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Washington Nationals Editorial: Where Does Dusty Baker Rank Among Managers In The NL East?

By Ricky Keeler

Feb 20, 2016; Viera, FL, USA; Washington Nationals head coach Dusty Baker looks on during a work out at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Viera, FL, USA; Washington Nationals head coach Dusty Baker looks on during a work out at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) makes a pitching change against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Cardinals 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) makes a pitching change against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Cardinals 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Fredi Gonzalez – Atlanta Braves

Gonzalez has had the task of being the next manager after Hall-Of-Famer Bobby Cox in Atlanta. In his first three seasons, he won 89+ games, including a division title in 2013 (96-66 record). However, in the last two seasons, the Braves are 146-188 and coming off of a 67-95 season in 2015.

The 52-year-old Gonzalez has been a manager in the NL East since 2007 when he was with the then Florida Marlins. In four years with the Marlins, he had a 276-279 record (.497 winning percentage) and Florida never finished higher than second in any of those seasons.

Heading into the final year at Turner Field, the expectations are low for the Braves this year, so Gonzalez won’t have to make the playoffs just to keep his job, but you would think he would have to get his players to compete every day and get better as the season progresses. Plus, he doesn’t have much job security when you consider he has one year left on his deal with a club option for the 2017 season.

As the Braves continue their rebuild, they will be moving into a new ballpark in 2017. With Freddie Freeman as the lone superstar in the lineup, it will be up to Gonzalez to try to get the most out of his young players to try to impress John Hart and the Atlanta front office to keep him around past this season, especially after the team went 18-37 over the final 55 games of last season.

Next: Number Three

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