It didn’t take but a few hours after the Braves season ended for Brian Snitker to reveal his intentions to return next season as the manager, saying he wishes Spring Training started tomorrow. The 68-year-old has spent over four decades with the organization and is undoubtedly nearing the end of his career, but he’s not done quite yet, as he hopes to lead the club back to glory at least one more time before he hangs it up.
Beyond that, Brian Snitker also announced that the plan is to bring back the entire coaching staff.
Brian Snitker says the Braves expect to bring back their entire coaching staff.
— Gabe Burns (@GabeBurnsAJC) October 4, 2024
The Braves had some new faces in the clubhouse this season after Ron Washington took the job to be the Angels manager last offseason, bringing Eric Young Sr. with him. Matt Tuiasosopo was promoted and made the club’s Third Base Coach in place of Washington, and Tom Goodwin replaced Young at first base.
The Braves sticking with the status quo may perturb Braves fans, given the team’s struggles, particularly offensively, in 2024. There needs to be some philosophical change to the club’s hitting approach, especially with runners in scoring position, something that Chipper Jones talked about earlier this year.
“I’m old school man, and it’s not going away. Working with the Braves for the last couple of years has been very frustrating,” Chipper Jones said recently on the “Casa de Klub” podcast, via Sportsnaut. “Can’t stand giving away outs. I can’t stand strikeouts. Can’t deal with a guy on third, less than two outs, and hitting a ground ball to shortstop or second base.
“I can’t stand every once in a while not laying down a bunt for your best hitters. A hundred RBIs? So what. This is truly a ‘chicks dig the long ball’ kind of era.”
Something has to change in that regard, or the Braves are going to find themselves in the exact same position they are in right now next year, mourning yet another early postseason exit. However, this is still a group of coaches that did a pretty damn good job, given all of the circumstances, and should probably be given the benefit of the doubt for at least one more season.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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