TODAY: Atlanta has announced that it is bringing back Snitker for 2018. Decisions on the coaching staff have yet to be made, the team noted.
YESTERDAY: The Braves are picking up manager Brian Snitker’s option for the 2018 season, Bill Shanks of the Macon Telegraph first reported (via Twitter). David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that decisions about the coaching staff are still being made, adding there won’t be a formal announcement of Snitker’s return until later this week.
The Atlanta organization didn’t finish the season well, limping to a 72-90 win-loss record after playing at a .500 clip through the first ninety games. That was the opposite scenario from the year prior, when the team improved after Snitker took the helm in the middle of the season.
It’s tough to blame Snitker too much for the struggles, though. While the front office evidently hoped for better, the team was relying on a mix of inexperienced players and aging veterans that never looked to make up a particularly reliable roster.
As the regular season wound down, there was plenty of speculation that the Braves would move on from Snitker and go out looking for another skipper to help the club move into contention. Then came the shocking departure of GM John Coppolella, which suddenly introduced uncertainty into an organization that had hoped for a return to its former stability.
Per O’Brien, the players generally support Snitker. With the fallout from the Coppolella situation still percolating — the league is still working through its investigation and the team will need to hire a new GM — president of baseball operations John Hart and president John Schuerholz may have decided the time was not right to pursue a change in the dugout.
Remember talks about being competitive for the new stadium? Yeah, still seems pretty far off…
How do you figure? The Braves we’re at .500 just before the deadline. You’re aware then no team in the AL that didn’t make the playoffs played .500 ball, right? If the Braves had of acquired bullpen help instead of selling starters, they very likely would have contended for a wildcard spot…they just weren’t built to win that game, so they sold pieces for the future.
You guys act like the Twins and the Yankees didn’t have loosing records last year. It doesn’t matter how you finish. If they ended the season well and had a 81/81 record, they still wouldn’t be in the playoffs and would have the 18th draft pick instead of the 8th.
I think this strategy is just fine.
Hahahahahahahahahahabaha
Constructive feedback. Thanks for that.
When you open that ugly sweater from your grandma at Christmas, and you have to lie and tell her you love it. Kind of how I feel right now.
You’d rather them hire someone the players hate?
Why does it have to be between Snitker and someone the players hate? The players love Ron Washington. We should’ve hired someone who the players love and knows a thing or two about strategy and rebuilding
Ron Washington should have gotten the job. He should have had it last year too.
It doesn’t have to see someone they hate, but removing someone they love could upset chemistry.
With this decision I don;t see the Braves being competitive in the near future
A one year deal with a position that typically doesn’t make much of a difference will definitely set a team back for years to come. You got this one right.
Correct, I mean, you never truly know, but for the most part, you are talking maybe a 4-6 win difference, with even one of the game’s better managers this past season..
Also, like NL_East_Rivalry said, it’s only a one year deal. 2018 will be the year of the major youth movement for the Braves anyways.
The Braves need to see what they truly have in their younger guys, especially with their up and coming starting pitchers…i.e. Gohara, Newcomb, Fried, and Sims..
This way, the Braves can further develop their prospects, see which ML-ready talents are worth keeping going forward, and then they can add to their core over the 2018 off-season…To finally make a real run come 2019..
I’m sure come the 2019 season, the Braves management and their new GM, will have a solid grasp on their group of candidates, and decide who the best manager is moving forward to grow with this young franchise…
Personally, my vote goes out to Eddie Perez…Although, from some reports I have read, he may not even make it to the 2018 coaching staff, unfortunately..
How do you guys know Snitker wasn’t hampered by Coppollea this past season? All other signs point to him being increasingly controlling…you think that didn’t apply to the dugout?
Makes sense. Whomever the new GM is they would want to give him the chance to hire his own manager. It’s just a one year option so it wouldn’t keep the new GM from hiring a new manager if Snitker doesn’t work out or work well with him.
Doesn’t mean they still couldn’t reassign him elsewhere in the organization later, before the next season starts.
Snitker maintains continuity on the field. I have a feeling we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg in the Coppolella scandal. Take heart, Braves fans – no storm lasts forever.
I’m not really a believer in his managing ability, but I don’t mind keeping him another year. Let the new GM get a bit of time in the organization before making his own decisions about hiring people. Plus the players supposedly love him and they could use something nice while the front office forgives their ish out.
Agreed, but I am interested to see him with a different roster hopefully with more youngins, which he has specialized in maturing. If it’s similar result in 2018 with a different presumed team (from a different GM) – move on. With all that’s gone on already, we need a little normalcy and consistency in the clubhouse.
Right now, I think a little normalcy could go a long way!!…
While the extension does not set off fireworks or portend playoff contention, Snitker is a long-time Brave and deserving of staying in the organization. If the majority of players support him and he adequately fills the need, he also makes good sense to stay at the helm of the Braves in the dugout. Although, I could see reassigning him and letting the new General Manager pick a Manager, when he gets to Atlanta. Its doubtful the reassignment will happen due to the Braves philosophy of loyalty and longevity, but maybe later on in the season. Additional changes and managerial plans was likely or will be discussed internally with Snitker and others. Brian is comfortable enough in life and the organization to either stay or retire/move to the front office in some capacity if the new GM wants to make a move next season or at the end of it, when we have a better idea about our true playoff contention window.
More importantly, we search and hope for a great GM with sound skills and a plan that will payoff now and long-term, along with waiting for the repercussions of the tampering/rule violation fiasco.
Eddie Perez is not the answer. It would most likely be Wash which wouldn’t be a bad thing. My hope is the crazy owner from MD fires Buck so we can bring him in.
The people left out on this decision are the fans. Look for attendance to drop severely next season as the Braves continue the slide toward irrelevance.
Braves are increasing their Win total each year, but nice try
Most of the casual fans like Snitker. He’s loyal almost too a fault, has the backing of the players including Freeman, and could be a bridge if needed. If he had no involvement in the shenanigans going on – and no reports I’ve read mention him – then his workman mentality could go a long way with what has to be a younger lineup. Remember that was his first full season as a MLB manager. Let’s hope he learns from some of his mistakes. He didn’t do poorly enough to lose his job, especially if we don’t have a GM (who will want a say in their long term field general) and knowing Snitker is still getting only 1 more year.
I know they’re going after a new GM, but this seems like a punt move in order to not rush the GM search, while easing the up in the air status of some of the franchise and calming the troops (players) all in one stroke. Make no mistake, I do think this is Snit’s last year in Atlanta, but now the F.O. can focus on finding someone that won’t destroy the work put into the rebuild and grant that new GM his choice of coaches next year. Less pressure coming in even if the coach is a lame duck.
Braves should make a splash! Trade Pache,Muller,Weigel,B.Wilson,A.Seymour and Kemp FOR Stanton and J.Brigham. Acquire Moustakas.
Trade with Tigers,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pache,Sims,Kemp,and Ruiz for Fulmer,Castellanos and Moreno. Play Camargo at 3B and Castellanos in LF. Sign Fister.