Former Marlins Manager Takes Over Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS4/AP) Former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez certainly moved up the pecking order of baseball after he was fired by the Marlins. Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves named Gonzalez to replace legendary manager Bobby Cox.
For the last year, Cox has said this would be his final season. While some of the Braves showed their age, namely third baseman Chipper Jones, a bevy of youngsters propelled the Braves to the playoffs.
Most baseball writers had expected Gonzalez to take over after he was fired by the Marlins in June. The announcement of Gonzalez as manager immediately followed Cox's farewell news conference.
Gonzalez worked as the Braves' third base coach from 2003-2006 before taking control of the Marlins for the last 3 1/2 years. Gonzalez kept the team at or near .500 despite having what baseball writers consider to be the worst ownership in all of baseball.
