Thursday's off day for the Atlanta Braves came and went without the managerial change that many were expecting. Fredi Gonzalez will be in the dugout for the Atlanta Braves when they open a three-game set Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, how long he will remain in that capacity is still unknown.
Braves General Manager John Coppolella sat down for an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien to discuss Gonzalez's status. He stopped short of giving a vote of confidence saying only that the situation was fluid and that they continue to evaluate all of their options.
“I’m not into vote of confidence for anybody,” Coppolella said. “Whether it’s Fredi, whether it’s our scouting director, our director of player development, anybody. Every day is a vote of confidence. Every day that he fills out that lineup card and leads that clubhouse, it’s a vote of confidence.
“I don’t want to name names, but a GM last year gave his manager a vote of confidence and fired him 72 hours later. So that’s not the way we’re going to operate here. You won’t hear a vote of confidence, but you also won’t hear us say anything negative about Fredi, either.”
Coppolella went on to mention the start for the Braves and talked about the thinking that they would be better this season. He acknowledged that some players like Ender Inciarte have been out of the lineup and that the starting rotation was just beginning to take shape with the additions of Aaron Blair and Mike Foltynewicz.
This doesn't necessarily take the heat off of Gonzalez. Inciarte is due back on Saturday and the schedule is about to lighten up from what has been one of the most difficult stretches in the majors thus far. However, if the on field product doesn't improve, then the front office may well opt to make a change.
For the time being though, it looks Gonzalez may hang onto his job for a bit longer.