I don't disagree, and I like Wren for the record. But man this organization has to see that Fredi is a dolt, right?
If not, then we are in big trouble.
There are a few problems.
1) Despite the fact that we all know Fredi sucks, the Braves are a results over process organization. They don't care that Fredi, with his dumb in game managing, costs his team five games a year. They see all the adversity the Braves overcome and think he gives them an extra five games because of his "rallying ability" or whatever, despite the fact we've seen different.
2) The ownership sees the fact Atlanta has won 90 games for three plus years, the fact the Braves crowds are getting bigger, and they are perfectly happy with that. They are in the money business, not the winning business. Why fire a manager, pay his buyout, and then pay a new manager when we've made the playoffs two straight years and just won the East handily?
3) You can make easy excuses for Fredi. In 2011, he lost his two best starting pitchers. In 2012, a bad call flipped the game around. In 2013, he only had three decent starting pitching with B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla playing like **** this season. An outsider who doesn't follow this team every day like us, they see these facts and say "Damn, Fredi can really rally his guys despite adversity!" and people will question why you fire. Take 2011. Why did Terry Francona get fired? Not because the organization strictly wanted him gone, but the fanbase demanded change. Atlanta, despite its improvements as a sports town, isn't going to demand change with three straight 90+ win seasons on his belt.
4) He's a good friend of Bobby Cox and a Bobby Cox disciple. It doesn't like it should factor, but Bobby still works in the organization and has a powerful voice whenever he speaks. How do I know this? He's Bobby Cox. You heard Bobby during game one. He's been "great" and what not. I think that plays a part.
5) This organization isn't modern thinking. Fredi manages old school. The organization is old school. We saw in the broadcast booth two weeks ago when poor Tom Hart brought up a couple commonly accepted modern stats and Joe/Chip ripped him a new one. That's not just Joe/Chip being uneducated *******s. That's an organizational thinking. The Braves don't realize how a modern bullpen should operate, that defense is more important in the playoffs, or how platoons are really helpful. It sucks, but they see Fredi and he's just being an old school guy going with his gut. WHAT BALLS! When in actuality, that's an idiotic way of thinking.
Anyways, the short version. The organization is short-sighted and Fredi Gonzalez will be the manager for the Atlanta Braves for a long time.