The question of whether or not Fredi Gonzalez is an adequate manager for a franchise that spent the previous 20 years under one of the greatest managers of all time has surely been answered in 2013. The Braves have had injury after injury and players under-performing that should have derailed their season, but he has kept this team moving along without skipping a beat.
The list of impact players that have been on the D.L is incredible: Jason Heyward (twice), Jordan Schafer, BJ Upton, Reed Johnson, Freddie Freeman, Paul Janish, Tyler Pastronicky, Brian McCann, Remiro Pena, Dan Uggla, Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird, Brandon Beachy, Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Luis Ayala, Jonny Venters, Jordan Walden, Eric O'Flarerty and Cristhian Martinez.
Out of those 20 players, six of them went down with season-ending injuries.
These are key players - three of the best relievers on the team, the staff ace, every catcher, and another handful of starters. Not to mention that BJ Utpon and Dan Uggla have had horrible years.
The September collapse of 2011 was an unsettling end to Fredi Gonzalez' first year at the helm, but he has made up for it with a postseason appearance in 2012 and with what he has accomplished with this year's team. The Braves will not only win the NL East but are currently leading for the best record in baseball. It's a credit to Frank Wren's stockpile of players and Gonzalez' ability to manage this group with whatever card he's dealt.
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