Reviewing 3 questionable decisions by Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker during NLDS
Making managerial decisions in the MLB postseason is no easy task. They will not keep us from scratching our heads on some of the calls made by Braves manager Brian Snitker in the NLDS.
1. Switching Up The Lineup in Game 1
For the majority of the season, Brian Snitker filled out the lineup card with the same order and same positions. The only consistence difference was who was in left field and that simply depending on the opposing starting pitcher. (Eddie Rosario vs. lefties and Kevin Pillar vs. right-handers).
Game 1 of the NLDS, Austin Riley jumped up to hit 2nd in the batting order and Ozzie Albies dropped down to clean up. Snitker's reasoning for the shake up was that this lineup would provide better matchups against the Phillies southpaw relievers and give Ozzie Albies RBI chances since Riley had been scuffling as of late.
The fact of the matter is when postseason play begins, it almost like the start of a new season. Adrealine gets going, games mean more and players are laying it all on the line. With that being said, Austin Riley has proven himself to be a hero in October. This switch up took those RBI chances away from Riley.
2. Bryce Elder Starts Game 3
With Charlie Morton sidelined with injury in the NLDS, the Braves were short handed in the starting pitching department. Bryce Elder was a steady part of the rotation during the regular season but had fell off drastically at the end of the year.
Now, this one is more debatable than what it may seem on the surface. The only other options Snitker had for Game 3 was to start AJ Smith-Shawver who had only stepped on a MLB mound five times in his young career or go with a bullpen game.
Smith-Shawver has the capability of being effective but that would have been a big roll of the dice in an enviorment like Philly. The only arm in the bullpen that could have been trusted to go multiple innings was Michael Tonkin who also had struggled mightly as of late.
However, after seeing the results of the decision that was made, it does make you wonder what would have happened if Smith-Shawver had gotten the nod with the Phillies never seeing him before and having limited film on his repertoire.
3. Bullpen Decisions
Perhaps the most intruiging moves Brian Snitker made during the NLDS was the arms he used in certain situations. The biggest one that comes to mind was in Game 3. Bryce Elder was visibly struggling and had gotten himself in a jam in the third inning.
After giving up a game-tying homerun earlier in the frame, Elder faced Bryce Harper with two runners on. While it may had been just the third inning, it felt like the game was on the line. When Phillies manager felt this way in Game 1 of the series, he pulled his starter, Ranger Suarez from the contest and wound up victorious thanks to his bullpen. Brian Snitker had a different strategy.
Elder went on to face Harper and surrendered a long three run home run that set the stage for an eventual 10-2 rout. The first question from this situation is why Elder was allowed to face Bryce Harper to begin with when Brad Hand was in the bullpen who the Braves acquired to face left-handed batters in big moments. It doesn't stop there.
After the Harper blast, Michael Tonkin, arguably the Braves worst reliever on the NLDS roster entered the game. At this point, it felt like Brian Snitker had already conceded the game. This would have been a perfect situation to just throw all arms for an inning in hopes to keep the offense within striking distance.
Instead, Tonkin went on the allow two more runs in the inning, making the score 6-1 in a hostile enviornment with a more than struggling Braves offense.
We may question decisions of MLB managers but at the end of the day, Braves fans should still put their trust in Brian Snitker. He has led this club to six straight division titles and a World Series championship. It is much easier to say what the right decision was in a scenario after we see the negative results. There is a reason is the man holding the lineup card.