Fredi Gonzales - New Braves Manager
Tue, 10/12/2010 - 9:48pm
Fredi Gonzalez has been hired as the Braves' new manager and will be introduced at a news conference Thursday, two people familiar with the situation confirmed.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/fredi-gonzalez-will-be-679397.html
Thoughts?
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 5:25pm
#2
TP is taking over at 1st...
And I think he can help the infielders with their defense. Agree about Hubby, but they had to let Fredi bring a few folks in. Braves should be pretty good next year, assuming they can find some outfield pop.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 5:36pm
#3
No more Glenn Hubbard
I was very disappointed to learn that one of Fredi's first actions was to can Glenn Hubbard, who has been with the Braves since 1977.
I'm hoping the pitching-rich Braves will trade Jair Jurrjens, he will never have any greater value than he will this winter (i.e. proven track record, 3 years left on low-cost contract). We should be able to exchange him in a win-win deal for an outfielder who can hit for average with some power.
The AJC today floated a Colby Rasmus/Jair Jurrjens trade idea which I think would be a great deal for both teams. Rasmus is a solid young centerfielder who has burned some bridges in St. Louis.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 5:59pm
#4
Bacon, Rasmus & Braves
Rasmus is sorta like a "homeboy" and there seems to be some bad feelings between him and the Mannager & some players in St Louis. So whatayado with Ankiel? I kinda like him--sood "D", great arm, and he can hit some too. Rasmus is Lefty/Lefty, so no change there. Yeah, Rasmus is only 24--and just maybe he's still a little immature.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 6:13pm
#5
Might need a shortstop too
When Alex Gonzalex didn't run it out in the 8th inning of Game 4because he was frustrated at himself, that was an act that would have put him deep in the Bobby Cox doghouse. We'll see if he starts with a clean slate or that is held against him.
Ankiel to me is backup depth at best. He is no longer much of a hitter at all. His D is solid and he has a great arm, but he's not the same player of a few years ago. One dramatic and very clutch HR doesn't really change his McClouth-like batting average and how he has dropped off.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 8:23pm
#6
NUK
Let's talk some real money!
Chipper, if he plays, and he can choose, costs about $20,000,000 in cash for two more years I think it is, against a payroll of 80-90 million total!
Two more pitchers cost about $25,000,000!
That's half the total payroll for three people.
Just where can you get the quality of a different shortstop for a couple million?
The Braves can't afford even one more outfielder in the $15,000,000 range!
They need all those guys making peanuts (in comparison) for the budget!
Ain't no way them newspaper guys are gonna raise the budget much.
Fri, 10/15/2010 - 2:40pm
#7
Rasmus and The Great Santini
Gym, did you ever watch the movie "The Great Santini"? Remember the scene at the basketball game where the kid is torn between obeying his coach and obeying his father and ends up obeying his father?
That's Rasmus.
Rasmus' dad was his hitting coach all the way through college. When he got to the big leagues, the Cardinals' much-loved batting coach, local legend Hal McCrae, started tinkering with Rasmus swing with awful results.
Rasmus' dad made a major public spectacle of himself, telling the media that Rasmus came out of a long slump after dad told Rasmus to ignore McCrae. The terrible thing was, dad had exposed McCrae's long-hidden incompetence (he evidently was given this job just so he could collect a paycheck). This did not sit well with Tony LaRussa and seriously angered the Cardinals' one superstar Albert Pujols.
So now the Cardinals have serious bad blood between Pujols and Rasmus, and you know they are never going to trade Pujols. So you have the very unusual situation where a team MUST deal and up-and-coming player with star potential AND a cheap contract. The trade sheets narrowed down where the Cardinals can get the best value, only 5 teams need a regular centerfielder and only two of them...Braves and Diamondbacks...have anything that the Cardinals need.
I think there's a very good chance the Braves will obtain Rasmus and get rid of Ankiel...ironically, the Cardinals got rid of Ankiel (to KC Royals) to make room for Rasmus.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 5:36pm
#8
Spy & Braves
Oh I agree with letting Fredi bring some folks in--and personally, I would have cut Pendleton loose and let Fredi choose his own 1st base coach. But I presume Fredi was part of that decision too, so, we'll see what happens. Big question of course is will Chipper return. I vote 'yes' because I don't think his mindset will let him finish on an injury.
Thu, 10/14/2010 - 5:53pm
#9
Good choice with Fredi
Kind of so-so on Pendleton being let go and would have liked to have seen Hubbard stay, but that is the way it goes.
Hope ownership loosens the purse strings enough to bring in two solid, everyday outfielders and one of those who can also hit for power.
Think that's great but also pleased to see that they'll hire a new batting coach. For some time, I have thought Pendleton wasn't getting the job done. Kinda hate to see Glen Hubbard go but that's business in the sports world.