It’s becoming increasingly clear that 2021 was an outlier for the Atlanta Braves. After being swept by the San Diego Padres in the NLWCS at Petco Park, it feels like manager Brian Snitker is starting to lose his grip on reality. While Snitker is a long-time baseball figure and Braves icon, his decision to retain the entire coaching staff after last year’s failures should frustrate Braves fans.
Yes, injuries played a role, but Atlanta’s offensive approach was a problem all season. The team took a step back in the coaching department when Tom Godwin and Matt Tuiasosopo replaced Eric Young Sr. and Ron Washington, who left for the Los Angeles Angels. Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer should also be held accountable for how the Braves’ season ended.
Braves legend Chipper Jones, who has worked with the team’s hitters, made this clear a month ago:
“Having worked with Alex Anthopoulos, they want power hitters and players with high on-base percentages. But I don’t think they emphasize getting on base enough. To score runs, you need guys on base.”
Jones was direct when speaking about Atlanta during a September episode of *Casa De Klub*:
“In a season like that, everything seems perfect. But when things correct themselves, like this year, you need to adjust. And recently, they’ve struggled. It’s tough to watch.”
Snitker’s refusal to make changes to his staff should have Braves fans livid.
Brian Snitker says the Braves expect to bring back their entire coaching staff.
— Gabe Burns (@GabeBurnsAJC) October 4, 2024
Here’s the episode from about a month ago where Chipper Jones appeared on *Casa De Klub* to discuss the Braves.
What frustrates me the most about this team is their lack of grit in key moments. It feels like when it matters most, they just don’t dig deep enough.
Brian Snitker’s stubbornness may cost Atlanta Braves again next season
Look, when a team or fanbase starts blaming officials or using injuries as an excuse for a season, that’s the mentality of losers. I’m not saying the Braves do this during games, but it feels like they let the season spiral out of control and found it all too convenient to pin their struggles on injuries instead of adjusting. Enough is enough. Just do better, Braves.
This season felt like if the other team scored four runs, it was game over for Atlanta’s increasingly lackluster offense. Sure, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer might have been praised for the team’s offensive explosions back in 2023, but that was two years ago. In 2025, things need to change. You can’t rely on the starting rotation being as dominant as it was.
It’s incredibly frustrating when fans can see what’s wrong, but Snitker refuses to act. The Braves have fantastic athletes, so you’d think getting on base more often, wreaking havoc on the base paths, and forcing opponents into high-pressure situations would be their strategy. But no, it’s all about the home run!
Atlanta can’t just walk into Spring Training and act like everything’s fine. After what we saw, it’s definitely *not* fine.
