Atlanta Braves To Name Fredi Gonzalez Manager

According to Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution or the AJC to all the cool people, the Atlanta Braves will name former Florida Marlins’ manager Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager on Thursday.

Well that was quick.

With the Braves eliminated from postseason play on Monday, it took them less than 24 hours later to name a replacement. At the end of the day, Gonzalez was the logical choice and the right choice for the Braves.

The Braves love to hire personnel that have ties to the organization and Gonzalez is no stranger to the organization. He was the Braves’ third base coach from 2003-2006 and he also managed the Richmond Braves for one season in 2002.

Gonzalez spent the last two and a half seasons as the manager of the Florida Marlins before unceremoniously being fired on June 23. He had a career record of 276-279 with the Marlins.

Gonzalez is a solid manager and should have a better chance to win in Atlanta than he did in cost-conscience Florida. Gonzalez did have a public spat with star player Hanley Ramirez this season, but it wasn’t because Gonzalez didn’t do the right thing. I am sure if Gonzalez benches someone on the Braves for lack of hustle, this group will take to it more than Hanley did that night.

He will inherit a team that will have veterans Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Brian McCann, Martin Prado, and Chipper Jones, but will have a nice mix of young players like Jason Heyward, Tommy Hanson, Craig Kimbrel, and Jonny Venters. The Braves will have some work to do this offseason, but they should be a contender once again in 2011.

The Braves will have a press conference on Thursday before the start of the League Championship Series.

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