Braves manager pro#
Braves manager series#
Braves manager free#

With all the emphasis on baseball analytics, the “old school” Snitker had to learn to combine his vast experience in the game with the principles of the new approaches, relying on his coaching staff to understand the data and apply it on the field.Īnd the results have been excellent. He was named NL Manager of the Year by the baseball writers after the Braves finished in first place for the first time in five seasons. But the Braves’ front office was looking for stability and kept Snitker.Īfter a disappointing season in 2017 with a 72-90 record, Snitker’s Braves finally came into their own the next season. The Braves finished with a 59-65 record in 2016, and most people assumed he would be replaced after the season. He had also had the benefit of having served under long-time Braves manager Bobby Cox, the winningest manager in Braves history.

One of the advantages of having been a mainstay in the Braves minor-league system was that Snitker already knew most of the players on the big-league roster when he took over as manager, since they had previously played for him. But he was finally promoted to the job from the minors in early 2016 when Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was released after 37 games. In 1981 Snitker began what has become a 41-year career in the Braves organization that includes 25 years as a minor-league manager and coach, 10 years as a major-league coach, and the last six seasons as manager of the big-league Braves.Īlthough he had acquired the reputation as an “organizational man,” he had pretty much ruled out the possibility of becoming a major-league manager as he approached 60 years of age. He contacted Snitker and offered him a job as a roving instructor in the Braves farm system. Braves legend Hank Aaron, who had recently taken the job as the organization’s farm director, was aware of Snitker’s aptitude for working with his teammates. In four seasons in the Braves system, he managed to get to the Triple A level for only six games, and the Braves wound up releasing him after the 1980 season.

Braves manager free#

Upon finishing at UNO, he signed with the Atlanta Braves organization as an undrafted free agent in 1977. However, he returned to UNO for his senior season. Despite the injury, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25 th round. He missed most of the Privateers’ season with a torn cartilage in his thumb. Snitker had transferred to UNO as a catcher for the 1976 season from Lincoln (IL) Junior College. In addition to Snitker, two of Maestri’s other notable graduates of his baseball program include Mike Quade, Chicago Cubs manager in 20, and Paul Mainieri, head coach at LSU for 15 years.

Braves manager pro#

Snitker benefitted from playing under legendary UNO coach Ron Maestri, who sent a number of his former players to the college and pro ranks in managerial and coaching positions. His Braves team won its fourth straight division championship this season.

Braves manager series#

It took him 36 years to get a big league manager’s job and now in his sixth season as the skipper of National League East Division champion, he’s anxious to get the Braves into their first World Series since 1999.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker knows something about perseverance.