Well, that certainly didn't take long.
Only a day after being eliminated from the National League wild-card race by losing 8 of their last 9 games, the Atlanta Braves announced today that they have relieved general manager Frank Wren of his duties, and have named John Hart as the new interim general manager.
This marks "the first time that one of baseball's most stable organizations has fired a GM or manager in nearly a quarter of a century," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Wren became Atlanta's GM in 2007 and oversaw playoff teams in 2010, 2012 and a division-winning team in 2013. He was in his 15th season with the organization, and spent the initial 8 years as an assistant to then-general manager, John Schuerholz.
The Braves have formed a "three-person transition team of Schuerholz, Hart and longtime former manager Bobby Cox to conduct the search for a permanent GM."
Over the course of this season, the team lost several starting pitchers due to injury, with Brandon Beachy, Kris Medlen and Gavin Floyd each missing significant time.
The squad was able to withstand the continual acts of attrition to its rotation for the most part, but what seems to have doomed Wren is the offense's inability to consistently score runs. They currently rank "29th in the majors in runs scored and slugging percentage, 27th in batting average with runners in scoring position, and 24th in on-base percentage," AJC reported.
Part of the reason for Wren's ousting is the lack of payoff from his recent acquisitions. Wren, who has had only one previous general manager position, lasting a year in Baltimore, was praised early in his tenure for many of his moves.
Lately though, trade and signings haven't worked out as well, with some in the Braves organization claiming, "the team suffered from a lack of veteran leadership, after failing to acquire any players with personalities like recent Braves veterans David Ross, Eric Hinske, Martin Prado, Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones, guys willing to step up and call a team meeting if necessary, or to straighten out a situation with another player individually behind closed doors."
Pricey players like B.J. Upton, Dan Uggla, Derek Lowe and pitcher Kenshin Kawakami have failed to live up to the lofty expectations created by their massive contracts.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also noted that, "Beyond contracts, there have been personality clashes between Wren and some other prominent Braves officials over the years, and several valued employees from the baseball operations staff and Braves minor league system have left for other organizations in recent years."
Coach Fredi Gonzalez seems to be safe, but has drawn the ire of fans, and will most likely head a very different looking coaching staff next season.
Wren is the first Braves GM to be fired since John Mullen in 1985.
