The Braves fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday, after one of the worst half-seasons in the franchise’s 140-year history was followed by its worst-ever start to a season. They have a majors-worst 7-28 record.
An announcement of the firing and his replacement was expected from the team later Tuesday.
Although it’s widely known that the Braves are in the midst of a rebuilding effort that gutted the major league team while fortifying the minor league system, Gonzalez had long been a lightning rod for criticism from fans and some media members, and he ultimately paid the price for the team’s dismal performance.
Gonzalez, 52, was in his sixth season as Braves manager after replacing his mentor, Bobby Cox, when the legendary Braves manager retired after the 2010 season. He is the first Braves manager fired since Russ Nixon was dumped in June 1990 and replaced by Cox.
There was considerable criticism of Gonzalez during much of his time as Braves manager, despite the fact his teams won 89, 94 and 96 games in his first three seasons through 2013 and won the National League East in 2013, their first division title since 2005.
The Braves were 82 games over .500 (296-214) during his first three-plus seasons as manager through a 17-7 start in 2014. But they were 62-86 the rest of that season and, after a surprising 42-42 start in 2015, the Braves spiraled during an injury- and trade-plagued second half to finish at 67-95.
That record was the Braves’ worst since 1990, the year before their worst-to-first turnaround season.
Gonzalez served as third-base coach on Cox’s staff for four seasons through 2006, then got his first major league managerial job with the Marlins. The Sporting News National League Manager of the Year in 2008, Gonzalez had a 276-279 record in 3 1/2 seasons with the Marlins before he was fired by a notoriously fickle owner in June 2010.
While Gonzalez often was second-guessed during his first three seasons in Atlanta, it wasn’t until the disappointing 2014 season when speculation about his job status really began to heat up. But near the end of that season, the Braves fired general manager Frank Wren and kept Gonzalez.
An announcement of the firing and his replacement was expected from the team later Tuesday.
Although it’s widely known that the Braves are in the midst of a rebuilding effort that gutted the major league team while fortifying the minor league system, Gonzalez had long been a lightning rod for criticism from fans and some media members, and he ultimately paid the price for the team’s dismal performance.
Gonzalez, 52, was in his sixth season as Braves manager after replacing his mentor, Bobby Cox, when the legendary Braves manager retired after the 2010 season. He is the first Braves manager fired since Russ Nixon was dumped in June 1990 and replaced by Cox.
There was considerable criticism of Gonzalez during much of his time as Braves manager, despite the fact his teams won 89, 94 and 96 games in his first three seasons through 2013 and won the National League East in 2013, their first division title since 2005.
The Braves were 82 games over .500 (296-214) during his first three-plus seasons as manager through a 17-7 start in 2014. But they were 62-86 the rest of that season and, after a surprising 42-42 start in 2015, the Braves spiraled during an injury- and trade-plagued second half to finish at 67-95.
That record was the Braves’ worst since 1990, the year before their worst-to-first turnaround season.
Gonzalez served as third-base coach on Cox’s staff for four seasons through 2006, then got his first major league managerial job with the Marlins. The Sporting News National League Manager of the Year in 2008, Gonzalez had a 276-279 record in 3 1/2 seasons with the Marlins before he was fired by a notoriously fickle owner in June 2010.
While Gonzalez often was second-guessed during his first three seasons in Atlanta, it wasn’t until the disappointing 2014 season when speculation about his job status really began to heat up. But near the end of that season, the Braves fired general manager Frank Wren and kept Gonzalez.
Report: Fredi Gonzalez realized he was fired after an airline email
Braves brass was planning to fire Gonzalez Tuesday morning and changed his flight Monday night
The Atlanta Braves fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday. It wasn't all too surprising, but this story likely will be: Gonzalez essentially learned he was fired through an airline email.
The Braves are in Pittsburgh facing the Pirates through Thursday, but Gonzalez got an email notification that his commercial flight had been changed for a Tuesday departure. Given the team's record and constant rumors swirling of his firing, Gonzalez likely only had to put two and two together to see the writing on the wall.
Here's how it went down, via David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Braves had already made the decision to fire him and booked his commercial flight home Tuesday, but didn't plan to tell him he'd been fired until Tuesday morning, after president of baseball operations John Hart flew to Pittsburgh to join general manager John Coppolella.
Later Monday night after getting the email, Gonzalez eventually had confirmed by Braves top officials what he already was certain about by then: He was fired.
It's a bit surprising that the Braves' leadership wouldn't think through something like this. What's the harm in waiting to make the flight change until after he's canned? They're already saving millions on payroll with a bare bones roster; they can't front the extra night of hotel fees before flying him out Wednesday morning?
An odd situation, indeed.
<figure class="image-embed pull-none image-large">
<figcaption class="image-embed-figcaption">Fredi Gonzalez has been fired.</figcaption>
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<figure class=" img">
</figure> Matt Snyder CBS Sports Writer
follow Matt Snyder has been a baseball writer with CBS Sports since 2011. A member of the BBWAA, he's now covered the last five World Series beginning with the epic 2011 Fall Classic. The former Indiana University... Full Bio
Braves brass was planning to fire Gonzalez Tuesday morning and changed his flight Monday night
The Atlanta Braves fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday. It wasn't all too surprising, but this story likely will be: Gonzalez essentially learned he was fired through an airline email.
The Braves are in Pittsburgh facing the Pirates through Thursday, but Gonzalez got an email notification that his commercial flight had been changed for a Tuesday departure. Given the team's record and constant rumors swirling of his firing, Gonzalez likely only had to put two and two together to see the writing on the wall.
Here's how it went down, via David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Braves had already made the decision to fire him and booked his commercial flight home Tuesday, but didn't plan to tell him he'd been fired until Tuesday morning, after president of baseball operations John Hart flew to Pittsburgh to join general manager John Coppolella.
Later Monday night after getting the email, Gonzalez eventually had confirmed by Braves top officials what he already was certain about by then: He was fired.
An odd situation, indeed.
<figure class="image-embed pull-none image-large">
</figure>
<figure class=" img">
</figure> Matt Snyder CBS Sports Writer follow Matt Snyder has been a baseball writer with CBS Sports since 2011. A member of the BBWAA, he's now covered the last five World Series beginning with the epic 2011 Fall Classic. The former Indiana University... Full Bio
