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Atlanta Braves to Choose Between Snitker, Black, Washington

By Alan Carpenter

Sep 16, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics third base coach Ron Washington (38) poses for a photo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeat the A
Sep 16, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics third base coach Ron Washington (38) poses for a photo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeat the A /
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Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves interim manager Brian Snitker (43) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrate a victory against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves interim manager Brian Snitker (43) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrate a victory against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Brian Snitker

Snit became the “people’s choice” for the Atlanta job over the Summer as he was at the helm when both the team and the fans rallied down the stretch to completely change the mood at 755 Hank Aaron Drive.

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This turn-around certainly had a huge impact, and there may have been some unintended consequences as a result:

  • Good:  Added team revenue by (barely) beating 2015 attendance… though this looked bleak early on.
  • Bad:  Went from 1st overall draft pick (and the associated draft pool spending allocation) to 5th in the last month of the season.
  • Good:  The team showed a vitality and drive not expected after the first month of the season
  • Bad:  This result effectively shut out any other internal managerial candidates

Indeed Snitker, 60,  was only supposed to be the guy who kept the seat warm until a “real” manager could be hired.  Terry Pendleton, Eddie Perez, and perhaps Bo Porter were expected to be the top internal choices… but between the team’s successes and the camaraderie surrounding Snitker, the Front Office was left with an awkward situation… the man they chose to get to dreaded “interim” tag to avoid signaling a preference ended up with the only seat in a short game of musical chairs.

The Braves could still select Snitker.  After all, his experience in the minors is unparalleled, and that’s his main advantage.  Unfortunately, it’s also a disadvantage as his best role might just be back managing the AAA team precisely because of that knowledge.

However, his experience with major league players – both his own and those around the league – is somewhat limited, and managing pitching at AA or AAA is nothing like managing pitching at this level.  The players have given Snit high marks for leaping over the learning curve, but all of this introduces a risk that the Front Office has to balance.

There’s also the issue of the unknown.  Could the Braves have had the same Sizzling Summer with a different man running the show?  Did the mood swing in the clubhouse come from Brian, from the absence of Fredi Gonzalez, from the more relaxed schedule, or the general changes in personnel?  That’s a question without an answer.

For certain, while Snitker has been with the team longer than any of the people evaluating his candidacy, he has certainly earned a new measure of respect for the effort this Summer – one that will undoubtedly keep him employed by the Braves for as long as he wants to continue.

But the betting here is that he will not be continuing as the major league field boss at this time.

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