Has Manager Fredi Gonzalez Made the Braves HIS Team?
The Atlanta Braves have had a long and storied history in major league baseball. Under Bobby Cox they were a perennial powerhouse. Atlanta fans could count on their Braves marching into the playoffs each and every year. After a long and successful 25 year career manager Bobby Cox finally stepped down. Bobby’s replacement was announced on October 13, 2010. The Fredi Gonzalez era had started. As a new manager replacing a legend such as Bobby Cox you are basically starting behind the proverbial eight ball. Everything that you do is going to be compared too and against what your predecessor did. Every win will be compared to Bobby Cox’s win’s and every loss people will say that if Bobby was still the manager they would have won. It takes a very strong willed person to handle this ugly situation. Not only do you have to deal with the fans but you also have to deal with the players. Everything the players have every know is the Bobby Cox way and now Fredi Gonzalez has to teach them “his” way. Fredi is a seasoned veteran and knew the depth of his challenge when he accepted the job. Some of the coaches under Bobby Cox’s regime were retained. There were a few changes made like Terry Pendleton moving from the hitting coach to become the new first base coach, Carlos Tosca becoming the bench coach, and Larry Parrish becoming the new hitting coach. So far in the 2011 season the Atlanta Braves have played very well. As it stands right now they will march into the playoffs once again. Although they will probably not win there division like a Bobby Cox team they will secure a wild card position. Fredi Gonzalez can look at this team and smile because he has firmly put his stamp on it as “his” team!
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