It won’t be easy for Braves to turn fans back into believers
Fredi Gonzalez and Frank Wren have a lot of damage to overcome. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
This has been, as a general rule, a pro sports market of misery and hangovers, not celebrations and … well, hangovers.
The Falcons lost an NFL playoff game in 1980, and it evolved into some perceived mutant voodoo curse for the next two decades. The Hawks last won an NBA title in an era of canvas high tops (1957-58), and when they were based in St. Louis. The NHL – two teams, come and gone (the first winning a Stanley Cup after it moved to Calgary).
Even when the Braves’ lone World Series title in 1995 is referenced, it’s usually with some verbal slap about 13 other Octobers when the team fell flat, fell short or outright imploded (1996 vs. the Yankees)?
It’s for that reason that Fredi Gonzalez, Frank Wren, Terence McGuirk and the corporate weasel owner behind the curtain should be aware of something: This city-wide vitriol that they’re hearing, seeing and feeling in the aftermath of a late-season self-immolation is going to linger for a while.
Through the winter. Through the spring. Probably even through next September, because we’ve learned not to make assumptions with 8½-game leads.
Martin Prado's batting average dropped from .307 to .260 this season. (Curtis Compton)
In 22 years of living in Atlanta, I’ve witnessed the area’s sports fans being sad, distraught, shocked, confused, frustrated and numb. But I can’t ever remember this level of anger directed at a team, at least not outside of Athens, where it can be a weekly occurrence. (Eugene Robinson submarined the Falcons at the Super Bowl with a late-night mission of lust, but nobody could blame the team for that.)
By unraveling in the season’s final weeks, the Braves just firebombed much of their audience. It took five years to get people excited again in 2010, and that has been undone. Few will listen now to grand proclamations about this team contending for titles, until it actually does. Certainly, nobody will assume greatness of Fredi Gonzalez, at least until he can exorcise memories of a 9-18 September.
This is not an-easy-to-please sports town — not because fans have been spoiled, but because they’ve been conditioned to assume the worst.
In theory, the Braves should still be a strong playoff contender next season. But in theory, they had a playoff team this season (yes, even after injuries).
Fair or unfair, almost every assumption we made about this team now seem off. Dan Uggla, a career .263 hitter in Florida and .287 in his last season, came to Atlanta, signed a $61 million contract and needed every bit of it for therapy. He hit .233, and that, folks, was close to the high-water mark. So now we must wonder: Was he a great player on a bad team and in an invisible market who can’t take the pressure on a bigger stage?
Jason Heyward hit .227, 50 points lower than his rookie season, lost his swing after injuries and then lost his starting job. So we ask: Was 2010 an aberration, the scouting reports bunk?
Martin Prado’s average dropped from .307 to .260, he had the second-worst on-base percentage (.302) among regular position players on the roster, and he scored 34 fewer runs (66) than a year ago. Alex Gonzalez, the only player with a lower on-base percentage, hit .241, far below the shortstop he was acquired for, Yunel Escobar (.290), who also happens to be six years younger. Brian McCann, a perennial All-Star, faded late for the second consecutive season despite a new offseason workout plan.
Gonzalez? He was manager of the year with the Marlins three years ago. But is getting a cheap, young team to overachieve with 84 wins his strength?
All of this might seem unfair. But it’s not like most of this bunch has a long resume. The burden of proof is on them.
The Braves built up a lot of good will in 2010. They made the playoffs after a four-year absence and a season filled with an almost cartoon-like string of injuries. They were fun to watch, simply because they never stopped playing hard, even when X-rays, MRIs and logic told them the year was over. They lost in the playoffs, but it seemed acceptable because those box scores included the names Melky Cabrera, Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel, Nate McLouth, Brooks Conrad, Diory Hernandez and Kyle Farnsworth.
There was momentum coming into 2011. There won’t be momentum going into 2012. Or assumptions. It’s going to take a while before people believe again.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Last 3 Braves blogs:
– Braves reverse field, make right call firing Larry Parrish
– Braves collapse, and the shine just came off of Fredi Gonzalez
– Poll time: Who should get most blame for Braves’ collapse?
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
302 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly D
October 1st, 2011
11:41 pm
They need to think about how much the city of Chicago gets behind the Cubs and they haven’t won a World Series since 1908 and the Braves fans think they are frustrated?
Go to the Cubs website and read their blog posts sometime. The people over there are not happy and their attendence was down this year.
Barry
October 2nd, 2011
12:00 am
Play Constanza instead of Heyward and we make the playoffs.
Mr Charlie
October 2nd, 2011
12:00 am
Two words…Bobby Cox. As we learned this year, it just ain’t that easy.
Justafan
October 2nd, 2011
12:35 am
Sense when did 1 WS for 15 years make you a great Manager? Damn Glad BC is gone and will not return till Fredi’s a@@ is gone. Its time to get out of the BC CLONE AGE!
Hire a damn good winner..Francona 2 WS in 6 years 5 Division Chanpionships..The man is good and Red’s will regret TiTo resigning. He was not fired, he told them it was best he leave.
Fire Fredi..He has killed the fans base.
Billy
October 2nd, 2011
12:39 am
Agree Barry, he would have made up at least one or more wins.
the truth...
October 2nd, 2011
12:41 am
Bottom line……come Spring of 2012 all of real fans will be ready for baseball again…..hot stove league will be behind us and we’ll all be ready for baseball again….
Wren will work all winter to reshape the team to make it a more marketable group and attempt to overcome the Lowe and Kawakami and McLouth deals….
The Parish firing shows that Fredi is on a short leash himself…no accident that Wren reigned him in after Fredi’s dumb comment that “everyone will be back next year”………..
Wren knows what everyone has been screaming for….a real hitting coach like a Baylor but not necessarily a big name…..but one that can help hitters instead of bring them down 50 points below their averages….
Wren is not stupid regardless of what many on the blogs think….he has made some good trades and some bad….but remember that as long as Bobby was here his voice had lots more clout than Weren’s…..
Escobar leaving for Gonzo was a good example….. I personally think Fredi might have been able to help Escobar “socially” with some of the team members….and he didn’t need any help with the bad or the glove when he played….
Francouer was another Cox booting…..sure wish we had him instead of Heyward….who can’t throw accurately enough to any base to cut down a runner…Francouer now….need I say more…
I wish Fredi was gone and Francona was in…..but I don’t think Wren will stick with Fredi beyond 2012 if there isn’t a huge change …..
So……………all the Braves have to do and we’ll all be back in the fold….and The Ted will be drawing 25,000 nightly….
Billy
October 2nd, 2011
12:45 am
u may be back but not me till FG is fired.
John A.
October 2nd, 2011
12:45 am
Jeff if Fredi is as great as you would have us believe, why didn’t he demonstrate just a little ability? Why did he always seem lost? Why did he continually pull bonehead moves? Why did he not address the hitting and pitching problems? There are so many questions that management has to answer also. Why was Fredi hired? Why was Parrish hired? What has Roger McDowell contributed for the pitching staff? What has Frank brought to the organization since he was hired? Has John lost hiis mind? With John sitting as Head of the office, has he lost control?
Why is Fredi and the staff (minus Larry) being retained? This collaspe is a total failure of the whole staff and heads need to roll. Any other organization would never tolerate this kind of failure.
To have Fredi dismiss losing a game and saying “I tip my hat” just pisses me off!!!!! He can say that to players behind closed doors, but to say that to the sports writers is totally beyond belief. What in the hell is he thinking? This dude has absolutely no backbone. Billy Martin is probably spinning in his grave, and Earl Weaver would NEVER address the media in that manner. You don’t hear LaRussia complimenting the opposition do you? The only thing Fredi didn’t do over the season was apologize for winning a game, but came damn close when we won in extra innings.
Fredi is a DRUT, which is TURD spelled backwards!!!!
Poorbrave
October 2nd, 2011
12:49 am
Hire GREG WALKER pitching coach!
Poorbrave
October 2nd, 2011
12:51 am
Damn I meant Hitting Coach..I was thinking they need to fire that stupid nasty talking McDonell sp.
Yo Dog
October 2nd, 2011
1:12 am
When John Scheurholtz said ” fans should be happy with division championships and anything else was a bonus” I was done. For all the praise John gets, I think the trouble started with him.
jj
October 2nd, 2011
2:44 am
Jeff I agree with most of your article but we differ about one point.I believe the Fans in Atlanta have been conditioned to accept failure instead of conditioned to assume failure.That is a big difference and Franchises in The ATL,along with some much beloved Srars and OWNERS have lived fat ,dumb,and happy because of this acceptance of FAILURE.Some FANS in other cities would never put up with the junk we put up with because the don’t accept failure from their Teams,Players.,or OWNERS.Oh teah The Press are to blame also because they are afraid to come down on certain Stars,Coaches,and Owners.I hope one day The ATL becomes a Major League City with fans and press that will not accept failure from our Teams or Players.
atlantarama
October 2nd, 2011
3:12 am
It’s not “accepting failure;” it’s supporting a team whether it wins or loses. Cubs fans are respected for their loyalty through tough times.
Of course we want the Braves to win, but those of us who aren’t fair-weather fans will continue to stick by them when they don’t.
taxman
October 2nd, 2011
7:31 am
I read where someone said in this blog that the braves have 2 players to build around and that was Freeman and Bourn (and he is just another one full year rental). That is so true. That is pitiful for a major league team but what else can you say. It is true. I would throw Uggla in the mix but that is only 3 players and they still need 5 more position players. If they hadn’t given away Elvis Andrus they would have a good shortstop for a number of years. I lost all confidence in the braves front office when they made that stupid Tex trade and gave Texas all them good players for a one year rental of Tex. Feliz, Harrison, and Andrus are all superb players on the Texas Rangers and are in the playoffs and Salty had a good year with Boston. Trying to go out and get 5 position players is going to be impossible. I don’t see the braves any better in the next several years.
bob
October 2nd, 2011
7:38 am
When attendance goes we will get a new owner. Money talks.
Al
October 2nd, 2011
7:52 am
Trade Heyward and you’ll be blogging about his numbers next year at
this time as you are about Melky’s now. You could count on it. The
Braves are just jinxed.
Gatorman
October 2nd, 2011
8:26 am
They need to cut the strings or re-assign Gonzalez and get a proven manager (Terry Francona). Gonzalez team in Florida did a similar about face first making a move to be competitive and and then giving up and quitting at the end. This shows more than anything else that he isn’t a manager with the exact same thing in Atlanta. Francona may not want the Braves job with the quitters on this team, after all he had $200M worth of quitters in Boston, but he might be able to weed out the old and feeble and build through the young talent they have now.
Really?
October 2nd, 2011
8:33 am
Many posts claim we are strapped because of existing contracts to Chipper and Lowe. We aren’t strapped! There is no salary cap in baseball. There is no limit as to how much one can spend. Liberty Media has a suggested or firm upper limit. That’s the problem first and foremost. They do not deserve our dollars. I’m dropping my season tickets (purchased first in 1988 when I moved here and purchased EVERY YEAR since…but not for 2012). Yes, in addition to money I think Gonzalez is not the manager we had hoped. We do need more consistent hitting which usually translates into higher percentage hitters, not bombers. We don’t need no stinkin’ bombers. To my knowledge we were the only team in the majors without a regular player hitting over 300 at the end of the season! But I digress. It doesn’t matter what we want or what we need. We have bad owners that do not deserve or dollars. Boycott. Vote with your feet. It’s not against the players or some mythical ‘Braves’ thing. It’s against a group of owners who hire bad underlings who in turn are not performing that in turn affects the players chosen and their development. We have a young team, a great farm system and poor owners. Nothing will change without ownership changes. It will be difficult not to support them but that’s all we can do. We can pi$$ and moan here all we want and fantasize about what they should do in terms of players (and a manager and staff), but in the end, as long as Liberty Media is the owner, we will not have anything resembling the Braves of old or what we think the Braves of today and tomorrow should be. Boycott. Really!
Curious George
October 2nd, 2011
8:41 am
Where does Jason Heyward get his estrogen supplements?
reckingball
October 2nd, 2011
8:46 am
There is a lot of truth, in what — the truth.. — says @12:41am.
reckingball
October 2nd, 2011
8:49 am
JS, you say that some of what you wrote may be unfair, I agree.
A lot of what you wrote, is just plain HS(that is short for the stuff that comes out of a horse’s behind).
Brave fan from Florida
October 2nd, 2011
8:54 am
Overall and basically, the Braves are losers and that will not change until a new owner is secured. GUARANTEE YOU THAT A NEW OWNER WOULD NOT KEEP THE CURRENT TOP MANGEMENT.
The new owner will have to have an attitude of loving to win and hating to lose.in order for the Braves to be a great team that wins championships.
Braves are nothing more than a tax deduction or loss on the balance sheet for the current owner.
If the current situation with the Braves is acceptable to the Atlanta fans, quite complaining and go to games and have fun like Chicago Cub fans, another wards, lower expectations and have fun and do not expect to win anything.
reckingball
October 2nd, 2011
8:56 am
Has Francona ever managed a NL team?
Brave fan from Florida
October 2nd, 2011
8:58 am
The majority of players on a team (and the kind of player one wants) want a ring.
If you were young and a top tier player and/or a free agent would you want to play for the Braves or the Chicago Cubs?
Brave fan from Florida
October 2nd, 2011
9:00 am
Really? is right on!
SWGADAWG
October 2nd, 2011
9:08 am
Unless the Braves spend money and bring in a big proven bat, there is going to be a bi drop in a ttendance next year….book it.
blazerdawg
October 2nd, 2011
9:24 am
Cubs fans are idiots.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:30 am
The Braves don’t care about fans.
david
October 2nd, 2011
9:31 am
Until the Braves are sold nothing, is going to change. The team is for sale, but it may not be sold till next summer at the earliest. I don’t expect to see the Braves to sign any major free agents.
I expect the Marlins and the Nationals to make major strides in 2012 and the Braves may end up 4th next year. The Mets will be in 5th place because of their ownership situation.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:31 am
The Braves only care about money.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:33 am
Who really thinks the Braves would have won a playoff game anyway…Brooks Conrad or some other loser would have lost it for us…
'66 Brave
October 2nd, 2011
9:33 am
It hurts to the core, but I will still be excited next spring when the boys report to Disney. Much like some of the other bloggers, I am in for the long haul and remember the days of 3,500 fans comfortably seated in Atlanta Stadium. As painful as it is, we must stick with our team. We have a lot of youth on the team. Let’s stick with ‘em. They need us now more than ever….
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:34 am
That’s why we hate hate hate this team…they LOSE games…the other team doesn’t win as much as the Braves choke games away…
brave fan from Florida
October 2nd, 2011
9:34 am
blazerdawg, are Brave fans smarter and more prudent than Cub Fans?
Cub fans support a loser, what do Brave fans Support?
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:35 am
This team isn’t a mix of lovable losers or hard working veterans…it’s selfish money-grubbers (Lowe and Chipper) with no leadership and poorly conditioned “athletes” that do nothing but make excuses.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:36 am
For god’s sake…Chipper blamed the “baseball gods” for losing a ball in the lights in Florida…what a douchebag! He lost the ball in the lights….that’s unlucky, but that is also CHIPPERS FAULT…it’s not fate, it’s crappy play…but these guys can’t even own that.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:39 am
Braves made comments about wishing their poor play had come earlier in the season instead of wishing they had just played better…like their poor play was uncontrollable…such a loser attitude.
'66 Brave
October 2nd, 2011
9:40 am
To Hater: Loser attitude = your last seven blogs
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:41 am
The whole attitude of being a victim of fate or luck or injuries is a major problem…Chipper said he was proud of the team and would “take that loss” in the next to last game of the season. That should say enough about his priorities…it’s all about “pride” with him. Fans only care about wins.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:43 am
To ‘66 Braves…glad you picked up on that…just trying to match the Braves attitude. In case you didn’t follow them this year…they had an epic fail, worst collapse in 147 years of NL history and LOST last 5 games to not make playoffs…should we pat them on the back?
Old Dawg Fan
October 2nd, 2011
9:44 am
I stopped years ago spending money to go and watch the Braves. Last time I took my family it was opening day and Glavine started-he pitched great-Cox pulled him in the 4th and the next pitcher bombed. Kelly Johnson made 3 errors at second base before the 6th inning.
No hitting either. We left in the 7th-Braves lost as usual. I dropped $400 when you count tickets, parking, eating, gas and I vowed I would not got back and I haven’t. I won’t again ever as they proved this year they are losers-plain and simple.
Boyz From North Ave
October 2nd, 2011
9:44 am
STAY AWAY from Turner until changes are made……..nuff said.
Hater
October 2nd, 2011
9:45 am
To ‘66 Braves,
You’re the problem with the Braves…fans that are willing to accept this garbage…just know that the Braves love you…will happily take your money…and continue their mediocrity…thanks for making my team a cra9fest…you and the other fans that don’t care should go pull for the Marlins or something.
sldasdf
October 2nd, 2011
9:46 am
Braves should be fine. Watch out for Nationals. Phillies will be strong. We need to use C. Martinez and the young pitchers more in relief and some bats. We weren’t a playoff team at the end of the season so I don’t label it a collapse. We peaked early and were totally gassed by the end of the year. The organization could have used the revenue from the playoffs but this team was painful to watch by the end. We looked like we did the week before we acquired Bourn from Houston where runs were impossible to come by. McCann was running of fumes. Prado was in some strange funk. Heyward needs a sports psychologist. We need a shortstop. Can’t wait until the promise of a new spring.
EJ
October 2nd, 2011
9:51 am
You know what? A hitting coach is very important, especially down the stretch…..maybe the Braves could look into that……..I think Chipper could be that person for the job……what do you think, Mr Wren? Have you evaluated the pitching help? Well, who is to say? Let’s start NOW getting the house in order!!!!!!!
Pepe Frias played here.
October 2nd, 2011
9:52 am
Im not sure if Id want Terry Francona without the Red Sox’s payroll here in Atlanta. He was the manager of the Phillies who won the NL pennent in ‘93 but finished no higher than third for the next 6 seasons.
Fredi Gonzalez needs to go!!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2011
9:57 am
Fredi is worthless as a manager – he needs to go! Chipper needs to retire!!!! Heyward needs to be traded to a sub par A team so he can learn how much of a nothing he is. D.Lowe needs to be released and Frank Wren needs an anchor hung around his neck and thrown off into the deepest part of Lake Lanier – in short it would tickle me to death to see the Braves bought and moved out of ATLANTA – they are the perrenial loser pick!
Ebenezer Snerdberg
October 2nd, 2011
10:01 am
Great column, late reading it. But until this organization is bought from ‘whoever they are behind that curatin’ by a LOCAL owner who will gut management like a chicken(and I mean GM straight down through all the coaches (’cept maybe Eddie as Bullpen Coach) the Braves will always be what they are LOSERS.
BravesFanSince1966
October 2nd, 2011
10:07 am
I’ve been a fan sine the 1 – 0 opening loss to the Dodgers in 1966. Listened on the radio as a student at UGA. Took many a lot of games in field level seats at Fulton County Stadium doing home work from the time the gates opened until game time. Been a fan ever since. The September collapse was the worst ever experience and, despite all the young talent, have never felt worse about the potential of the team going forward. We have worse that absentee ownership and that’s where the failure starts. I don’t know who the heck they are but hope I don’t do any business with them. As for hype for next year, I’m not interested yet. I don’t see anything at the moment to make me think that much will change. we are stocked well with good pitching (if we can keep them healthy) and even better stocked with pitching potential. We need at least one power bat in the outfield and a better hitter at short. But hey, I’m no GM…but am not so sure that position isn’t vacant so I can pretend.
newnanite
October 2nd, 2011
10:15 am
Why does everyone keep saying the most consistant hitter on the team during spetember, CHIPPER JONES, should retire. Being a braves fan in the 80’s was tough, most of you complaining fans werent even alive then, this is nothing, yes it sucks, but you woke up today, and it is just a game….JUST A GAME!!! The problem is not Chipper’s 15MIL, its the corporate owners who dont care if the team wins or not, for them the Braves are just a pay check, fix that problem and let the minor problems go away. Number 10 4-life