The Braves way became a staple in Atlanta when Bobby Cox took over in the early ’90s, and it’s been instilled throughout the organization ever since. Through different ownership groups, general managers, and managers, the way the franchise operates hasn’t changed since the days of Cox, Chipper Jones, and countless other Hall of Famers winning 14 straight division titles.

And in a lot of ways, why would anyone want it to change?

This is an organization that has won 20 division titles in the last 35 seasons to go along with two World Series championships. The Braves have never been the biggest spenders, and likely never will be, but their culture has allowed them to reach a level of sustained success that only a handful of teams in baseball can rival.

So when Brian Snitker announced his retirement soon after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history — with the Braves missing the postseason for the first time since 2017 — should anyone have really expected them to go in any direction other than Walt Weiss?

Fans were ready for a new voice. Though Snitker’s tenure will be remembered for its long-term success, the failures at the end were still fresh in many minds. And admittedly, the team did seem to lose a bit of the mojo in the clubhouse that once propelled them to a World Series title in 2021. Maybe something different could provide the spark needed to get back to the top of the NL East — and eventually, the top of baseball.

However, the Braves — undeterred by the outside noise — went with who they knew. And that person might just be the “something different” they were looking for.

While Walt Weiss served as a coach under Snitker for eight years and played under Cox for three, it’s taken just 19 games to see that his approach is far different — and not just because he was willing to (and successfully) take down Jorge Soler, a 260-pound force, who was attempting to send his starting pitcher into the shadow realm.

The 62-year-old Weiss immediately surrounded himself with an All-Star coaching staff, featuring a number of younger, analytically driven minds to complement his more old-school style. So far, it’s clear he has a strong grasp of both, along with a sharp feel for when to pull his starting pitchers — and even more importantly, when to deploy his high-leverage relievers.

That balance has already been responsible for several Braves wins through the first 19 games. On multiple occasions, he’s shown a willingness to push for victory by using his best relievers while trailing, and the offense has responded with come-from-behind wins.

Walt Weiss has also shown a willingness to call on his closer for a five-out save — another move that paid off. And most recently, he resisted the urge to pinch-run for Dominic Smith in the seventh inning of a one-run game, trusting that Smith might get another opportunity later.

Braves fans should remember how that worked out. Smith delivered a two-out, bases-clearing double that led to yet another win.

If there’s a right string to pull, Walt Weiss has found it through 19 games. He’s proving to be more than just a respected voice in the clubhouse — he’s a damn good manager, and someone all of Braves Country has quickly embraced.