Atlanta Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez Finally Fired.

[Mitchell]

Front page of'

www.ajc.com.

The Atlanta Braves fired their manager, Fredi Gonzalez.

To put into perspective the last time the Braves fired a manager.

June 1990.

George HW Bush was in the White House.

I was a 20 year old on summer break from college, about to enter Junior Year in College.

That was a long time ago.,

While its not all Gonzalez fault for the Braves terrible record, this move was expected, and in my view, appropriate.

It doesnt mean the Braves will be much better record wise, but it was time for a change.

 

[Mitchell]

The Braves, who havent fired a manager in 26 years.. were so.. gentle when they made reference to Gonzalez on their website.

They said, and I quote. First..

"Gonzalez Dismissed as Manager of Braves".


And..

"Gonzalez relieved of his managerial duties".

Most teams that weren't a dynasty, as the Braves were for so many years, would just scream a big headline on their website. '

"Gonzalez Fired!".

This team, whose last manager won fourteen straight division titles, and is in the Hall of Fame, was more.. gentle about it.

Not to get off topic.. but.

I have to wonder if.. with this development, whether Yankees manager Joe Girardi will be the next to go, with as poorly as the Yankees have played this year.

 

[Mitchell]

Also a link is on the page of.

www.braves.com.

 

[MoJoe2014]

I think the next manager to go with be Brad Ausmus of the Detroit Tigers.

 

[Sodahead]

The only thing surprising about this is the timing. In my opinion, they should have fired him before the season began and hired a manager capable of developing all the young talent they plan to bring up to the majors within the next year or so. They keep saying they are planning long term, so one would think they would have a similar approach with their manager.

 

[Mitchell]

Soda, I didnt like that they re signed Gonzalez after losing 95 games last year.

I personally think that the Braves fired Gonzalez at this time, to "shake things up", and show that they were trying to do something this season.

I think this team could/will lose 110-120 games, regardless of who the manager is.

 

[Sodahead]

Soda, I didnt like that they re signed Gonzalez after losing 95 games last year.

I personally think that the Braves fired Gonzalez at this time, to "shake things up", and show that they were trying to do something this season.

I think this team could/will lose 110-120 games, regardless of who the manager is.

You're absolutely right. No one can win many games with this team. I don't know how they've won 9 so far lol

 

[Mitchell]

I've read comments by fans on the Atlanta Journal Constitution website.

It seems as though, on that site, there are many Gonzalez supporters, who are angry at who they call the "Two Johns". (Two guys named John who run the team, Hart and Coppolla, and feel that the Braves terrible record is more the Two Johns fault than Gonzalez fault. I think there is much blame to go around, on Fredi, and the "Two Johns".

 

[Mitchell]

Mo, I've heard rumors that Ausmus might be fired soon.

Although, Girardi getting fired would not surprise me either, with as badly as the Yankees are playing.

 

[Mitchell]

According to..

www.ajc.com.

on a big headline.

Gonzalez received an email.. notifying him of a :"Flight to Atlanta" on Tuesday, before being told he had been fired.

Mr Gonzalez knew there was something wrong, since the Braves series in Pittsburgh doesnt end until Thursday.

If this story is true, that was really a classless way to do this.

In my view, someone in charge should tell the man to his face that he was fired. and THEN make his travel arrangements.

 

[Sodahead]

According to..

www.ajc.com.

on a big headline.

Gonzalez received an email.. notifying him of a :"Flight to Atlanta" on Tuesday, before being told he had been fired.

Mr Gonzalez knew there was something wrong, since the Braves series in Pittsburgh doesnt end until Thursday.

If this story is true, that was really a classless way to do this.

In my view, someone in charge should tell the man to his face that he was fired. and THEN make his travel arrangements.

I hadn't heard about that. If it's true, it's disappointing as the Braves usually treat their own people pretty well. Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson made a great point last night to the effect of, if they had no long term plans for him, the decent thing would be to let him go now, rather than make him suffer through a season that was lost before it ever began. So at least they did that much right. Now, why they did it after the first game of a road trip and not at the end of the home stand, is to your point Mitch, pretty bizarre.

It's also important to note that his firing was not based off of this year's record alone. They built a great team for him between 2012-14 and he did very little with it.

 

[Mitchell]

Soda, you mentioned Gonzalez firing not being based off this year's record alone.

Apparently, they didnt hold him accountable for last year, because they re signed him to a contract, after the Braves lost 95 games last year.

I still dont agree with how they handled his firing.

Even if they wanted to fire him after the first game of the trip, someone should have told him in person.


The funny thing is.

The two men who run the Braves, both have the first name of John. John Coppella. (Not spelling that right, I know)
and John Hart.

They are often derisively referred to in the fan blogs of the ajc as the "Two Johns".

Technically, there is a third "John". Team president John Scherholtz.

There is also talk about trading Julio Tehran, a young, good pitcher, with a long contract.

I wouldnt do that if I were the Braves, as even if they are a terrible team for a couple of years, they can build around Tehran.

It will be interesting to see what the "Two Johns" as they are called, decide to do.

 

[Sodahead]

I really hope they do not trade Tehran. If the nucleus of their rebuilding process is talented young pitchers, it seems counterintuitive to trade a talented young pitcher with major league success, for a relatively untested minor league prospect. It does not mean it will not happen, but like you, I think it would be a bad decision.

 

[Mitchell]

Agreed, Soda.

 

[Secretlee]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if Ausmus is fired, the Tigers have been so streaky this year it's ridiculous. They are as far from consistent as a team can get, and that's not going to fly for a team that was supposed to play well like they were expected to.