Braves collapse, and the shine just came off Fredi Gonzalez
Fredi Gonzalez watched as the Braves blew an 8½-game wild-card lead in 23 days. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Fredi Gonzalez was quietly handed the Braves’ managerial job before Bobby Cox ever stepped out the door in a wink-wink, nudge-nudge deal, and nobody really had a problem with it.
He had the resume and the personality. Everybody liked and respected him. He knew the players, the organization and the city. The Braves weren’t making over the manager’s office as much as they were changing a light bulb.
Something went wrong.
This is not a “Fire Fredi Gonzalez” column. But we’ve just witnessed one of the worst collapses in sports history, and the Braves can’t just assume that a few roster tweaks are going to fix the problem. When a team goes 10-20 down the stretch — including 0-9 against their two biggest competitors (Philadelphia and St. Louis) — and loses three consecutive series to the division’s flotsam (Mets, Marlins, Nationals), this isn’t about just injuries or a few guys going into a slump.
The vibe was missing this season. That’s on Gonzalez. The team fell apart when it needed to come together, blowing an 8½-game lead in 23 days. That’s on Gonzalez. The Braves seemed tight and meek and borderline frightened, as if waiting, hoping, white-knuckle-praying for a playoff spot to just fall into their lap. They didn’t just take it, and didn’t play like they felt they deserved it.
That’s certainly on Gonzalez. The shine just came off the perfect replacement.
I understand this isn’t football. Managers make in-game decisions, but they aren’t calling plays. They change the lineup and the batting order. Gonzalez did that. He pulled Chipper Jones out of the No. 3 spot. He benched Jason Heyward.
Ultimately, the question is whether a manager is making a team better, making it believe. The Braves clearly weren’t, therefore Gonzalez clearly didn’t.
Even with injuries, this was twice the team that reached the postseason last year and lost three one-run games to the eventual World Series champions in San Francisco.
Gonzalez doesn’t need to go. But he needs to change. Or maybe someone. Gonzalez said Thursday that all of his coaches are coming back. But for all the screams from the cheap seats about former hitting coach Terry Pendleton, his replacement, Larry Parrish, didn’t bring anything to the table.
Maybe Gonzalez just needs to change himself. Maybe he came in and, consciously or subconsciously, didn’t want to disrupt things too much in the first season after Bobby Cox retired. It was such a feel-good season last year, that would be understandable. But if that was the strategy, it backfired.
When asked about the collapse following Wednesday’s final loss, Chipper Jones said, “It’s cruel, because probably nobody in Atlanta sports is probably under as much scrutiny as he is filling in for Bobby Cox. To have it slip away in late September, it’s cruel. It’s really cruel. It’s not indicative of the way this team played, the way he managed, and what we deserved in this situation.”
Not sure about the “deserved” part of that quote. The Braves just played 162 games. That’s enough time.
They blew it. They blew it like no team in Atlanta sports history. That blew it like few teams in all of sports history. The only people who aren’t saying today that they blew it live in Boston — because they have their own problems.
What just happened is mind-numbing. But even before the collapse, the Braves seemed to have chemistry issues. They never quite came together like most anticipated. This was a team that figured to challenge Philadelphia in the National League East and possibly for a World Series.
There aren’t a lot of tangible things we can pin on Gonzalez. He certainly stuck with Derek Lowe too long, and the decision to start him Tuesday over rookie Julio Teheran blew up in the manager’s face. He made the bold decision to go with Jose Constanza over the struggling Heyward in right field for several starts, which seemed to ignite the lineup. But then he switched back to Heyward, who is the better player, but still seemed to be a mess.
But it never should have come down to that decision, or to a few starts by Lowe. When a team goes 10-20 to close the season and gets swept at home in the last three games, the issues are bigger than that.
Implosions like this are on the manager. He didn’t make the team better. The Braves underachieved. And Gonzalez just lost the benefit of the doubt.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
845 comments Add your comment
AB*Nation
September 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
Loboloser ,,good to hear your not in Atlanta anymore. We have all admired your defending this meltdown and know that you take a lot of pride in just taking it like Fredi does… “it is what it is” and that your “proud of everything this team accomplished”. Jeff had the guts, which no beatwriter from the AJC would, to say what he thinks ..and he was not off the mark. Why don’t you actually say something with any substance when you yourself come on here ,,,Cry-bot Whining at those who hurt your feelings. Maybe if you actually wrote something in defense of Fredi and the Braves that showed us why we’re all wrong in questioning this hostoric collapse ,, then you could actually earn some respect, instead of just showing up with your feelings hurt wondering why any of us should be upset.
The Red Birds
September 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
The Phillies: We hunted down the Braves, now we are coming after you.
The Red Birds
September 29th, 2011
4:27 pm
Hunted down the Braves and scalped them.
Jo Jo
September 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Exactly, MR. It’s the culture here… just be happy with what you had again! Don’t be mean spirited and come down on the team… they tried hard to win. Why, we down here in the south aren’t mean to decent folks like you Yankees are. You Yanks demand results and aren’t happy hearing your players say “we tried”. You have to hear your owner or manager come clean and say “it’s the world series or failure! Why that’s just downraaaght silly. We here in the south have manners!!
- Furman Bishop
The Braves
September 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Sure are glad we were able to keep our tee times and not have to get on the stupid plane to St. Louis.
superiorblogman
September 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
Fire Freddie or this team will continue to be more torn apart. Freddie just puts a bad vibe to me. He ran his whole campaign on history now look at his history. This did not just happen. There is a reason behind why someone ran there whole season on something that eventually blew up in there face. It is to show them the eras of there ways. Fredi needs to go IMO, but if he doesn’t I agree he needs to change and learn how to manage on feel more.
Bright Side
September 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
Look at the Bright-Side of the Brave’s Collapse……….at least it wasn’t as bad as the Beantown Blowers!
ringo
September 29th, 2011
4:39 pm
Fire Fredi and Wren!!!!!!!!!!
Braves need manager make over.Someone not out of Bobby Cox clone mold..new life, new attitude.. abc ball….
But we all know Braves will not do a damn thing….stuck in the past!
ringo
September 29th, 2011
4:41 pm
There is no bright -side..Losing is losing…It takes effort and heart to be a winner and Braves don’t have that.
ab initio
September 29th, 2011
4:41 pm
Did anyone see Fredi’s face in the dugout when the cameras were on him during the game? He was mortified as the rest of us at this team’s inability to hit and move runners over, and get rbi’s when needed in that game that we had to win.
How many double plays did these losers ground into again?
If this were a big market team, such as New York, the front office would be razed. It needs to be razed, for all the right reasons. If the ownership doesn’t, then, to hell with them, and to hell with the Braves’ management. It isn’t worth paying DirecTV to watch this sorry baseball team, and the excuses all season long, by management and Fredi, for AA talent at a MLB level.
Fix it, or forget it.
Packer Ed
September 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
I am a Packer fan and a Brave fan. Packers won the Super Bowl last year and Minnesota did not win the Super Bowl because the Packers General Manager said good bye to old man Favre and the Vikings picked up Favre.
If I were the General manager of the Braves I would let Lowe and Chipper Jones go to other teams if they did not want to retire.
Trade Hanson and JJ, they will be gone in two years anyway for a shortstop and another outfielder.
Move Prado to third, Heyward in right, Bourne in Center and Cosstanza in left field.
Starting rotation would be Hudson, Del Gado, Minor, Medlin and Tehran. I would even trade Hudson and keep either Hanson or JJ to get Reyes as we need a shortstop. Bold moves, Bold moves!
ringo
September 29th, 2011
4:46 pm
I’m been a fan since 1966 and all these years Brave player and mangement has never acted like they give a damn..esp what the fans want. I was a season ticket holder for 8 years with Miss Pearl and thats the reason I gave up my tickets. I was right there with Walter but the good ole boy crap sucks.
davidputty
September 29th, 2011
4:47 pm
People are making too much of this. The Braves “collapsed” and finished with the fifth best record in the league instead of the fourth best. The wild card creates a culture that some teams are better than they really are. Missing out on the wild card means you did not get a consolation prize–a trip to the playoffs that you really don’t deserve because you didn’t really win anything. This does not compare to the 1964 Phillies collapse, losing a 6.5-game lead with 12 to go. That collapse cost them a trip to the World Series.
fred
September 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
fredi needs to go..period
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
Cox looks like Einstien compared to this Joke Manager Fredi..
Delta is ready for ya sorry butt!!
Fredi is way over his head! Did not handle his pitchers or hitters right! CLUELESS this dude is!!!!!!!!!!!!
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
4:51 pm
Einstein^^^^^
Scott Case
September 29th, 2011
4:52 pm
Well said Shultz. Good job -
Rackit
September 29th, 2011
4:52 pm
There has to be some accountability and firings after this. If it were any other team, there would be leadership/personnel changes for next year – I am sure Boston is going to get rid of a few people.
Big Wally
September 29th, 2011
4:52 pm
It’s not Fredi’cats fault. He simply isn’t cut out to be a big time Mgr. He is more suited for a Pittsburgh, Kansas City type team (i.e. teams that won’t be in playoff runs). The true fool is Wren who hired him.
Jason K-ward
September 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
Seasons over? I thought we had another week.
Razz
September 29th, 2011
4:55 pm
Would somebody please tell Leo Mazzoni to shut up with his constant blowing of sunshine up everyone’s a$$es?
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
4:58 pm
“I was right there with Walter but the good ole boy crap sucks.”
It may have worked in circa 1955,
But not today nit wits(Braves)!
The meltdowns will continue..Fredi, his staff, and the tobacco chewing deer hunter choke mister are all returning next season to beat the Boston Epic meltdown!
Hey Jason get with David Justice this off season. Super clutch left handed hitter like you want to become under pressure!
Razz
September 29th, 2011
4:58 pm
Would someone tell Leo Mazzoni to shut up with his constant blowing of sunshine up everybody’s butt?
vesaversa
September 29th, 2011
5:00 pm
The fans would probably agree that Gonzales deserve another chance as manager .But to see the same cast of coaches back would be and outrage . Heads have to roll for this or the Braves could start seeing many empty seats next season.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
5:03 pm
David Justice= Super clutch power hitter under pressure..
If Chipper was@ the plate in the 6th inning in game 6 of the 95 World Series instead Justice, he would have flyed out or struck out…Another lost World Series!
But David was at the plate and ya’ll know the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dean
September 29th, 2011
5:03 pm
Losing out on the playoffs this year does not even come close to the devastation felt by Atlanta Falcons fans who witnessed the 1980 Divisional playoff loss to Dallas. Not even close.
In an attempt to end on a cheery note:
My personal ATL Top 5 Sporting “Highs” , since 1966:
1) Francisco Cabrera’s hit in the 1992 NLCS (”The cruelest hit in baseball history.” Sports Illustrated)
2) Braves win the 1995 WS
3) Viking FG kicker misses chip shot FG in the NFC Championship game
4) Falcons win the NFC Championship in OT
5) Falcon win their first home playoff game, in the waning minutes, against Philadelphia
fred
September 29th, 2011
5:06 pm
I will not go back till Coaching staff changes.
nique
September 29th, 2011
5:07 pm
Can’t imagine this ever happening under a great manager/coach in any sport, although wouldn’t Francona be considered a great manager/coach? Nonetheless, I’m not a Fredi apologist and certainly don’t believe that the Sox blowing it should help our view of Fredi.
Lowe should retire and Larry Parrish should be replaced. Otherwise keep things the same, and we should improve next season.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
5:10 pm
Same results with DEER IN HEADLIGHTS managing next season along with his staff!
Its called insanity!
Dawg Whisperer
September 29th, 2011
5:11 pm
I agree, Jeff, concerning your comments with regards to Gonzalez but ultimatley responsibility goes to the top and that’s ownership. Until the Braves have a payroll that is relatively competitive with the best and an involved ownership, I don’t see the Braves vying for championships.
You've got to be kidding
September 29th, 2011
5:14 pm
Fire Fredi and replace him with whom?? Bobby hand picked dude. What else did you expect out of him. Same results Bobby got over the years. Like begats like. Last time we saw Bobby you all had him on your shoulders carrying him up to Cooperstown. All that talent over the years and one ring to show for it. Same management style, same results. No one had an issue with Bobby not winning in the playoffs (Cubs, Mets, Phils etc.) as long as you got to see your precious Chipper go out and hit a few homers and speaking of which before you put him on your shoulders and carry him to Cooperstown when is someon going to ask the question, when is the last time Larry came up big when it mattered? I’m old school. Infielders may hit, outfielders MUST hit. No production from your corners. That’s LF and RF for those trying to keep up. Best move Wren made was going out and getting M. Bourne, a true playmaker!! Not that cast off from Pittsburg they tried to pawn off as a legitimate big league CF. Oh and you went out and paid Uggla like he was going to go off like Ryne Sandberg and look what you got. That little sorry one hand swing fell off in September too. Big Mac gave you little this year also. Now I’m hearing get rid of Lowe? You should’ve dumped him when he caught the DUI earlier in the season. But no, you all were too busy worried about what Vick was making. This is why Atlanta can’t be taken serious on the sports landscape. Fans don’t have a clue!!!
Dawg Whisperer
September 29th, 2011
5:17 pm
I might add that I can’t imagine that the Braves under Cox would have experienced the same result. Maybe, Fredi will grow from this debacle. We can only hope.
R. Stroz
September 29th, 2011
5:18 pm
Reminds me of the second half meltdown on January 4, 1981 when the Falcons gave up a 24 to 10 lead to the Dallas Cowboys and lost 30 to 27.
I remember, I was there.
Jim
September 29th, 2011
5:22 pm
The Braves did not collapse in Sep-they had the same problems all year long then the injuries to Tommy and Jurrgens magnified the absence of hitting. With Prado and McCann slumping after injuries this team had no chance. Philly, Wash and AZ put on a clinic of how to play the game and how to hit for runs, not just HRs. Braves hitters for the most part lack discipline at the plate an seem to have no idea how to adjust to what a pitcher is giving them. Additionally they really seem to not understand the concept of moving runners over when on base-pretty fundatmental stuff. I agree there is too much $ tied up in Chipper, Prado and Lowe but not being a GM not sure what can be done, hopefully Frank will come up with some ideas.
Denver Braves
September 29th, 2011
5:25 pm
I dont think it can all be put on Freddi G. Some things do need to change. Noting on previous comments, Heyward should play winter ball- he needs more experience. I want Chipper around for one more, but he needs to take it easy, not play every day, and possibly be an assistant hitting coach/ assistant to Freddi G. Lowe is a mess, if he cant produce in the first half of the season he needs to be sent to AAA or just dropped. Braves have a very promising pitching staff coming in the next few years if not next year, I like what someone said about trying to trade for Kemp, or maybe another big name/ producing outfielder or SS or 3B, (KEMP, TULOWITSKI, Carlos Gonzalez) -I’m from Denver, but as we all know this is unlikely to happen, leading to the next and main point that has been mentioned before, there is a total lack of fire under this team’s @$$, and it seems accepted in the organization. Hudson is great because he seems like he cares, as do the young guys- freeman, venters, kimbrel, but that mood has to change, someone needs to be totally pissed off, stay classy but be unhappy about it please, at least for the fans,
also what is wrong w/ fans in atlana? the rockies suck and we got tons more fans at games here. that has to change big time, management needs to go out and get the fans excited, get a big name in there- we need some bigger bats anyways.
well better luck next season to a team i’ll always love, i guess its time to root for the Rays.
and start going to games those of you who live in atlanta
Ralph Turner
September 29th, 2011
5:31 pm
Fredi Gonzalez is terrible, never seen a manager change line-up as much as he did going down the stretch. Glad Chipper is coming back we need him.
jpc
September 29th, 2011
5:34 pm
Thanks for the article, Jeff, that exploded into this great dialogue, though much of it is over the top with shooting from the hip because we lost. Right, blame is seldom effective.
What is our VISION (full stadium, world series champs, best team in the nation); our CONTRADICTIONS (inconsistent hitting, above average injuries, little money [unless you go with "Moneyball" scheme], skewed basic training [poor bunting by too many], timid-set-unimaginative leadership); our STRATEGIES (small offense [on, around, in], pitching into the 7th, tough love); IMPLEMENTATION (new management configuration with authentic player input around the table, new owner, new leadership [e.g., hitting coach, pitching coach], see “Moneyball” and reflect deeply on that scheme of stats and that kind of hard accountability and real absolution).
Anyway, we love the Braves tradition, which does not mean we love the way we’re going now. We can figure it out if the leadership will get some real strategic-thinking help, do what it takes to win, and show some balls.
(Oh, and no more Kawakami- and Lowe-type transactions, please — and maybe Chipper is too tied to the way it used to be that he can’t see the future or maybe he’s not physically able to continue as a player.)
Again, we love the Braves. Go Braves. Kick ass. We can’t stand these shortened seasons.
Ramboorider
September 29th, 2011
5:38 pm
Just for the record, I saw perfect angle replay today that showed Bourne was out on that steal. He clearly beat the tag, but then he came completely off the bag when he popped up from his slide and the tag was still on him. And the ump didn’t punch him out until he was up off the bag. In case this makes anybody feel any better that at least the Braves didn’t lose on a bad call. I’m a Philly guy and thought it was a terrible call when I saw it last night, but this replay couldn’t have been more clear. The ump got it right.
nelson
September 29th, 2011
5:39 pm
I would tell wren who can do things better, has elite pitchers, because goodbye to lowe you make a change for him, but do not want it in Atlanta, Freddie need a new hitting coach a new pitching coach Leo mazonee would be the perfect man chipper thanks, but look for a 3rd baseman, two elite pitchers and an outfielder, goodbye to lowe, chipper, gonzales, parrish, McDowell, Martin move to ss, and make things better for next year, we are tired of see the same thing every year in Atlanta, I am a fan for 20 years, and never in my life had I seen a team as bad as this, in itself is a shame that we win the division phillies but my respect for them ok? because they have spent on players and this is a franchise that if you live by their fans, just the opposite in Atlanta, look at Tampa Bay players left elites and yet are in the playoffs dethroning the Red Sox, if the Braves had taken the number of players who lost the mgr Maddon, the Braves had finished last in the division, why? because they have no heart, and that valuable chipper and all his words alone drive a career, after he did but nothing there, my friends pc I’m fine as I am frustrated and very tired of seeing always the same, very tired
Bro
September 29th, 2011
5:40 pm
Managers are for the business office. Baseball is a war and requires that the leader command and not manage. The manager, and I hate that word, in baseball has got to be in charge of the team and make those decisions that may piss off the so called elite veteran. He has got to be able to sit an injured play who is not 100% and who’s performance is hurting the team. The key work here is TEAM. Gibson only had one bat and it was a good one, but he did not play every inning just because he was a star. Sometimes new is better. The hard part is not always in realizing this, but in making the decision to make the necessary change–benching a player be he veteran or rookie. Being called a players manager may not be that great–being a team first manager works more often than not.
Giving Up On This Franchise
September 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
Parrish is coming back? The Braves will not get one penny from me until I see they are serious about winning. Good luck in 2012 losers.
Ekim
September 29th, 2011
5:42 pm
Wow, “fans” demanding accountability! Blood! Heads must roll! This isn’t an oppressive government that’s committing human rights abuses, for God’s sake. This is Major League Baseball, a very valuable entertainment franchise. Those of you with season tickets and sponsorship arrangements with the team, go ahead and have your say — but convey your hostility directly to the team. The rest of you, quit whining. You are not OWED anything.
George Feldman
September 29th, 2011
5:43 pm
Fredi might have felt a little intimidated in following a Hall of Fame manager with All Stars on the team. For example Lowe had a great late season performance last year but was terrible this year and should have been put on mop up duty. McCann fell off badly after mid=season and Ross should have played more. Prado never really got his bat going after his injury and was a double play problem in the 2 slot. And what happened to Constanza?
Fredi needs to be his own man and not be intimidated by the past!
Bro
September 29th, 2011
5:44 pm
Hanson and JJ are great trade bait. They are not great pitchers. Check out their overall records and their history of injuries. Consistency, when it is on the good side, is the only true measure of a pitcher. Hudson is consistent. Hansen and JJ are not and never will be. Just average pitchers and that is all.
braves_fan_4life
September 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
I’d give Frank Wren an B for GM this year. Getting Bourn was an incredible before-the-deadline move. I do wish he would’ve traded Mike Minor for either Pence or Quentin like was rumored. Prado proved to be a terrible LF.
I’d give Fredi Gonzalez a D for manager this year. Our team was playing the best baseball of the year with Constanza in the lineup. I think we got Bourn/Constanza one/two in the lineup one time this year. It would’ve been great to see the two speedsters at the top of the lineup more often. He also ran our best relievers into the ground over the year. 86 appearances for Venters!?! Errors like pitching to Pence last night with the game on the line last night happened all year long. Finally, Fredi inspires no one. I wish we were getting Ozzie Guillen or had someone like Joe Madden. The team needs inspiration, not “It is what it is” and “Tip of the cap” night after night.
Shakey
September 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
@jim: “The Braves did not collapse in Sep”
Well yeah, Jim, they did. Their record was 9-18 in September. You know that old Baseball adage that goes “The best teams are going to lose a third of their games. The worst teams are going to win a third of their games. It’s what you do with that last third that determines your position?”
Well, in the month of September the Braves lost ALL of those games.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
6:10 pm
Fredi is wimp and thats why his team was punked..
rob
September 29th, 2011
6:10 pm
screw you Jeff……….this team was built for the playoffs….among injuries and slumps this team pushed it to the final game…be it not what we all assumed but in baseball you cant assume…everyday is different and the braves just hit a wall in september and could not re-group….pick up or drop some pieces and move on to next season….you can take your article and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 29th, 2011
6:17 pm
Bring Fredi back the South loves tradition…..lol
alexcox
September 29th, 2011
6:22 pm
a