Atlanta Braves Eliminated From Postseason Contention.

[Mitchell]

www.braves.com.

The Atlanta Braves, after winning 96 games, and an easy NL East title in 2013, and after being expected to contend for at least a wild card spot this year, were mathematically eliminated from postseason play contention today. The loss completed a three game sweep by the visiting NY Mets, in which all three games were won by the Mets in blowout fashion. The Mets have had a very poor record at Turner Field over the years, so this series shows just how badly the Braves have been playing of late.

The Braves have experienced a September free fall, after being contenders for a Wild Card berth until recently. The NL East has been comfortably won by the Washington Nationals

I've read articles, particularly in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. www.ajc.com which state that quote "Major organizational changes" might be in store for the Braves, including the dismissal of several major league coaches. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has one more year left on his contract, so it is said he might be spared. However, it looks like the Braves might really need to shake things up.

Even though there is still officially one week left until the end of the 2014 regular season, today ended what has been a very disappointing season for the Braves, with the last seven games of their schedule, to be played this week in Atlanta, and then next weekend in Philadelphia, as just "Playing out the schedule" for a team that expected to be playing into October this year.

 

[Mitchell]

I just came from reading an article which stated that Braves General Manager Frank Wren is more likely to be fired than field manager Fredi Gonzalez, but the article said that neither man appears to have a good deal of job security at this point.

 

[rdhd]

I feel the pain, Mitchell. They haven't been the same since Chipper and Bobby left. Hope they can turn things around next year, somehow.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, rdhd. I'm not as into them as I used to be, because I have other things on my mind, like work, but.. I was very disappointed at how things are ending up for them this season. I agree with you about things not being the same since Chipper and Bobby. I think major changes are in store for them.

 

[Sodahead]

I just came from reading an article which stated that Braves General Manager Frank Wren is more likely to be fired than field manager Fredi Gonzalez, but the article said that neither man appears to have a good deal of job security at this point.

Most likely they will both lose their job, but I have always felt Gonzales is far more likely to go than Wrenn.

I've never been one to call for a coach or manager's head when things start going south but I feel like something has to change soon

 

[Mitchell]

I see your point, soda.

From what I've read, several coaches, and GM Frank Wren, are most likely to be terminated. Although, if Gonzalez does lose his job, it wouldn't be surprising either.

 

[TeeHeeLawrence]

Lest we forget, the Braves had, with the Yankees, just about declared permanent residence in the postseason over the past 20 years. While I certainly feel your pain, Mitch, I don't think it's such a bad thing that neither team will play into October this year, and might very well be replaced by strangers to the postseason like Kansas City and Pittsburgh. And the Nats really deserve their division title; that team has been painstakingly built to reach the WS for the first time in franchise history. While it's good to have perennials like the Yanks, the Braves, and the Cards bring their winning traditions to October, it's also good to spread the wealth a bit. I think that the much-derided parity that the majors displayed this year is a good thing.
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I must admit that it's hard for me to feel too sorry for the Braves and their fans. After all, I root for the Mets, a franchise that usually engages in brief periods of glory with long dismal stretches of self-loathing. Nailing the last nails in the coffin for Atlanta was just about the high point of the Mets' season, which tells you all you need to know about that season. They were less the Mets this year than the Mehs. 😉

 

[Sodahead]

I see your point, soda.

From what I've read, several coaches, and GM Frank Wren, are most likely to be terminated. Although, if Gonzalez does lose his job, it wouldn't be surprising either.

Well I guess that much is settled.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11568843/atlanta-braves-fire-gm-frank-wren

I imagine that Gonzalez and hitting coach Greg Walker are next. Pitching coach roger McDowell and infield coach Terry Pendleton will likely and deservedly keep their jobs

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, Soda. I just got home from meetings, and saw than Wren had been fired. It's not surprising.

To put into perspective of just how stable and excellent the Braves have been the last.. two plus decades.. Wren is the first Braves GM fired since 1985, when Bobby Cox took over as GM, and then turned the GM position over to John Scherholtz, as Cox became the field manager.

It's not clear whether Fredi Gonzalez will be fired, but.. if the Braves want a complete shakeup, it wouldn't surprise me to see him go too.

 

[Mitchell]

I understand Lawrence's point. While I'm disappointed that the Braves didn't make the playoffs, it is good in a way to have other cities involved in, and interested in, baseball in October.

 

[Mitchell]

As baseball fans know, the Braves finished with the same record as the hated Metropolitans.. or the Metsies, as Keith Hernandez likes to call them. Both teams are gone and home for the winter, with their final records of 79-83 for the 2014 season. .

The Braves had a horrible second half, and a dismal September. I wish they would fire manager Fredi Gonzalez, to go along with last week's dismissal of GM Frank Wren.

From division champs, to under 500, in one year. Hopefully, next year will be better for the Braves.