The Atlanta Braves are moving into the future with a new general manager, after the organization announced the promotion of John Coppolella into the role, according to the Associated Press. Coppolella was with the Braves as an assistant general manager over the past three seasons.
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Coppolella, 37, was signed to a four-year deal and has a rebuilding project ahead of him. However, the young man seems to have more than enough energy, per the report:
"“When John Schuerholz took over as general manager 25 years ago, he won 14 straight (division) titles,” Coppolella said. “It has been nearly 10 years since he has been out of the GM chair, and we’ve won one title. We want to get back to where we can go to five World Series in nine years, which is what was done here in the 1990s.”"
Coppolella has plenty of work ahead of him. The Braves have not reached the playoffs since the 2012 season, when they lost a controversial Wild Card game to the St. Louis Cardinals. This year, Atlanta is 64-94 and in fourth place of the mediocre National League East.
At one point, the Braves were the franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta was a nothing team through most of the 1970s and 1980s before making a miracle run to the World Series in 1991. From that point on, the Braves won the NL East in each of the following 13 seasons, something that is likely never to be replicated.
The streak including trips to the World Series in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1999, with a championship in the 1995 campaign over the Cleveland Indians. Atlanta was led by a starting rotation headed up by Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, with all three likely headed to the Hall of Fame.