The Atlanta Braves, once the darlings of the National League, now looking more like a car with a flat tire on I-75, are in a slump. And what happens when a talented team stumbles out of the gate? Everyone looks for someone to blame. Right now, that person is the manager, Brian Snitker. But don’t expect him to be shown the door anytime soon.
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, who dropped by Foul Territory to weigh in on the situation, Snitker’s job is not in immediate danger. Despite the chorus of angry fans calling for his head—and let’s be real, Braves Twitter can get vicious—Rosenthal made it clear that any change in leadership will have to come from Snitker himself. That’s right. The only person packing Snitker’s bags is Snitker.
The Stats and the Slumps
Let’s talk facts. Snitker has been with the Braves organization for 49 years. That’s not a typo. That’s nearly half a century of baseball loyalty. He led the team to seven consecutive postseason appearances, six division titles, and—let’s not forget—a 2021 World Series victory. You don’t just yank a guy like that off the bench because a few bats have gone cold.
And speaking of bats, Rosenthal pointed out something that’s a little inconvenient for the pitchfork crowd: some of the team’s biggest slumps aren’t on Snitker.
Michael Harris is hitting like he borrowed someone else’s swing. Ozzie Albies is struggling but has picked things up quite a bit lately. That’s not a managerial issue; it’s a performance issue. And while the clubhouse energy falls under Snitker’s umbrella, he can’t swing the bat for them.
Braves Roster Holes and Missing Heroes
Another critical point Rosenthal made is that the roster isn’t what it used to be. The team is missing longtime cornerstone players like Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson.
Even ace Max Fried’s absence has left a massive hole in the rotation. It’s hard to compete when the talent pipeline is thinner than usual. You can ask a manager to strategize, but you can’t ask him to be a magician.
Brian Snitker is Not Done Yet
Could this be Snitker’s last season? Sure. That’s a different conversation. Rosenthal acknowledged that the veteran skipper might retire or shift into another role once the dust settles. But get fired mid-season? Not likely.
So to the fans out there who are fuming: imagine giving nearly five decades to your employer and getting publicly skewered the first time things go sideways. That’s where Snitker is. And say what you will about how this season’s going—but the man’s earned the right to finish it on his terms.
If Sunday’s ejection against the Giants is any indication, maybe he’s still got a little fire left in him.
