By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Well, the Atlanta Braves made some noise and it wasn’t the kind anyone really saw coming.

In a pretty rare midseason move, they’ve shaken up the coaching staff, reassigning third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo and bringing in an old, familiar face. Braves fans, please meet Fredi Gonzalez.

Yeah, that Fredi Gonzalez. The same guy who once managed the Braves, got fired, and was replaced by Brian Snitker is now joining Snit’s staff as the new third base coach.

So, what happened?

Tuiasosopo isn’t being kicked to the curb entirely. He’s moving into a new role as the team’s minor league infield coordinator. The change stems from one big issue, which has been a growing number of overly aggressive sends at third base that cost the Braves runs in close games.

There is no denying that with Atlanta finding itself in more than a few nail biters lately, every base, and every possible run, counts.

What makes this move especially interesting is that General Manager Alex Anthopoulos had never made an in-season coaching change before. Not in Atlanta, not in Toronto, not ever.

He said this was something he’d been thinking about for a while. It wasn’t a snap decision, and it wasn’t just about frustration. It all came down to one thing, and that was the availability of the right guy.

When Fredi Gonzalez’s name came up, everything clicked. He’s got tons of big-league experience, including time as a third base coach under Bobby Cox before managing the Braves and Marlins.

Most recently, he coached with the Orioles and even spent time evaluating umpires and working at a small college in Pennsylvania.

But more than his resumé, Anthopoulos said it had to be someone who could step in right away and be effective.

No guesswork, no experiments. And with Fredi, the reviews around the league were glowing. Add in the fact that he and Snitker are longtime friends who just worked together recently in Philly, and the decision became a lot easier.

Tuiasosopo, to his credit, handled the move like a pro. Anthopoulos said they gave him the option to stay in the organization or move on, and Tui wanted to stay.

He’s still well liked in the clubhouse, and his work with the Braves’ infielders has been a huge part of the team’s defensive success. Now, he’ll continue that impact at the minor league level.

And let’s be real, third base coach is one of the most pressure packed spots on a staff. You’re making split second decisions that can literally swing games.

So, it’s not a knock on Tuiasosopo as a coach or as a person, it just wasn’t the right fit in that role right now. Anthopoulos even said they wouldn’t have made a change unless someone with Fredi’s experience was available. That’s how rare this move was.

There were no other changes considered. Snitker and Anthopoulos both still believe in the rest of the coaching staff. But with the team grinding through so many close games this year, this was a move they felt could make a real difference.

At the end of the day, it’s about getting better wherever you can, even if the change is tough.

Gonzalez brings stability, credibility, and a fresh set of eyes to a spot where the Braves really needed it. Time will tell if it pays off, but if you’re looking for a spark that could turn one-run losses into one-run wins, this might be it.