Atlanta Braves Make More Coaching Changes

In addition to signing Fredi Gonzalez as the new head coach, the Braves have made a number of other coaching moves as well. Here's an excerpt taken from Talking Chop.

Terry Pendleton will be retained, but will become the first base coach and infield instructor. Carlos Tosca will follow Fre-Go from Florida to Atlanta and become the Braves new bench coach. Chino Cadahia and Glenn Hubbard will not be retained.

The Pendleton move is my favorite, while the Hubbard loss will hurt the most, in my opinion. It's good to see Pendleton accepting a demotion, despite wanting a shot to manage a club. Pendleton was far from a great hitting coach, so his move to first should allow the Braves to get another respectable hitting mind in their clubhouse. Tosca has been a coach since 1978, so he has more experience than you could ask for.

Fredi Gonzalez Officially Named Atlanta Braves Manager As Bobby Cox Looks On

Sitting next to Bobby Cox at the former (whoa) manager’s final press conference, Fredi Gonzalez was officially introduced as the next manager of the Atlanta Braves. He’s signed a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year.

Martin Gandy of Talking Chop has more on the staff Gonzalez will be working with:

The Braves will retain Roger McDowell as the pitching coach, Eddie Perez as the bullpen coach, and Brian Snitker as the third base coach. Terry Pendleton will be retained, but will become the first base coach and infield instructor. Carlos Tosca will follow Fre-Go from Florida to Atlanta and become the Braves new bench coach. Chino Cadahia and Glenn Hubbard will not be retained. The club will undergo a search for a new hitting coach.

Fredi Gonzalez To Be Named Braves Manager On Thursday: David O'Brien Confirms Report

Martin Gandy of Talking Chop says:

I guess that settles it. I like the choice. He’s a Braves kind of guy, pretty much every player already likes the guy, he’ll fit right in and retain that Coxian style in the Braves clubhouse.

So far Talking Chop’s comment section agrees.

More to come.

Fredi Gonzalez Reportedly To Be Named Braves Manager, As Expected

If reports are accurate, we can look forward to seeing a man after Bobby Cox’s own heart leading the Braves next season.

Even before the Marlins fired Gonzalez, an act that irked Cox into publicly criticizing Florida ownership, Jeff Schultz was calling for him to be offered the job.

We’ve long expected Gonzalez to be the frontrunner for the job, but nobody foresaw the news hitting this quickly.

Gonzalez guided the Fish to two winning records in his four years in Miami. He should have more to work with in Atlanta, as Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is famously thrifty.

We’ll have more to come soon and as more news breaks.

Fox 5: Atlanta Braves To Name Fredi Gonzalez As Bobby Cox's Successor

The Atlanta Braves will name Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager according to a report from Fox 5 Sports.  Gonzalez has previous ties to the Braves as he was Atlanta's third base coach from 2003-2006 and prior to that was a manager in the minor league system.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also recently speculated that Gonzalez would be the Braves choice to replace Bobby Cox, getting a couple of players to go on the record with their thoughts on the matter.

"Fredi Gonzalez is always first in my mind that pops up, just because this organization has been run the same for so long," pitcher Derek Lowe said. "I can't imagine, especially since [Braves president John] Schuerholz is still here and Bobby's going to go upstairs, so you're going to have that same group of guys that have been running this organization successfully for so long, I can't see them all of a sudden saying, ‘Hey, let's go in a completely different direction than we've ever been in.'

"I think Fredi would be a great choice," outfielder Matt Diaz said. "I was only here one year with him, but watching him in Florida and the way his players responded to him in Florida ... No offense to Hanley [Ramirez], but with the way Hanley handled that ball and the way Fredi handled that situation, Fredi earned a lot of respect from me, too."

Gonzalez most recently managed the Florida Marlins, but was fired after the Marlins began the 2010 season with a 34-36 record, shortly after he benched superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez for what he perceived to be a lack of hustle. Gonzalez went 276-279 in parts of four seasons with Florida.

With his ties to the Braves, as well as the front office, it seems this move will be a smooth transition.