Fredi Gonzalez never had a prayer with the Atlanta Braves

Fredi Gonzalez was, as expected, fired as the Atlanta Braves manager, and he should have seen it coming six years ago.

It wasn’t your fault, Fredi. Really, it wasn’t. You were doomed from day one when you stepped into the clubhouse at Turner Field to take over as manager, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Gonzalez’s dismissal had nothing to do with the Braves’ wretched 9-18 start under his watch (not Fredi’s fault), and it had nothing to do with the fact that management decided to have a Marlins-like fire sale with all the playable talent over the past two seasons (not Fredi’s fault).

No, Fredi was never going to succeed as the Braves manager short of bringing in one more World Series title than his predecessor did over 25 seasons and two employment stints.

Let’s see…that would have been…two, right?

Gonzalez had the unfortunate task of stepping into the shoes (and shadow) of arguably one of the best managers in MLB history, and absolutely the most beloved clubhouse general in Atlanta sports history, Bobby Cox.

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No pressure.

Nothing was going to be good enough – not for fans, not for the media and not for many players who spent the bulk of their careers learning under Cox.

This isn’t to say that Gonzalez didn’t make some mistakes, because he did. His bullpen management was undeniably bizarre at times, and there were other instances when his lineup-making ability should have come under a serious psychological battery of tests.

But do you know who else had similar problems early in his managerial career?

Fredi’s predecessor (and mentor), the idolized Bobby Cox.

During his first go-round as manager of the Braves (1978-81), Cox compiled a paltry 266-323 record (.452 win pct), and was highly criticized for his coaching moves. I can still hear my late father screaming about him leaving starters in the game after they were gassed. Zero pennants and postseason appearances, and an exile to the Great White North of Toronto were his legacy.

During Fredi’s first five seasons (including one that contained the aforementioned fire sale), he led the Braves to a record of 425-385 (.525 win pct) with two postseason appearances and one division title.

And he did it with everyone telling him how piss-poor a manger he was.

None of the positives mattered. None of it. The late-season collapses by the team? Blamed on Fredi. The fact that former GM Frank Wren wouldn’t recognize a bargain even if a Walmart circular were tattooed on his arm? Blamed on Fredi. The poor play by a group of guys who’d do well to beat a decent Double-A team? Blamed on Fredi.

That sound you’re hearing are the bus tires thumping across Fredi’s body.

Fredi was the fall guy, make no mistake about it. An organization which preaches loyalty and family turned on their on-field leader like a mob informant. They needed a scapegoat for the roster blunders and over-estimation of available young talent, and Fredi (already being a public target) was conveniently there.

But not all is lost, Fredi. Don’t be despondent. Things may seem dark now, but I’m sure your mentor would tell you that things can and will work out.

Cox left the Braves in a shambles in 1981, and went on to Toronto to help them build an eventual World Series winning team before being beckoned back to the deep south by the very franchise who had exiled him.

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The rest, as they say, is history.

They say baseball may be coming back to Montreal, so keep your chin up coach. The Braves are going to be an utter disaster with or without you at the helm for quite a while.

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