Oh, I'm panicked about the exact same thing. I'm trying not to think about it. The broadcast team was thrilled when he returned, and many fans on Reddit seemed to be as well. I am sitting here wondering if these folks even remember the years he managed ATL. Why would anyone be excited for that to return?
Yes, but Bobby Cox returned and became a legend!!!!
Of course, Bobby Cox also inherited a train wreck in 1978, a team coming off a 61-101 season. He released some guys we didn't need (the one debatable one is Tom Paciorek still had years left).
Then he:
- drafted a Rookie of the Year (Horner) and Cy Young winner (Bedrosian) in his first draft
- picked up a decent closer (Garber) from the Phillies
- drafted Brett Butler in 1979
- traded for Chris Chambliss, a decent first baseman with some power
Those moves right there turned the Braves from a 101 loss team to a one game above .500 team in his third season. Atlanta PROBABLY was undone as much as anyone by the 1981 baseball strike. On May 8, the Braves were in second, four games out (MUCH better than previous years). But shortly thereafter, the Braves lost 7 of 8 but beat the first-place Dodgers 4 of 6 times. When the games went on hiatus, the Braves were 9.5 games out in fourth - which was not bad for what fans knew at the time. When the games started again, the Braves were only 2 out on September 2 and only 2.5 ten days later. That's when the Braves collapsed, going 4-12 and finishing way out. Cox then got canned - and Joe Torre inherited a dynasty in the making that he destroyed.
Then Cox went to Toronto and in just four years, he had them as the best team in the AL. Then he came back and we were patient enough to give him six years to rebuild the Braves.
Fredi inherited a 91-win playoff team (2010) and:
- total collapse in 2011
- lost in play-in game in 2012
- 96 wins and then scored 5 runs in 4 playoff games and lost to LA
- 79, 67, and then 9-28 when he got canned.
Fredi needs to be in the stadium - in the stands with the rest of us.