreating chemistry
♦
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341 comments Add your comment
Carolina Gent
October 13th, 2010
3:43 pm
Just thought I’d get this over with now, and be the first, so we won’t have to wait until next season to begin with what is certain to occur with this blog….. FIRE FREDI G!!! Oops, think maybe I jumped the gun a bit??
It's a chopper to Chipper.
October 13th, 2010
3:44 pm
Nothing against TP, but I think it is time to move in another direction. They say that coaches are hired to be fired. It seems to me that you are hired to be fired unless your in Atlanta. I honestly believe that if this were any other organization, TP would have been shown the door some time back.
It's a chopper to Chipper.
October 13th, 2010
3:44 pm
Welcome back to the Braves, Freddi!
75years
October 13th, 2010
3:49 pm
Jeff, Please do an article on Snitker and what he brings to the table – He just seems like such a weak sister at 3rd base – Also would like to know as to why Hubbard is not coming back
Kimbrel4Closer
October 13th, 2010
3:51 pm
How awesome it would be if Wren could offer Chipper the hitting coach job so he can retire and save money so the Braves could REALLY improve!
The Other David O'Brien
October 13th, 2010
3:52 pm
REGARDLESS of who the hitting coach is this year, he’s just keeping the seat warm for CHIPPER JONES upon his retirement.
Steve
October 13th, 2010
3:53 pm
TP is not the problem. The problem is Bobby Cox and his old regime (Fredi). It is a fact that Cox only wanted players to go along with what he says which hasn’t produced anything. You need someone the fire up the clubhouse and be a leader. They need some DIVERSITY otherwise they are going to have the same ol losing season. Remember when they won the World Series, what was the common factor? They had a more diverse team. Now all the players are from Dominican Republic and Cobb County….As for Chipper, im glad he is gone!!!
HELP
October 13th, 2010
3:53 pm
Does anyone know where on the web I can watch the Freddi Gonzalez press conference, can’t seem to find it anywhere and mlb network only aired the Bobby Cox portion and cut off
atl65
October 13th, 2010
3:55 pm
Not pleased that Gonzalez is not retaining Hubbard. Strong infielder coach, the players seemed to respect him. I am sure he will make a great manager if given the opportunity. The organization should do everything it can to keep him in the family.
Mitchell
October 13th, 2010
3:57 pm
Terry Pendleton is worthless.
We may not have an Adam Dunn but these guys are still professional hitters and routinely make fools out of themselves up there.
Only in the playoffs would the Braves lose a game like that on Monday.
They blew countless chances to put the game out of reach and had terrible at-bats throughout the series.
Of course, they also were quite good at squandering scoring opportunities during the regular season but with regards to Game 4, Bobby would have figured out how to lose it even if they had added on.
I just can’t believe.
I keep hearing people say it was Bobby’s greatest season.
Great seasons don’t end with Bobby crying in the post-game press conference.
If the season ends with you feeling like your dog just got shot by your girlfriend who just dumped you, and you don’t even have a dog and have never been dumped, it might not be a great season.
Great seasons don’t conclude with another team celebrating on your field.
Oh, but what a classy move by the Giants.
Well what the hell?! They won!
If they lost and still tipped their caps to Bobby, that would be classy.
He’s the reason they’re celebrating.
Chipper's ACL
October 13th, 2010
4:02 pm
So if TP is coaching first there goes all hopes of small ball and stealing bases. I don’t recall Terry being fleet of foot. I had hoped for Collins at first. Guess we’re staying loyal to the Braves family.
I’ll stay neutral on the McDowell deal. If Hanson doesn’t step up in ‘11 and become the next Josh Johnson then I say he gets the axe. The kids too good not be aggressive on the hill. First pitch fastball please. No lollypop curve to fall behind 1-0. That’s a pitching coach issue.
Borodawg
October 13th, 2010
4:05 pm
Obviously not that strong of an infield coach as evidenced by the Braves since the All-star break. That is the single biggest issue I see with the Braves going forward. Braves led the majors in errors since the All-star break, Phillies had the fewest. I think I see a pattern….. Defense must be fixed first then again if you can’t hit worth a crud you can’t make up for errors…
bascogcjs
October 13th, 2010
4:13 pm
Chipper is not going to be the hitting coach when he retires.
He’ll want to spend time with family and hunt.
He’s made too much money to hang around coaching at a much smaller salary.
I’d say he would want to wait at least three years before he would want to commit to a 162 game schedule again.
I would say he would more likely be a spring training instructor for the younger guys for a month or two.
hornblowermg
October 13th, 2010
4:13 pm
somebody needs to teach these professional baseball players the fundamentals of catching the ball and other catchy defensive ideas. several braves come to mind; even McCann needs to learn to slide in front of an errant pitch instead of backhanding it. someone please tell Heyward that if you catch the ball before it hits the ground then it’s an “out”. are professional baseball coaches afraid to mention lack of fundamental expertise to players who should already know better?
Peter
October 13th, 2010
4:13 pm
Fredi did great…………new hitting approach was needed…….If TP moves on then so be it…….keeping Roger was a great idea, and Eddie Perez as well !
Can we find some speed now PLEASE !
NORRIS
October 13th, 2010
4:13 pm
Any word on who that new batting coach is going to be????
Chipper's ACL
October 13th, 2010
4:14 pm
By the way McDowell didn’t help Lowe the past month. Drugs did. Makes a difference when your arm doesn’t hurt. Lowe has also had two of the worst years of his career here. Elbow related? Maybe. When everyone was calling for him to be traded in July, was anyone saying how great McDowell was then? Conditioning is something this pitching staff lacks. Leo may be loose between the ears but pitchers didn’t get hurt when he was coaching. Count how many pitchers have gone on the DL the past three years. I can’t count them all. The common factor? Enough said.
Braves Fan Since "80
October 13th, 2010
4:15 pm
Larvell Blanks …….. I should have been more clear and said in Atlanta about TP’s batting avg….. And for all of you that think the TEXAS hitting coach now in Baltimore is so great? What happened in Baltimore?????? Players do make a Difference!!!!! Who cares about staff…. cry for talent!
WinSomething
October 13th, 2010
4:15 pm
The Cards have Mac, maybe the Braves can get Barry Bonds to be a hitting coach.
Really though, I’m not someone that is screaming for TP to go, but if he does I wont be shocked. If it was up to me, Id give him another year to see what he can do with a healthy team, hopefully. Heyward and Freeman should be studs net year, and Prado, Mac, a healthy Chipper (fingers crossed while knocking on wood…), that could be a pretty solid foundation. When people were healthy this season, they hit well. TP cant be blamed for half of the lineup going down. Other things in years past, maybe he can…
John Galt
October 13th, 2010
4:17 pm
He kept the wrong former Braves infielder- (Hubbard should stay).
Chipper should hang it up and be the hitting coach.
Braves Fan Since "80
October 13th, 2010
4:22 pm
Ned Yost was a first base coach before he was a third base coach and a bull pen coach before that….
Hubbard was the infield coach…..bad defense was worse than pitching
Najeh Davenpoop
October 13th, 2010
4:22 pm
“First off, I am really getting tired of hearing how great Leo was. Leo was not, but Maddux, Glavine and Smotz were. What did Leo do when he got a rookie not good like Maddux, Glavine or Smoltz? Well he traded them off. He bombed big time when he left here and the sports world knows it. Leo was lucky and thats it. ”
It’s not Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz that make Leo Mazzone great. It’s Denny Neagle, Damian Moss, John Burkett, Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, and the countless other pitchers who either had the best years of their career as a Brave, revived their careers as a Brave, or both.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 13th, 2010
4:23 pm
Off subject
the new Uga VIII’s real name is Big Bad Bruce! Hahahahahahaaha
What a Gay Porn Star name they gave this dawg.
rico
October 13th, 2010
4:23 pm
I think that Fredi made a good decision moving TP to first base coach and it is hard to argue with him keeping Mcdowell as pitching coach but I was hoping he would bring back rockin LEO!!
chrismc44
October 13th, 2010
4:24 pm
Why was Hubbard let go?? didnt think he did a bad job at all and has been a loyal member of the team and player….
Braves Fan Since "80
October 13th, 2010
4:24 pm
What does eddie Perez do besides interpet…. really now? Remember the guy before him……..
MM
October 13th, 2010
4:30 pm
I cannot fully evaluate Terry Pendleton as a good hitting coach because I’m not around in BP, in the clubhouse, or on the road to watch his interaction with the players.
All the loudmouths who pretend to be experts on TP’s relationship with the players aren’t there either, and their opinions are as uninformed as mine would be.
And the results on the field, especially given the Braves limited payroll/offensive talent in the last few years, have actually been quite good.
I don’t know how so many people can be so angry at someone they’ve never met. You should all move to Philadelphia or New York, where such ignorance and lack of class is the norm.
Jay
October 13th, 2010
4:31 pm
TP in his tenure as batting coach has average 12th in the league in team batting average over ten years. His worst was 20th his first year and best was 2nd in his third year. This year he is 14th and only 2 points behind the Phillies in team avg. who may very well win the world series. The comments here condemning TP are insane. There are 30 teams in the MLB averaging 12th in your tenure is above average to say the least. Its not like we are stacked with batting title contenders year in and year out.
Joe Tess Fish House
October 13th, 2010
4:33 pm
BOOOOOOO!!!!! Hiring a guy with a loosing record is dum!
Taylor Hanson
October 13th, 2010
4:34 pm
Losing has one “o”. Why can’t people retain that?
Sorry to see Hubbard go. Been with the club a long time. Always a good soldier.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
October 13th, 2010
4:35 pm
Looking at the available FA talent, I realize that the Bravos will have to get more athletic in the infield and OF. the Bravos have a lot of haeavy-legged players that can’t bunt or go 1st to 3rd. They also have error prone players up the middle with shot arms.
To that end a combo of Bartlett or Punto and Cantu would be great. Bartlett plays the OF, SS, 2B and is contact/but guy that you can plug into any part of the lineup.
Punto is light hitting but can pick it as well as anybody and runs really well.
Cantu plays both corner spots and hits well, he could play againt lefties for Freddie and spell Chipper on his injured knee, plus he has RH power.
I would move Brooksy to OF and ask him to play winter ball in the D.R. or Mexico to learn the position and get rid of Diaz. Brooksy is a switchy and that makes him more valuable than Matt in my opinion.
I would not keep Glaus, Mclouth, Diaz, Gonzo,. For a cash strapped organization, I think you have to let go of swing and miss guys and Gonzo and Nate are those guys. They have options and you let them go.
Resign Hinske and keep Ankiel. Allow a better hitting coach to work with him.
jim bo
October 13th, 2010
4:36 pm
Freddie Made His First Bad Decion By Not Firing Terry Pendleton
Joe Tess Fish House
October 13th, 2010
4:38 pm
Why did they let Hubbard go?
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
October 13th, 2010
4:41 pm
Bartlett is contact/bunt
BravesAllTheWay
October 13th, 2010
4:41 pm
Brawler, I think they should keep Ankiel too. I’d like to see what he can do if he can stay healthy and have a chance to play all year.
Matt
October 13th, 2010
4:42 pm
Two Words: Derek Shelton
He is the Rays’ hitting coach currently. With the mass exodus that could easily be occuring in Tampa this winter, Derek might be looking to make a move. A baseball publication (forgot which one) labled him the “Top Offensive Specialist You’ve Never Heard Of.”
richbrave
October 13th, 2010
4:44 pm
Using HEYWARD as a barometer, I can’t say for sure. But the overall hitting has been poor the past few years so maybe a change is in order there.
HEYWARD’s strength was supposed to be recognizing pitches and knowing the strike zone. A bit too patient early on, BOBBY got on him and he started hitting a ton. Then he got hurt, and hasn’t really been good since. The last game, BC took the monkey off his back by batting him sixth, and he responded very well. So, not knowing the individual or seeing him everyday, I really am torn as to the coaching of the young man. I mean, was his poor performance at the plate a product of faulty coaching, or pressure he put on himself to succeed once he healed somewhat? I can’t say without first-hand knowledge. In fact, you MR. SCHULTZ probably have a far better idea than I.
jfreak13713
October 13th, 2010
4:45 pm
McDowell yes but Pendelton No. Nothing aginst Pendelton because it wouldn’t break my heart if he remained but I think some new blood is in order if this team wants to get better. Its not that Pendelton did a bad job its just that some of the players need to get to the next level and MAYBE another approach will help? Of course, maybe not?
chas
October 13th, 2010
4:46 pm
tp is an egotistical type that thinks he knows it all. if he stays with the braves, he will interfere with any hitting coach.
chas
October 13th, 2010
4:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Drez
October 13th, 2010
4:47 pm
There are some dumb SOB’s on this blog!! If the Braves don’t hit with a lineup of career .250 hitters, it’s TP’s fault. Now that he’s the 1st base coach, I’m sure it’ll be his fault every time someone gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd base. If a Brave is called out at 1st base on a close call, that will be TP’s fault too. I’m amazed that people expects TP to turn Conrad, Gonzalez, McLouth, Ankiel into batting title contenders. Look at the Braves hitters batting average throughout their career, and compare it to their averages as Braves. You can’t get blood from a turnip.Garbage in garbage out!!! One has to wonder why so much hate is directed at the only coach of color in this organization.
DrewDawg
October 13th, 2010
4:49 pm
Hopefully he’ll make some coaching changes in the farm system, too…
Joe Tess Fish House
October 13th, 2010
4:51 pm
I agree. TP need 2 go. the hitting was aweful
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
October 13th, 2010
4:51 pm
I like TP and Hubby both, but I am willing to let Fredi do what he needs to do. Fact of the matter is Chino and Hubby were Bobby’s guys and they probably want to spend more time with their families. If they want to stay with the club, Wren will find a place for them.
Chino is a heck of a coach and manipulates the lineup better than Bobby does sometimes. Pat Corrales maybe coming back as well. Freddy and Pat are really close!
Chip Shot
October 13th, 2010
4:52 pm
Whos ready to see Murph back?
Matt
October 13th, 2010
4:53 pm
To Drez: Sweet Lord, Drez. Race Card, Race Card, Race Card. Thats all you ever hear anymore! It has NOTHING to do with race! It has to do with the fact that the Braves haven’t hit in years. Its the fact that Bobby was loyal to his old players and wasn’t going to reccomend a firing. TP is not an instructor. He’s a showboat. You need a guy who can work with young kid’s fundamentals. TP never did this. Get off your race card soapbox and think logically. Stop blaming race everytime someone of color gets fired. Thats ridiculous.
Drez
October 13th, 2010
4:54 pm
CHAS…”tp is an egotistical type that thinks he knows it all. if he stays with the braves, he will interfere with any hitting coach.”
Chas, have you met Terry Pendleton? Have you spent time in the dugout to make this assumption? Or are you just talking out of your A**?
Resign or Resign?
October 13th, 2010
4:55 pm
Drez;
Duh! You wouldn’t call Eddie Perez a “coach of color”?
Vino Fino
October 13th, 2010
4:55 pm
Brooklyn Braves-
Nice of you to be willing to let Fredi do what he needs to do.
Also, Chino has never manipulated the line-up on his own. Everyone knows that a manager being ejected is nothing more than a symbolic gesture. He’s usually right down the tunnel and he’s always still calling the shots.
richbrave
October 13th, 2010
4:55 pm
“………..I would not keep Glaus, Mclouth, Diaz, Gonzo,. For a cash strapped organization, I think you have to let go of swing and miss guys and Gonzo and Nate are those guys. They have options and you let them go.
Resign Hinske and keep Ankiel……….” BROOKLYN BRAWLER
I would love to have MATT D, but I just think his contract prohibitive of that possibility.
I think you have too many pressing line-up and infield stability issues to let GONZO go in 2011. After, O.K.
I would absolutely love HINSKE back, four pinch hit HR’s this season and a 310+ average off the bench is too good.
McLOUTH is under contract for 2011 so we will have to keep him. No one will want him at 7 mill this season unless FRANK WREN walks on water.
I would like ANKIEL as a fifth outfielder, but I think you’ve got to give MATT YOUNG (GWINNETT) or WILLIE CABRERA (MISSISSIPPI) a chance here, and/or SCHAFER IF he gets anything going at the plate.