More Details The Braves Firing of Frank Wren

Earlier to day I told you about the changes in the Braves front office announced this morning. This afternoon we’ve learned that other changes happened at the same time.

AGM Bruce Manno fired.

At the same press conference that announced Frank Wren’s departure John Schuerholz announced that AGM Bruce Manno was also cut loose. In 2012 Manno was promoted from Braves Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development to Vice President and Assistant General Manager/Player Development at the same time Wren was extended. In my post three days ago I noted that Manno had also been a disruptive force.

". . . Dave Wallace a long time friend of Cox left joined the Orioles because he was tired of butting heads with AGM Bruce Manno. Wallace is a cancer survivor who was settled in and reportedly happy coaching kids but Manno made his job too uncomfortable for him to stay. . ."

Bruce Manno was in his seventh  year with the Braves and now he is unemployed as well.

Nepotism no more

According to Jerry Crasnick the aftershock of Frank Wren’s firing took other family members as well.

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Rubbing the Rock

More Background

I opined in my post three days ago that part of the reason Bobby Cox retired was a feeling that he no longer had Wren’s ear.  In Crasnick’s full column today he provided support for that belief.

"Amid the Braves’ sorry performance, it’s hard to ignore the undercurrent of discord in the organization. When Bobby Cox gave his Hall of Fame induction speech in Cooperstown in late July and pointedly omitted Wren’s name on the list of people he wanted to thank, it publicly substantiated the notion that the relationship between the two men was beyond strained. . . .(Cox’s) presence on a three-man transition team with club president John Schuerholz and Hart lends credence to the rumors that he’s bored with his current role and would like a more prominent voice moving forward."

Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution  wrote today that while Wren was good at the mid and low-level decisions he regularly failed with the big ones.

 Bits and Pieces

The obvious replacement for Wren is AGM John Coppollela but according to Hart at the press conference today the three men intend to search the “baseball universe for the next John Schuerholz.”  That would seem to quell any talk of the return of Kansas City GM Dayton Moore. Supporting that Royals owner David Glass told Dick Kaegel  that while he wouldn’t stop Moore from leaving he couldn’t envision Moore actually wanting to go.

That’s A Wrap

As usual details will  continue to emerge and the important ones will be covered here on the Take. The talking heads are all over the place on the firing most landing on the bad signings. But the way Wren is now reported to have led his office is probably just as big a part of his firing as those deals. mark Bowman wrote today that while almost everyone liked Wren he had few allies in the organization. That alone is enough to spell the end for any leader. Tomorrow I’ll begin a look at the names you’ll hear as possibilities to succeed Wren so be sure to check in here at the Take