The Atlanta Braves’ season is hitting new lows during a dismal homestand that seems to be dragging the entire campaign down. In the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Spencer Strider faced difficulties, falling behind 5-0. Nonetheless, the Braves fought back and narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the later innings. In a tight two-run game, manager Brian Snitker opted to have Rafael Montero pitch multiple innings.
As expected, this decision backfired, with Montero running out of steam and allowing a three-run homer that sealed the game’s outcome. This choice comes after a day off for the team, providing Snitker ample opportunity to manage the game with more urgency. If the season isn’t already in jeopardy…
Braves’ Manager Brian Snitker Continues Concerning Trend of Making Questionable Decisions
Keeping Montero in the game for another inning seemed like a careless move during a crucial match. Although the Braves were never in the lead, they were close enough to warrant a better chance to win. Snitker’s choice to let Montero pitch resulted in three costly runs and has led to growing frustration among fans toward the veteran manager.
It’s also important to recognize that Snitker is attempting to create a successful outcome with limited resources. Atlanta’s offense has been extremely inconsistent, and none of the relievers in the bullpen can be counted on reliably. Nevertheless, it’s hard to ignore that the manager deserves criticism for a strategy that continues to lead to defeats. Atlanta is acting as if it’s competing for a wildcard spot while actually plummeting down the National League standings.
The team now finds itself five games under .500 and looks far from being a contender. Snitker’s decisions are compounding the problem by making avoidable mistakes that an experienced manager should not make. While the season is long, the Braves have squandered their slim margin for error.
It’s time to approach each game with a sense of urgency, and that doesn’t involve relying on one of your least dependable relief pitchers for multiple innings in a two-run game. If the team hadn’t just had a day off and was facing a weary bullpen, it might make some sense. With Monday’s off-day, there’s no justification for Snitker’s choices, and it only raises further questions about his job security.
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