Since the Atlanta Braves made an early exit in the NLDS at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, many fans have voiced their opinions about manager Brian Snitker.
A lot of those opinions are misguided, and a result of frustration from another disappointing ending to a season. As easy as it is to blame the manager of a team when they’re playing poorly, Snitker is not the reason the offense fell asleep in the postseason.
Some want to blame the lineup choice in Game 1, which is farfetched at best.
That lineup decision put Marcell Ozuna and Ozzie Albies at the plate in key spots against lefties — like the lineup was designed — and if not for a couple of really good plays by Trea Turner, we’re likely praising the lineup decision.
And even if you wanted to blame the lineup decision on Snitker, there is a good chance that lineup choice came from the front office and was not Snitker’s call.
One could certainly criticize his decision-making in Game 3 — leaving Bryce Elder out there to face Bryce Harper or pitching to Bryce Harper at all.
We all knew Game 3 was likely a loss coming in. and Snitker was dealt a bad hand to even work with. Had he made the perfect pitching moves in that game. it likely results in the Braves losing 5-2 instead of 10-2.
And for those wanting to get a younger, more analytically thinking manager: look at all of the teams left in the postseason. Every manager left is 58 years old or older. Not to mention Snitker has assembled one of the greatest coaching staffs in all of baseball around him.
But those guys can’t go out there and hit for the players, and the lack of offense is why Atlanta lost.
Some may say that’s on Snitker for not doing more to help generate offense, but that’s not how this lineup is constructed. This lineup was built to slug, just like the Phillies.
Is Snitker a perfect manager? Not at all. But he is certainly not the reason for the Braves failure the past two postseasons.
For those wondering, the Braves extended Snitker before the 2023 season began, through the 2025 season. He’ll turn 70 after that season and it wouldn’t be surprising if he decided to hang it up after that — perhaps depending on how the next two seasons go.
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