It is A Time for Leadership from the Atlanta Braves
The frenzy has reached a fever pitch – John Coppolella must address the managerial situation now: one way or the other
I have written previously that I have a personal policy in which I do not and will not call for the firing of anyone at any time – criminal issues being the only exception. That continues to be the situation today despite the hordes calling for the ouster of Fredi Gonzalez.
That said, there is a vacuum now present that is sucking all of the life and air out of the room in which the Atlanta Braves have placed themselves. There is no other news, there is no other story right now. Everything is centered around the fate of their manager – okay, that and just how bad this team is playing – under the helm of Fredi Gonzalez.
This frenzy needs to be resolved. Unfortunately, that can only happen from one source – one person. That resolution needs to happen today, one way or another, for this cannot continue. Yet it seems that General Manager John Coppolella is frozen – unable or unwilling to be “the guy” who removes Gonzalez, a known favorite of Bobby Cox and much of the organization.
How do we know this? Because of multiple quotes stemming from one article written by Joel Sherman of the New York Post yesterday:
First this from before yesterday’s Braves-Mets game:
"Gonzalez said he had just gotten off the phone with general manager John Coppolella and said he told his boss: “There are only three outcomes: 1) Fire me. 2) Give me a vote of confidence through the rest of the season. 3) Pick up my 2017 option. … I am good with any of this.”"
Then later, after Sherman spoke to Coppolella directly:
"“It is hard for me [to talk about Gonzalez’s status] because I care about him greatly,” Coppolella said. “But we have to find ways to get better.”"
These are the indicators of a man who is struggling with a decision… one that he knows he has to make.
The trouble now is twofold: (1) We live in a twitter world – one in which crowd-sourced madness can take over, and (2) Coppy has waited too long and too silently without acting. While no one should have to be forced to make decisions based on crowd sentiment, the second problem is merely feeding this fan-fueled anger. It is hurting the team.
Who’s talking about the brilliant games pitched by Julio Teheran and Matt Wisler in recent days? Who’s talking about Freddie Freeman‘s hot streak? Does anybody remember that these things are happening? No – because interviewers want to know about Fredi Gonzalez.
An Open Memo to John C
John Coppolella: you’re in the big chair now. You need to make an appearance. You need to get out in front of this. You need to make a strong statement. You need to show leadership. At this point, nobody really cares (even Gonzalez) what that statement is. You just need to step up to the plate and be the leader of this franchise. It’s what you signed up for.
Symptom of the problem: see that photo above, John? It’s the only one I have available to use for you. Why? Because you haven’t been seen out of the office. The photographers didn’t see you this Spring in Florida. They didn’t see you last Winter at Winter Meetings. They haven’t seen you at games even in Atlanta so far this season. You are a ghost. A ninja. You are effectively absent, and that’s exactly the problem here.
If you say “Fredi Gonzalez is the manager of the Atlanta Braves and will remain in that position for the foreseeable future”, then that will give the team some space to move on, at least for now. As the schedule eases, that may be sufficient.
If you say “We need to make a change in the operation of this club, both for now and for the future”, then that will end the frenzy all together and stop this twisting in the wind that no self-respecting human should have to endure.
Either way, there is a notable void here – one that has your name written all over it. Sure: it’s “dirty work”, but if your aim is to sow new seeds to raise up a new crop, then getting dirty is merely part of the process.
One way or another. Just get it done. For the good of the team.