OPINION: What is Going to Happen to Atlanta Braves Fredi Gonzalez in 2016?
By Dan Horton
Amid recent news to hit the air waves this morning, the Atlanta Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez is at the center of them. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has given his opinion of the situation. Alan just informed us all about it here, and I won’t go into it at length again.
While I agree that Rosenthal speaks freely and cites no facts or sources (thus my opinion, that his story was his opinion), he certainly succeeded in his objective: People are talking now. For the record, I don’t think he’s (Gonzalez) lost the clubhouse.
His story, I’m sure, is making the rounds in MLBTR, Bleacher Report, and other media outlets, including us here at the Take. Now the questions, speculation, and rumors are swirling.
In that very same piece from Mr. Rosenthal, there is also speculation as to WHY the extensions took place. Rosenthal speculates: “One theory on why the Braves extended manager Fredi Gonzalez through next season is that they wanted him to serve as a one-year bridge to the opening of their new ballpark in 2017. Once Gonzalez completed that task, the team could thank him for his services, then enter the new park with a more heralded manager”.
Yes, Fredi Gonzalez and Staff were given mid-season extensions through 2016. At the time, I was curious as to not only why myself, but why NOW?
I agree to an extent with Rosenthal. A bridge to 2017 is a logical assumption. Even though I’m a little peeved by the “lost the clubhouse” commentary, but what happens if/when failure reaches its breaking point in 2016?
Initially, my thoughts were the same as Rosenthal, and with the future in mind. After all, wasn’t that what was being hyped all off-season, into, and during 2015? Below is my opinion about what possibly could happen, during an email exchange earlier this morning.
"“This was my reaction to the extension when it happened. They needed someone to usher in 2017 and someone comfortable to the players. However, I think this could backfire. If indeed the intent is to go with a new face, for a new stadium, with a new look roster, and 2017 being the target contention year; there will be some mighty highly [ticked] off fans if it fails.I would argue 2016 should be the transition year. Give the team a year to gel and mesh with a new philosophy and manager. To me that makes more sense than uprooting the philosophy that essentially has been the same for the past 20+ years. Let’s face it. Fredi and Bobby are cut from the same cloth. Anyone not “approved” by Bobby is going to be a very difficult change and [hard to] adjust to. These things take time, and lots of it. Depending on what happens in 2016, the patience of the fan base will be, well, damn near non-existent.There’s something to be said for a lot of what will or may transpire. I’ve felt from beginning that Fredi G will be given APR, MAY, and JUN next season. If by ASG nothing has improved, he’s out. This gives you 2 months to integrate a new manager and build a foundation and possible relationship going into 2017 and opening up SunTrust. Problem is, when a new MGR is introduced, so too is a partially new staff. That kind of turnover concerns me leading into 2017″."
As you can see, I have some reservations about next year leading into 2017. Not to mention the not so subtle mention of one Bobby Cox. I’m sure there are Braves fans heating up the tar and plucking feathers as I speak. Fredi may not be officially on the Hot Seat right now, but I imagine it gets a little warm should things go south fast next season.
Either way, this off season and early going of 2016 will be interesting to say the least. But in Coppy’s interview with David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some hope was reassured and confirmed to many fans.
"“We will have more flexibility this winter than we’ve had in five or six years. We’ll have even more in 2017 … And we’ve gone, as you’ve read about and heard, from a bottom-five (minor league) system to a top-five system. We were ranked 29th by Baseball America this past offseason; we were ranked No. 2 by ESPN six weeks ago. I’ve never seen that happen with any organization so fast, and it doesn’t just happen by snapping your fingers”."
Of course this is all just my opinion. Whether it comes to fruition or not is yet to be know or seen. All we can hope for is high motivation, competitiveness, and a never give up mentality from the players and coaching staff. As fans, we can’t complain about players giving nothing less than 100%. We don’t have too many on this roster that know how to give any less.