Braves fans frustrated as Brian Snitker sticks to stale strategy amid offensive slump
The Atlanta Braves entered Sunday’s game having scored four or fewer runs in nine of their last 10 contests, and fans were hoping manager Brian Snitker would make adjustments to shake things up. While benching underperforming players isn’t ideal due to limited roster depth, rearranging the batting order seemed like a reasonable step.
However, Snitker opted to keep things unchanged, despite the team’s ongoing struggles. The offense was once again stagnant, failing to score a single run against Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski, who came in with a 6.16 ERA and wasn’t initially projected to be in the rotation. Although the Braves rallied late to tie the game, they ultimately lost on a walk-off fielder’s choice, dropping the series to a 14-27 Pittsburgh team.
Braves fans acknowledge Snitker isn’t on the field and likely isn’t facing job insecurity, but they continue to question his unwillingness to experiment. The team has scored the 21st-most runs in the league, a disappointing mark for such a talented lineup, and Snitker’s reluctance to shake up the batting order seems to be contributing.
Ozzie Albies, once an All-Star, is off to a terrible start this season and has been particularly poor in May. Yet Snitker continues to slot him in key positions in the lineup, including the leadoff spot. Albies went hitless again on Sunday, leaving runners in scoring position. Rather than benching him, a move down the lineup could be a simple fix.
Similarly, Alex Verdugo—who had shown promise after being called up—has slumped badly in May but continues to lead off. Meanwhile, Eli White, one of the Braves’ hotter hitters statistically, has been buried lower in the lineup.
At some point, Snitker needs to recognize the need for a new approach. The Braves’ offensive woes have persisted all season, and maintaining the status quo isn’t working. Losing a series to the struggling Pirates might be the wake-up call needed for the manager to finally shake things up.
