Fredi Gonzalez took over as Braves manager before the 2011 season. The team won one playoff game in his tenure. Here are the 10 toughest things Gonzalez faced:
10. Following legendary manager Bobby Cox as Braves skipper in 2011. Cox won 2,149 games as Braves manager (with 1,709 losses) and had become the identity of the team after 25 seasons.
9. Losing the bat and leadership of Braves great Chipper Jones to retirement after the 2012 season.
8. Injuries: Every team has them, but Braves pitchers seemed to be hit especially hard in Gonzalez’s first five seasons. In 2013, Tim Hudson fractured an ankle in a July game and the injury ended his season. Two young starters the Braves counted on to fill their rotation for years, Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, both needed major elbow surgery — twice. In 2015, veteran Jason Grilli appeared able to handle the closer’s role after the team traded Craig Kimbrel, but Grilli suffered a ruptured Achilles in July and missed the rest of the season.
7. The 2016 arrest and suspension of expensive left-fielder Hector Olivera because of allegations of assault. Olivera was a key part of the Braves’ rebuilding plans, and the incident brought embarrassment to the organization.
6. The agonizing struggles of Dan Uggla, who the Braves were paying $62 million over five seasons. The veteran second baseman hit 36 homers for the Braves in his first season (2011), but his average plummeted to .179 in 2013 and .162 in 2014.
5. More unbearable struggles from another expensive veteran. This time it was center fielder Melvin Upton Jr., who the Braves signed to a five-year, $75.25 million contract. Upton hit .184 and .208 before the Braves had to include Kimbrel in a trade to make another team take Upton and his contract.
4. The stunning 2015 trade of Kimbrel, recognized as the best closer in baseball at the time. The Braves dealt him to the Padres just before the season started.
3. Seeing more of his best players traded away. Besides Kimbrel, the Braves also gave up Gold Glove right fielder Jason Heyward, Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons and slugging catcher Evan Gattis.
2. September swoons under Gonzalez: The Braves were 9-18 in September 2011 and wasted an 8 1/2-game lead in the wild-card standings. The Braves were 4-16 in September 2014.
1. A regime change at GM that also brought great philosophical changes to the organization. Frank Wren filled the roster with veteran players on long-term contracts but when he was fired and replaced by John Hart after the 2014 season, the priority changed to youth and inexpensive veterans. And the losses piled up.
