Chipper Jones is not walking through that door. Tim Hudson and Brian McCann have moved on. Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz are enjoying retirement.
The Braves are left searching for their next clubhouse leader.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said that backup catcher Gerald Laird and starting pitcher Aaron Harang have taken on leadership roles this season, although each are in the lineup once a week. He sees signs from Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward to assume the role.
Still, it’s not an easy position to fill.
“I think some of the other guys are becoming that (leader),” Gonzalez said. “I think (Freddie) Freeman has shown signs of that. I think Jason (Heyward) has shown some signs of that. I don’t manage the clubhouse any differently (now). It’s nice to have that but how many teams have that, have that one guy? That leader label is not overused but the qualities that you want are hard to find. It’s usually an older player, that is productive, that is still part of the lineup. How many guys can do that? How many older players do you still run out there two or three times a week? You can be the older play that is still around but you are don’t playing every day or you don’t play at all, it’s uncomfortable I would think for that leadership to come out.
“Chipper (Jones) was a perfect example. Chipper wasn’t only all those things but he was going out there five times a week and still being productive. He would do it. He would say we need to suck it up and play better and he would go out and get three hits that night. I don’t know how many guys could do that.”
Certainly a vocal leader could help the Braves as they are mired in an eight-game losing streak going into Friday night’s game against the division leading Nationals. Gonzalez said he has not managed differently this season without a clear-cut leader in the clubhouse. Finding a player that can “walk the talk” does not come overnight, especially with such a young team.
Gonzalez admitted he has had conversations with Freeman about the subject.
“I’ve had conversations throughout our four years together,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not something you can just unload on somebody. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It’s something where you see some qualities and you help him and whenever they are ready, they are ready. It’s not easy. But yeah, we’ve had conversations about all kinds of scenarios and certain stuff, how to handle them, on and off the field, pressure is coming from all different areas. Also, we have the conversation of ‘Hey, how are you doing?’”
