...not shocking in anyway. This was rumored down here as soon as Bobby Cox announced his retirement.
Updated: October 12, 2010, 11:28 PM ET
Report: Braves hire Fredi Gonzalez
ESPN.com news services
The Atlanta Braves have hired former Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez as manager, two sources told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
Longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox retired Monday after the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs by the Giants. Cox will have a press conference at Turner Field on Wednesday and Gonzalez will be introduced on Thursday, according to the paper.
Gonzalez was was fired in June after 3½ years as the Marlins manager, having posted a 276-279 record with one of baseball's lower payrolls but apparently running afoul of owner Jeffrey Loria for benching star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for a lack of hustle.
Gonzalez was a minor league manager in the Braves organization and did an apprenticeship as Cox's third-base coach from 2003-06. He still lives in suburban Atlanta, remained tight with Cox and frequently turned up at Turner Field after being dumped by the Marlins.
The Braves were expected to move quickly to make a hire. Cox announced that he planned to retire at season's end a year ago.
Report: Atlanta Braves hire ex-Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez - ESPN
Updated: October 12, 2010, 11:28 PM ET
Report: Braves hire Fredi Gonzalez
ESPN.com news services
The Atlanta Braves have hired former Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez as manager, two sources told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
Longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox retired Monday after the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs by the Giants. Cox will have a press conference at Turner Field on Wednesday and Gonzalez will be introduced on Thursday, according to the paper.
Gonzalez was was fired in June after 3½ years as the Marlins manager, having posted a 276-279 record with one of baseball's lower payrolls but apparently running afoul of owner Jeffrey Loria for benching star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for a lack of hustle.
Gonzalez was a minor league manager in the Braves organization and did an apprenticeship as Cox's third-base coach from 2003-06. He still lives in suburban Atlanta, remained tight with Cox and frequently turned up at Turner Field after being dumped by the Marlins.
The Braves were expected to move quickly to make a hire. Cox announced that he planned to retire at season's end a year ago.
Report: Atlanta Braves hire ex-Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez - ESPN