The Braves entered the weekend with a 16-19 record under interim manager Brian Snitker after they were 9-28 with Fredi Gonzalez. After losing 10 of 12 games from June 2 to 14, they had surged to victories in seven of their last eight.
It’s tough to parse how much credit Snitker deserves for the team’s improved record. But Braves veteran Jeff Francoeur said he the organization removed a distraction when it resolved the managerial situation by firing Gonzalez and elevating Snitker from Triple-A Gwinnett.
“I said this when all of that was happening with Fredi—and I love Fredi—it wasn’t fair to him and it wasn’t fair to us,” Francoeur said. “He didn’t have fun knowing if he was going to be here tomorrow. We were answering questions. There’s more stability now. It’s not a knock on (Gonzalez), it’s just the way things are.
“I think it feels good for most of the guys when they come in every day it’s just about baseball now. That’s what we want.”
During a Twitter Q-and-A with fans, Braves general manager John Coppolella was asked if Snitker is “building momentum to have the ‘interim’ tag removed” and become the permanent manager.
“We are going to evaluate at the end of the season, but the team has responded well under him which is encouraging,” Coppolella posted in response.
