Gonzalez Replaces Cox To Manage Braves
Gonzalez to continue what Cox left behind
Just two days after Bobby Cox would wave for the last time to a cheering crowd, Atlanta Braves hurried to replace their former manager with a new one. Fredi Gonzalez was expected though to get the new job. In what was rather a simply formality than long discussions and negotiations on the new deal, Gonzalez immediately sustained his first news conference as manager. Thus, he must continue the at least the same great job Cox did for Atlanta over the last twenty years. The new manager claimed in this way that it is not excluded he would follow the same large footsteps Cox made in Atlanta. This led the Braves to an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles and the 1995 World Series.
Although the Braves missed the playoffs the last four seasons, thing which made them return as a wild card this year, Gozalez seemed ready to bring back the team where Cox left it once. Bobby didn’t retire with a victory though, but the many other successes he brought in Atlanta will always be real fortunes. He would last coach the Braves on Monday, when they lost in front of San Francisco in Game 4 of the NL division series. Gonzalez played as Bobby’s third-base coach from 2003-2006. Atlanta general manager Frank Wren looked pleased with the new change and confident with the future. “This is perfect for us on so many levels,” while Gozalez, overwhelmed by Cox’s performances, claimed that there is no person alive that is able to replace Bobby. “Our goal is simple: We want to keep putting flags on that facade up there. I don’t think there’s a person alive that’s going to replace Bobby Cox. We just want to continue the winning tradition and go from there.” However, Gonzalez was top of a 15 possible candidates list at the time he was managing Marlins. Said Wren: “He was on our radar before he was available. We thought there may come a time when we were going to have to ask the Florida Marlins for permission to talk to their manager. We really thought Fredi was the best candidate for us.”
Gonzalez follows a 276-279 record with Marlins. He worked as manager in Florida for three and a half years. He was replaced with Edwin Rodriguez, but this didn’t lead Marlins anywhere higher. The 46-year-old left Marlins, whom he coached between 2007-2010, with a 34-36 record of the season, third in the NL East at the moment. Gonzalez didn’t expect though that disciplining Ramirez would get him sympathy. “That’s the way I was brought up. I know the way the game should be played. If you don’t do something, you’re going to lose those 24 other guys. For me, it was just a simple thing to do.” On contrast, Bobby Cox won’t be part of baseball anymore. He plans to travel and also play golf, in one word he is looking to live out of any schedule. “I don’t really have a bucket list,” he said during the news conference.
Still, he will remain team’s consultant and will eventually be present at spring training sometimes. Asked if he feels pressure at the moment, Gonzalez didn’t shape any gesture in this direction, but on the contrary. “I don’t feel any outside pressure because I’m the next guy after Bobby. It never crossed my mind to shy away from being that guy. Somebody’s got to do it. I’m honored they asked me to do it.” Wren, who had a long discussion with Gonzalez after he was fired from Marlins, confirmed the new coach has a strong personality. “Players gravitate toward him. They like playing for him. It’s important that guys like playing for you, because they’ll usually play even better. We’ve seen him over the course of time. Managing at the major league level is different, but we saw what he did at Florida. He ran a good game.”
Gonzalez mentioned he won’t proceed the way Cox did as several changes will be needed, according to him. Cox stamp might be still there for a while though as first-base coach Glenn Hubbard and bench coach Chino Cadahia will keep their job instead. But this didn’t seem to disturb the new boss. “There’s not going to be a lot of crazy changes. The players might not even notice it. But whoever comes in has their own little way of doing things,” Gonzalez ended.
