Fredi Gonzalez: The new manager gets a surpassing grade
If Fredi can get Nate McLouth going, we'll name him valedictorian. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Bobby Cox said this week he’d give his successor “an A-plus,” but Cox has always been given to bouts of irrational exuberance when it comes to the Braves. Still, we thank the former manager for broaching the topic, and we welcome this opportunity to cast a cold eye on Fredi Gonzalez’s job performance and award him a totally rational …
A-minus.
The new man has been really good. The numbers are one powerful indication — the Braves awoke Friday with the fourth-best record and the best ERA in baseball — but the numbers don’t tell the entire tale. To say everything has broken right for Fredi’s club would be to ignore a run of injuries that sent the starting outfield to the disabled list and the ongoing flailings of Dan Uggla, whose batting average hasn’t topped .200 since May 16.
Uggla didn’t arrive as just another in a series of Frank Wren’s impulse buys: He was a calculated acquisition who figured to become the linchpin of this batting order. (Certainly Wren believed as much, re-upping Uggla for $62 million over five years and making him the highest-paid second baseman in the history of the sport.) Uggla’s struggles might have scuttled an entire team, but the Braves under Gonzalez have been buoyant.
It’s not as if the manager hasn’t done his managerial bit to help Uggla, with whom Gonzalez worked when both were Florida Marlins. He has moved him in the batting order, given him days off, taken pains to praise his hustle and work ethic. On Wednesday, after Uggla hit a two-run homer against Toronto, Gonzalez played the realist: “I tell him, ‘April and May are gone.’ ” Meaning: Look instead to the future, the only thing subject to change.
Cox was legendary for finding the tiniest sliver of sunshine on a dark day, and Gonzalez isn’t much different. He hasn’t agonized — at least not for public consumption — over his team’s lack of offense, insisting that the hits will come. Besides, just because you can’t hit doesn’t mean you can’t win. “Some people thought I was crazy for saying I’d rather have it this way,” Gonzalez said, “but you can’t be losing games 11-10.”
Loading ...Which brings us, inevitably, to pitching, and every manager rises or falls on his ability to handle a staff. Gonzalez has proved an expert handler, trusting his stellar starters while carving specific niches for his many splendid relievers. (Let the record also reflect that the manager was without his pitching coach for two weeks, Roger McDowell having been suspended for insensitive remarks.)
If there are quibbles, it’s that Gonzalez hasn’t tried a bit harder to kick-start the offense. (Though he did insert Jordan Schafer into the leadoff spot upon his promotion, and that has made a spot of difference.) And he does seem determined to work Jonny Venters (first among big-league pitchers in appearances) and Craig Kimbrel (tied for second) into every single game.
But you know what? When you don’t score much, you play close games. When you play close games, you need your best arms at the end. The Braves have the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors by some distance. Who wouldn’t use those guys?
Best of all, Gonzalez hasn’t worried about doing as Bobby did. That the men are temperamentally similar made for a (John Schuerholz’s word here) seamless transition, but it’s not as Gonzalez went out of his way to emulate No. 6. The new guy is a bit more involved on the field before games — he circulates among players as they stretch, and he throws batting practice and hits grounders — but nothing seems forced. Fredi’s doing in Atlanta as he did with the Marlins.
And it’s working. He has his team, which is hitting .239 (the big-league average is .252), within sight of Philadelphia, which has spent nearly twice as much for its players as have the Braves. So why the A-minus? Why not a straight A?
Old managerial trick: We want to give the new guy reason to work even harder the second semester.
By Mark Bradley
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230 comments Add your comment
henry from TN
June 25th, 2011
9:42 am
I think Fredi has done a good job. He don’t leave a pitcher in too long like Bobby cox did. Every manager has some calls to back fire every manager does…so keep up the good work Fredi….
Barry
June 25th, 2011
9:53 am
Mark,
You’re my favorite sportswriter but you betray a lack of baseball knowledge here. Fredi is a poor manager in so many respects that it could fill a book. Start with his misuse of the bullpen, his failure to use David Ross as a pinch hitter (just compare Ross’s ABs under Bobby Cox to those under Fredi) and his strategically boneheaded moves and we have a D- manager. I can point to four games where Fredi’s “strateegery” precluded the Braves from having a chance to win.
And I’m not the only one to notice. One baseball reporter has noted that the Braves should rent a mobile MRI unit as preparation for Fredi’s bullpen abuse. And yes, I agree that close games may require a higher usage of relief pitchers but as the saying goes, a baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. Planning is critical. Unfortunately, Fredi’s lack of planning will destroy our best relievers by August.
RGP
June 25th, 2011
10:14 am
I like Fredi’s move of putting Schafer in leadoff spot. He adds excitement with his running game which the Braves have lacked in past years. Braves have done pretty well despite lots of injuries to Chipper, McLouth, Prado, Hanson,Beachy, etc.. The team batting average is low at .239 so the bats need to get going. Uggla needs to be platooned or benched since he continues to try to pull every pitch or go for homers all the time. Fredi needs to play whoever is getting it done not who has the biggest salary.
james
June 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
HELLO! This is the elephant in the room, where are all of the Terry Pendleton bashers. Why are they mute concerning the horrible performance of the current hitting coach. Maybe we should contact Bryan Mccann’s brother or Chipper Jones father. They have been more effective than whoever the Braves hitting coach is.
I think he is superb
June 25th, 2011
2:02 pm
One problem with your logic. You may have noticed, the NL East lead is double the next largest division margin. It’s 5 games, already. At this rate, the Braves will lose to the Phils by approximately 10.5 games. He sure is a smashing success in my book.
StingerSplash
June 25th, 2011
3:08 pm
The continued reliance on the home run to provide offense and the reluctance to take walks (which not only puts runners on base but builds up pitch counts and invites the arrival of usually mediocre middle relief) and put runners in motion means this offense will continue to struggle. And because of that, the Braves will continue to pile up the extra innings games.
So when a bullpen that’s gone to the post far too often already gets even more taxed in August, watch for one of those great 2-19 runs as the Braves become a speck in Philly’s rear view mirror.
Right now, there is one truly reliable starting pitcher – Jurrjens. Hudson’s last outing was splendid, yes, but he has not been Hudson-like for quite a stretch this season. Lowe, rather, Loathe, has been underwhelming. Hanson’s good, but he’s on the DL. Beachy has shown tremendous promise but he’s not even made one circuit around the league.
Perhaps the return of Prado will ignite the offense. The best option remains Prado at second, Struggla to the pine and then putting out the lowest average outfield in the NL. That’s just how bad Struggla is right now.
Zing
June 25th, 2011
4:24 pm
MB: Great post. Thank you.
I agree that Gonzalez has done a great job so far this season, especially given the injuries he’s had to deal with, both to pitchers and the every-day players, and with Uggla and Heyward each hitting almost 100 points lower than all had hoped. (Yes, I did think that Heyward had a shot at hitting in the .310-.320 range– when he was healthy last year, he absolutely flat-out tore it up).
So, kudos to the headman.
I would have given him an unblemished “A,” though, management philosophy be damned.
chief pitchanono
June 25th, 2011
5:29 pm
I would grade him about the same, and I give Mcdowell some credit too, yes he has allot of talent to work with, but he has done well at makeing adjustments when guys struggle and he has made decent pitchers out of linebrink and sherill, two guys who seemed to by way past there prime. I think he’s done great, but he can’t turn Heyward and Uggla’s seasons around. If the Braves are gonna catch the phillies these two guys have to have big second halves. If they don’t and we can keep the pitching healthy, we will be in the mix for the wildcard down the stretch. Go Braves
Redneck Teabagger
June 25th, 2011
9:29 pm
McCann don’t whiff much.
DHD
June 25th, 2011
10:27 pm
Let’s see….who knows more about baseball…..Bobby or a journalist? I’ll go with Bobby.
jerry
June 25th, 2011
10:34 pm
A very weak case made by Bradley. Tell us what Freddi did that was DIFFERENT from what any sensible manager would have done. Oh well, he gets paid to write something.
DetroitBraves
June 25th, 2011
10:53 pm
Let’s see…..who is less likely to be biased….the ex-manager of the club and friend of the current manager or a journalist? That said, A-minus is too high.
Schafer continues to bring excitement while going back to the dugout after yet another predictable out. He’s not really running though. It’s more of a somber waltz.
goldenglove002
June 25th, 2011
11:12 pm
Johnny Venters is currently in the game with a 6-1 lead. Because he needs the extra work……..
Barry
June 25th, 2011
11:30 pm
he’s back!!!
Steve
June 26th, 2011
10:40 am
I have no problem giving him a high grade for what hae HAS done, but my problem is that is overuse of the bullpen is likely going to hurt the Braves down the road.
He needs to forget about a win now and then and rest some of these guys. Venters pithes in games ahead by 3-4 runs sometimes and so does Kimrbrel. It’s ridiculous. I won’t count yesterday as Venters was warming up when it was still 3-1, but there have been too many other games just like it. Just because a guy has had one day doesn’t mean he should be used that day.
So, if I am looking forward to what will likely happen, then I give him a B. As Mark noted, the injury bug has been bad. Beachy, Hanson and Jurrgens have all missed starts with Medlen not there at all. Lowe and Hudson are barely getting the job done, which means our pitching staff has beena mess despite it’s numbers. Prado, Heyward, McLouth and Chipper have all missed significant numbers of games as well. The you factor in over half of our offense is under-performing versus expectation and you realize the job Freddi has done is next to a miracle.
ed f
June 26th, 2011
10:53 am
If this Team Could Hit it would RULE Baseball!!!!!!!!!!!
wreckmaniac
June 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Freddie has been superb. He is trying to get more players involved with basestealing which Cox largely ignored. Freddie shows complete trust in his young relievers which they need in order to grow. He stuck with Freddie Freeman which Freddie didn’t seem to know which end is up in the early seaon. He continues to experiment to get someone established in center field. He allows Chip and McCann their required down time. The team gives the appearance of being loose yet very focused.
Pig Farmers Local 42
June 26th, 2011
11:25 am
I am less than impressed. Bobby cox lite is going to have us battling for the wild card at best during his tenure. Are we still WORST in the league in stolen bases? BTW, if you want to see the Braves in another format, go to any municipal park in your hometown and watch the local church-league SOFTBALL team.
BartBuzz
June 26th, 2011
12:01 pm
Mark…my only question about Fredi Gonzalez is why Venters isn’t his closer. Kimbrel has at least 4 blown saves. Theoretically speaking, the Braves could be tied for the Division lead.
batblind
June 26th, 2011
3:23 pm
how about instead of surpassing grade lets use surprising grade and whoever is grading is doing it with one eye shut and on a steep curve
batblind
June 26th, 2011
3:24 pm
church league softball is more entertaining plus you can byob
DetroitBraves
June 26th, 2011
5:05 pm
If Venters were pitching the ninth then someone else would be pitching his innings. The game may be lost before the “save” situation even materialized. In fact, if Venters is indeed the better pitcher then the present situation is actually preferable in that Venters, not shackled by the ridiculous save definition, will pitch in more high leverage situations.
NoGaGator
June 26th, 2011
5:10 pm
Mark – It’s just not the same without Bobby being there – if for nothing better than the thrill we’d get when he stormed out of the dugout – on his way to getting tossed.
I really miss Bobby getting run as I’m sure for most of the rest of us.
Can’t we get him to be the visiting bench coach 1 or 2 times a week (like Smoltz and Glavine in the box)? Then he could run out during controversy, get tossed, have a few cold ones in the clubhouse, and give the rest of us what we’ve been missing?
Please Mark, for all that’s good and sacred about the game, make it happen.
RoyU
June 26th, 2011
7:13 pm
If Bobby thought Fredi’s managing was sub-Par, does any idiot believe he would openly admit it? Good question to anyone who can be objective and that is not Bobby under the circumstances!!!
tela/
June 26th, 2011
8:20 pm
joke
Buzz 2010
June 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
Great call Mark… He also has a real handle on the Braves great hitting as well, right?
Kevin
June 29th, 2011
8:24 am
Let bobby cox be on beanch as a Joke u mean..Never u want jinx freddie now…what u been drinkin NoGaGator…and oh by the way SC Gamecocks won College worldseries too…U like i hope u just farted on that.Also the grade is A+ what was Bobby cox Grade for chokin more Titles then a Turkey i give cox a D+ for all his years here!@
Kevin
June 29th, 2011
8:26 am
Hey AJC and morons u ban me from writein fine…so be it U paper is for The linin bird cages n cat box for crap anyway that why so glad i not get it…
Kevin
June 29th, 2011
8:29 am
To words for freddie n ajc writers where was U Grade system when Bobby cox was here how odd/U start it now if i grade Cox years from 1990 to 2010…A wonderful D+ is his grade look at his record n playoffs record is why…feddie gets a A+ for this case he not under cox i hope..U all be pootin wind when Braves hold up that thing n say we 2011 World series champs!
Kevin
June 29th, 2011
8:35 am
Well he near 46-35 now in East 5GB are for..either way he be at 50-37 by sunday i believe so that very good for a 1st year manager…freddie be in race for Mananger of year and and if Pirates stay over 500 n more all year clint Hurdle be NL Manager of Year!