Atlanta Braves Fire Fredi Gonzalez
By Kyle Koster
Fredi Gonzalez has been fired by the Atlanta Braves, becoming the first Major League Baseball manager to get the ax this year. The handwriting has been on the wall for Gonzalez as his team has struggled mightily this season (9-28). Brian Snitker will take over on an interim basis.
Gonzalez led the Braves to the playoffs in 2012 and 2013 and compiled a 434-414 record while in Atlanta.
It’s debatable if someone else could possibly do better with the Braves’ punchless lineup. We’ll soon find out if there’s some magic left in the bats of Jeff Franceour, A.J. Pierzynski and the other assorted castoffs.
If there’s a silver lining for the franchise, it’s that they’ll have more flexibility next year as $50 million worth of salary expires.