The Atlanta Braves have the worst record in Major League Baseball this season at 9-28, and they opted to make a big change Tuesday, firing manager Fredi Gonzalez.
The Braves announced the dismissal of Gonzalez and bench coach Carlos Tosca, and stated skipper Brian Snitker of the Gwinnett Braves, the team’s Triple-A affiliate, will serve as Atlanta’s interim manager.
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Mark Bowman of MLB.com initially reported the news of Gonzalez’s dismissal, which came after five-plus seasons and a 1-4 record in playoff games.
O’Brien also reported Gonzalez learned of his firing in an email, though the manager declined to confirm the report.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, citing a source, reported details on Snitker’s role: “Snitker is the Braves interim manager, but he’ll remain in the role through the end of the season.” The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman added: “Snitker has been in the Braves organization since 1977, [and he] actually replaced Gonzalez as [the third base] coach when [Gonzalez] became the Miami Marlins manager.
The Braves made other changes to the staff as well, per O’Brien:
To be fair to Gonzalez, Atlanta is in rebuilding mode and last year offered him an extension through 2016 when he had the Braves hovering near .500 at 42-47 in the middle of the season. Since then, however, the club has struggled mightily.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported May 4 that Atlanta was considering letting Gonzalez go and had former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black in mind as the team’s next manager.
Crasnick reported Mark DeRosa was also a potential replacement. Crasnick noted a source close to former Braves third baseman Chipper Jones revealed Jones is not interested in the position. Jones, however, denied the report:
Braves president of baseball operations John Hart and Braves senior adviser John Schuerholz both have ties to Black, per Nightengale, who reported May 4 that Black was the “heavy favorite” to begin 2017 as the team’s manager. Even if Atlanta doesn’t go after a full-time replacement right away, Black may be the long-term play.
The team will move into a new stadium, SunTrust Park, in 2017.
A new, proven leader could help the Braves gain some momentum heading into next year, but it’s going to be a while before they have enough talent to contend.
Atlanta traded All-Stars in Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Shelby Miller and Craig Kimbrel and Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons toward the end of Gonzalez’s stint, which left the manager little to work with.
Gonzalez has had tough draws in his managerial career. Before his Braves tenure—in which he was tasked with succeeding the legendary Bobby Cox—he landed the gig with the then-Florida Marlins, who are notorious for roster—and managerial—turnover.
If given the chance to lead a team with ample talent, Gonzalez may well find success. Atlanta reached the postseason in two of his first three years, which included 94- and 96- win campaigns in 2012 and 2013. He was 276-279 in three-plus seasons in Miami.
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