After Cox, Braves move on with Gonzalez

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- For Fredi Gonzalez, the Braves' first new manager since "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons" were new shows, this transition is not about forgetting Bobby Cox but remembering him. And that's fortunate, because Cox still is around every day.

After 21 seasons, 14 consecutive division titles, four National League pennants and a World Series ring, there still is a prime parking space at Champion Stadium that bears the sign "BOBBY COX." It generally is occupied by 8 a.m. Cox tries to stay out of the way, but he still can walk through the clubhouse without seeming like an outsider. The other day, with a big smile, the retired manager said his golf game is "horrible" because he plays too much.

Among the happiest to see him is Gonzalez, who used to work for Cox and was the legendary manager's choice to become like a guy succeeding Bear Bryant as football coach at Alabama.

"I've used that analogy before, but you know what? Bobby wants us to succeed," Gonzalez said. "Bobby is here every day. We talk all the time, about the team, about what we're doing out there. He's a big part of it."

"It" is the Braves' new world, without the manager who had led them since 1990 and retired after last season at age 69 with 2,504 victories -- fourth in major-league history. It looks much like the Braves' old world, which is the whole idea. Same clubhouse chemistry, same system of veterans teaching youngsters, same high goals.

"This organization has had a lot of success doing it a certain way,'' said Brian McCann, a five-time All-Star catcher. "They've done something that no other franchise has ever done, 14 straight division titles. The recipe for success is here. There's no point in messing with it."

Gonzalez was the Braves' Triple-A manager and then third-base coach under Cox from 2002-06 before becoming manager of the Marlins (who fired him last season).

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"I've been gone for four years and they've given me the opportunity to come back and it has been great. The people haven't changed, all the way from John and Frank," Gonzalez said, referring to team president John Schuerholz and general manager Frank Wren, "to the clubhouse guys and minor-league coaches. That's nice."

Yes, but it's also tricky. Gonzalez has to balance tradition and innovation so as not to be seen as Bobby Cox Lite.

"I think Fredi is very conscientious about the transition, on all sides -- Bobby's transition, Fredi's transition and the players' transition," said Chipper Jones, the third baseman whose 16-year career has been played entirely under Cox. "He has tried to do everything he can to make things easier on everybody."

As Eric Hinske said, "Fredi is different from Bobby, way different. I think he's trying not to think about that, honestly. He's trying to be his own person, his own manager."

Veteran Braves-watchers say training camp has been more detail-oriented and drills have been more elaborate this season.

Gonzalez is fortunate that he has two parts of Cox's old formula: young talent (rightfielder Jason Heyward and first baseman Freddie Freeman) and a solid rotation (Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson and Jair Jurrjens).

It does say something that the new manager is confident enough not to feel as if someone is looking over his shoulder. "You know why I'm like that? Because I know the man. He is a mentor and he is genuinely happy when we win," Gonzalez said. "He wants us to do well. He'll do anything in the world for you.''

Said Hudson, "I don't think anybody expected Bobby to take it to the house and never be seen again. He's a baseball guy. He loves the game, he loves this team, he loves the organization. But you can't play or manage forever. It's not like he was fired. It was all on his terms. I think everybody knew it was going to be an easy transition."