LOS ANGELES — He was hired by Hall of Fame legend Hank Aaron and they frequently talked.
He worked alongside Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, and still sees him on a regular basis.
He met his wife, Ronnie, on a blind date, set up by two-time World Series champion manager Cito Gaston in Sarasota, Florida.
He keeps in touch with Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
Now, in what likely will be his final season as manager, he’s entering his 49th year in Atlanta’s organization where he has done just about every job in the organization except for being a custodian or general manager.
He is Brian Snitker, one of the most beloved and admired men in the club’s rich and proud history.
“Is there anyone,’ Snitker asks USA TODAY Sports, “luckier than I am?’
Well, perhaps except for the entire Atlanta franchise, knowing how invaluable he has been since he arrived in 1977 and never left.
Snitker has been a minor-league player for Atlanta, a roving instructor and a 20-year minor-league manager in Atlanta’s organization from everywhere from Anderson to Durham to Macon to Myrtle Beach to Greenville to Richmond to Lawrenceville. He has been a major-league bullpen coach, a third-base coach, an interim and Atlanta’s full-time manager since 2017, and, a World Series champion manager.
You name it, the man has done it.
“He’s going to be in the Braves’ Hall of Fame, I’ll tell you that,’ Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos says. “He’s got tremendous skills, instincts, and is the same person day in and day out. The players appreciate it. The front office appreciates it. And he’s authentic. He’s got the highest level of integrity and character of anybody I’ve ever been around.
“‘I find him to be the be the torchbearer of the tradition of the Atlanta Braves.’
Now, at the age of 69 and in the final year of his contract, this could be Snitker’s final season. That was his plan as of a year ago, but he’s not ready to make a final decision. He doesn’t want any later regret.
“I still feel really good,’ Snitker says, “the 50-number is something I think it’d be kind of cool. But right now, I’m leaning towards getting through today. We’ll play it by ear and see what happens.’
It’s the same with Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who is expected to call it a Hall of Fame career after this season, but also is keeping his options open. He regrets saying before the 2019 season that it would be his final season with the Giants, hating the constant attention on the road. The only benefit was the wine and bourbon and hunting trips he received by opposing teams, he says with a laugh, only to return in 2023 and manage the Texas Rangers to the World Series title.
“Right now, let’s get back to the postseason, that’s where my focus is,’ says Bochy, who also is in the final year of his contract. “Let’s see where we’re at.’
It could be the end of a glorious era, Bochy managing 28 years with four World Series titles and Snitker, a man who has dedicated nearly a half-century to one organization without leaving.
“Wisdom is incredibly important,’ says 50-year-old Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, “as you learn how to manage and learn from the guys that have been there and done that. Those guys have done everything in the game, from Boch being is the most successful manager in an era I grew up in, to Snit grinding his way through the minor leagues and finally getting an opportunity and winning. They’ve been very gracious with their time and their friendship. I’ve always appreciated their openness to young managers.’
While Bochy will likely be inducted in the same Hall of Fame class in two years with Dusty Baker if he retires after this season, Snitker’s legacy will forever be embedded in Atlanta lore.
“That’s just incredible,’ says Hinch, who had Snitker’s son, Troy, on his Astros coaching staff. “It feels almost impossible nowadays with how hard these jobs are to get, how hard they are to keep, and to stay with the same organization.
“When you talk about being a lifer in the sport, that’s one thing. When you talk about being a lifer in the sport, and giving your time and your expertise to the same organization, that’s just a remarkable achievement. It feels next to impossible. He is part of the fabric of the Atlanta Braves, and deserves all of the accolades and love that he gets.’
Snitker, who has batboys on his team with bigger egos, refuses to ever give himself any credit for the organization’s success. He’ll talk about his coaching staff. He’ll talk about the trainers, the clubbies, the groundskeepers, and of course, his players.
He led Atlanta to six consecutive division titles, seven consecutive postseason berths, and has the second-most victories (735) by any active manager behind Dave Roberts of the Dodgers. He is absolutely revered by his players. Former Atlanta All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson had him in wedding. Cox, who suffered a major stroke in 2019, and his wife, Pam, consider Snitker a family member, Cox has severe trouble communicating, but it still doesn’t stop Snitker from coming by each homestand, talking baseball with Cox, and before leaving, letting him know how much he loves him.
“He would always have our backs, he was always supportive of his players,’ Swanson says. “I think about the beauty about Snit is that he has so much trust in his players that he would just let us go out and play. He was very hands off, and I’d say that in a very positive way, because he would allow guys to be professional. He wouldn’t panic if we played bad for a week or two weeks, he would just trust we would get things rolling.
“It was an honor playing for him.’
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington, Snitker’s long-time third base coach, says Snitker doesn’t receive nearly the credit he deserves, considering him one of the best in the business.
“He’s the most patient man I’ve ever been around,’ Washington says. “He’s full of emotion, but I don’t know how he hides it. He feels a lot, but you never see it. And he’s smart, baseball smart. If you can’t play for him, you can’t play for anybody. He gives you a chance to fail, and he gives you a chance to succeed.
“When he’s ready to give it up, baseball is going to miss him. I know the Atlanta Braves are going to miss him.’
When Snitker was hired May 17, 2016, as an interim manager to replace close friend Fredi Gonzalez after losing 28 of their first 37 games, he picked up the phone two weeks later, called Gonzalez, and said: ‘You know what? You guys might have been overachieving.’
Snitker’s managerial career was almost short-lived but he was given a one-year contract on the advice of then-president John Hart. Snitker was on the hot seat again after going 72-90 in 2017, but GM John Coppolella resigned after the season when he was snared in an illegal international signing scandal. Atlanta immediately hired Anthopoulos as their new GM.
“I didn’t know anything about Brian Snitker but his name when I got here,’’ Anthopoulos says. “I didn’t know who he was. I literally had no attachment, no history whatsoever. Now, I have the highest level of trust from a personal standpoint, a professional standpoint, which is critically important. I have so much trust in him in everything we do.’’
Now, Atlanta is back to being one of baseball’s marquee franchises and a World Series contender year after year, just like the days of Cox and GM John Schuerholz.
“It wasn’t easy, but we finally got it,’ Snitker says, “but it wasn’t me. It was just a lot of the trades and acquisitions that we made in that time, and then what Alex did, and then things just started happening with the young players we brought up. And here we are today.’
It would be fitting for Snitker and Bochy, born just six months apart, to be back in the postseason one last time together if this indeed is their final year. They are widely respected by their peers, not only for their baseball accomplishments, but for simply being two of the finest men in the game.
“I think the Braves have recognized for years good baseball men, and just kept them,’ said Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black, 67, who also is undecided if he’ll manage past this year. “I think the loyalty works both ways, from the organization to the baseball men, and back to the organization. And [Snitker] is the epitome of that.
“Bobby [Cox] was revered by so many Braves’ people, as well as outside the organization, and so is Brian.’
And, then, of course, there is Bochy, one of the greatest managers in history. He would have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame if he had stayed retired instead of returning to manage the Rangers.
“In my career, no doubt, in-game, the best strategist I’ve ever been against,’ Black said. “The bullpen usage, when to take a starter out, the in-game stuff, the hit-and-run, the pitchouts. He’s the best I’ve ever been around. Just a great feel for the game.’
While Bochy may be considered old-school in his managerial style, Hinch says there may not have been anyone better in this era of modernizing the game. He was a genius utilizing his bullpens and not being afraid to use starters in relief during the postseason as he did with Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in the 2014 World Series.
“Madison Bumgarner happened because of Boch,’ Hinch says. “He had the courage of using a starter on short rest in the World Series. And as far as watching bullpen moves of other managers, I’ve always watched the way he runs a game as much as anybody. And it’s because he’s unafraid, and has great feel when to chase wins, when to save some of his arms in the pen, when to lean on a starter an extra time through the order.
“You have to have feel, and you have to know your personnel to do that, and Boch is one of the best.’
So, while there will be no retirement ceremonies this year, no rocking chairs, cases of wine, fishing poles or hunting trips, Snitker and Bochy will spend the season keeping their personal snapshots of different ballparks, talking with visiting stadium workers and stopping into their favorite restaurants on the road – just in case this is it.
Snitker already has photos of different clubhouses, food rooms, even walking to the upper deck of ballparks to take some aerial view pictures.
“I’ll sit sometimes in my office and look around and feel how blessed I am to have this opportunity and experience everything I have,’ Snitker says. “I’ve loved everything about this job quite honestly. I don’t like the stress, but I think that’s one of the things that you miss when you’re most miserable, or the thing you miss when you’re not in it, tossing and turning at night. I get up three times in the night to go to the bathroom, and even in spring training, I’ll change the lineup three times before I go back to bed.’
Snitker laughs, knowing one day he’s going to miss all of this, even the constant second-guessing and the vitriol on social media.
“I still pinch myself,’ Snitker says. ‘I drive to the ballpark in the summer, and I can’t believe this is my 10th year because this wasn’t even in the stars. I was proud of my career, and noot getting to manage in the big league was not going to define my career.
“Now to be afforded this opportunity, and to have stayed so long, and accomplish what we have as an organization, I still can’t believe it. The best thing is the relationships and the friendships, that you have for the rest of your life.’’
And even when Snitker walks away, well, he won’t be far, and neither will Bochy.
“Hopefully, I’ll just stay around here and be one of those advisor guys,’ Snitker says. “I’ll go to the minor-league parks, come to spring training a little bit and spend a lot of time watching my grandkids.’
Says Black: “The game is better when Bruce Bochy and Brian Snitker are managing teams. We all know that. And whenever they decide to retire, the game is going to miss them.
“An awful lot.’
Around the basepaths
– The Toronto Blue Jays continue to inch closer to signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension, likely a 14- or 15-year deal worth about $500 million, which will be crucial for Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro’s popularity in Toronto. The Blue Jays’ last postseason victory was in 2016, and this is the final year of Shapiro’s contract.
– The Boston Red Sox were deep into trades talks and on the verge of acquiring Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals until Alex Bregman dropped into their laps.
– There is no clear-cut favorite to become MLB commissioner after Rob Manfred retires in Jan. 2029, but several owners say they plan to push for owner Mark Attanasio of the Milwaukee Brewers to be his successor.
– It’s premature to evaluate a trade, but the Chicago Cubs desperately need Kyle Tucker to have a monster year to justify their trade with the Houston Astros. They included top prospect Cam Smith in their deal, along with third baseman Isaac Paredes, and Smith has been one of the best stories in baseball by earning an an opening-day job with the Astros. And remember, they traded away Cody Bellinger to the Yankees just to dump his $27.5 million salary to afford Tucker, while releasing Cody Poteet, the only player they received in return from New York.
“So, would you have rather have six years of Smith, Paredes and Bellinger,’ one executive said, “or one year of Tucker? There’s a lot of pressure for them to keep Tucker now.’
– Remember when the Chicago White Sox had their choice of acquiring outfielder Jake McCarthy or Dominic Fletcher from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor-league right-hander Cristian Mena last year?
Well, Fletcher was just released, and McCarthy was the D-backs starting center fielder on opening day.
– The Baltimore Orioles are letting teams know that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is available in a potential trade to clear a spot for Coby Mayo.
– Rival executives are shaking their heads over the Diamondbacks’ lack of communication with $210 million pitcher Corbin Burnes. The D-backs were the last team to name an opening-day starter, and when manager Torey Lovullo chose Zac Gallen over Burnes, they were unaware that Burnes is meticulous in his preparation, and had no interest in having two extra days’ rest and starting the second game of the season.
The D-backs had no choice but to move him back to the fifth spot in the rotation where he will make his 2025 debut at Yankee Stadium, and now isn’t scheduled to make his home debut until no earlier than April 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
– While Rockies manager Bud Black has yet to decide whether he wants to continue managing after this season, he already has an open invitation to return.
“I know we’re trying to build something that’s not easy at times,’ Rockies GM Bill Schmidt says. “I know the frustration, but I know he wants to see it through. Our intent is for Buddy to be here. He knows when it’ll be time. But we want Buddy to be here, Buddy knows that. He’s earned the right.’’
– The D-backs, who told teams during the winter they weren’t interested in paying more than $5 million of Jordan Montgomery’s $22.5 million salary, not lowering their demands until late in late spring, now are stuck with the entire contract with Montgomery undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Teams believed the D-backs were justifying their asking price for Montgomery because Alex Cobb signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers during the winter, but that deal turned out to be an outlier.
– No one picking the Angels to win the AL West, let alone get into the playoffs, but scouts were quite impressed with their rotation and bullpen, believing they have a chance to produce a winning record.
– It’s hard to fathom that the Chicago White Sox have had six pitchers undergo Tommy John surgery since spring training.
– The Yankees chose third baseman Eric Jagielo with the 26th pitch in the 2013 draft. The Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Atlanta made the next four picks. The Yankees then used the 32nd pick to select Aaron Judge.
Can you imagine the hatred towards Jagielo if one of those teams had selected Judge before the Yankees?
The Yankees eventually traded Jagieglo with three minor leaguers to the Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman.
– The Astros’ biggest flaw entering the season is that they have only one left-handed bat in the lineup, meaning that opposing teams don’t need to bother with a lefty in their pen during their series.
– Teams still are wondering why the Marlins were in such a hurry to trade starter Jesus Luzardo so early in the winter to the Philadelphia Phillies.
– The fabulous documentary, “Fielding Dreams: A Celebration of Baseball Scouts’ was released on Prime Video. The film follows several scouts over a three-year period during Covid and the reduction of the draft, with interviews from Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick, World Series champion GM Dayton Moore, and scouting directors Roy Clark, Kip Fagg and Brian Bridges.
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