The Atlanta Braves are having the worst season in the Brian Snitker era as manager. The team is full of core talent, but this season feels like one that will be forgotten by year’s end. With Snitker in the final year of his contract, there are many rumors swirling that this could be the end of his tenure.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he's already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
If Snitker is going out, he’s still doing so by putting Ronald Acuña Jr. under the microscope.
“At 27 years old, Acuña Jr. knows exactly what is expected of him. No one is tougher on Acuña Jr. than himself, and by moving him down in the lineup two days in a row, Snitker is taking unnecessary shots at a player who is just trying to get healthy again. Whether he stays or goes, Snitker could come to regret such a decision,” FanSided’s Mike Powell wrote.
If Snitker is done, then the manager position must be filled. One name mentioned is someone who played for Snitker and won a World Series with Atlanta.
“Looks like projection to me, but Travis D’Arnaud. They respect him, that is the biggest part of that, which makes me think Travis D’Arnaud could go in with a year on his contract. He could become a manager because that is what everyone believes is next for him,” 680 The Fan’s Chuck Oliver said.
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D’Arnaud is a wildcard candidate, but he is loved by everyone in the clubhouse. He was a key part of the World Series team and is a strong vocal leader. While this would certainly be the most ideal move, it could also be the most respected managerial option from a player standpoint.