When Brian Snitker first was hired as the Atlanta Braves manager, winning wasn't the veteran's most important job. Yes, the Braves were nearing the end of a rebuild but would endure two more years of losing before getting their first taste of postseason contention on the other side of a rebuild. During those two years, it was Snitker's job to help elevate Atlanta's young talent and evaluate who would play into the future as the team turned the page.
This happened in the 2018 season and the Braves have been back to the playoffs every year since. Top front office spending and great organizational talents have made Snitker's job far easier. The Atlanta manager had a predictable lineup, rotation, and often reliable relievers as well. The manager simply needed to be the calming force and, at times, the adult in the room.
Braves Manager Brian Snitker Must Change His Approach After Atlanta's Alarming Start to the Season
We saw this shift somewhat in the 2024 season when Atlanta was completely ravaged by injuries. Snitker had to manage at a level the veteran hadn't been asked to do since his first seasons in the role. No longer did the team have a reliable lineup or predictable rotation that could be relied on. Snitker was forced to piece things together and limp his team into the 2024 postseason.
In a year that was supposed to be a return to stability, the Braves now find themselves in an early hole. For the first week of the season, they were easily the worst team in baseball. Snitker attempted to push early buttons by removing Orlando Arcia from the starting lineup and using different outfield and bullpen combinations. The results have been less than stellar and left some Atlanta fans frustrated with the manager.
As understandable as this frustration might be, Snitker is making the only change he can. This team isn't going to make it back to the postseason by dropping the same lineup every game and relying on the same combination of relievers. For one of the few times in his managing career, Snitker is going to have to be willing to make consistent changes and ride with the hot hand.
This means consistent lineup shifts and not being afraid to bench star players who aren't getting the job done. We've already seen this done early in the season with Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris both being benched at different points. Snitker's job has grown infinitely more difficult as expectations for the Braves waver.
If the Braves are going to turn their season around, three things must happen: timely additions, star players improving, and Snitker being willing to consistently manipulate and alter his lineups and bullpen usage. Sitting well under .500, the road isn't going to be easy, however, there is no better calming force than Brian Snitker.