I have no problem admitting it. At the beginning of September, I was 100 percent against bringing Brian Snitker back for 2017. This organization was heading in a new direction, and that meant they needed a fresh voice at the helms. It was time for the Atlanta Braves to do something they don’t normally do and step outside of the organizational box and bring in a young, fresh voice to lead these young, fresh prospects.
Now in October, I feel like the Braves would be foolish to do anything but hand Snitker the reigns for 2017 and this new era of baseball.
It was a bit surreal this past Saturday night. I walked out of Turner Field, my eight month old daughter in my arms, and said goodbye for the last time. They would close their doors for good the following day, and in doing so, put to rest one of the greatest eras in the franchise’s long history.
They are heading to the suburbs outside the perimeter of the city, a feat no other baseball city has ever pondered. I didn’t like walking out of The TED Saturday night. Sure they won. But you see, anyone who has been there will tell you that Turner Field was always more than a baseball game.
Thus far in our Baseball Bloodlines series, we have taken a look at how two fathers — Dante Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero — passed down their legendary big bats to their bouncing baby baseball-playing boys. Today we look at a pitcher, and although he may not have inherited the infamous deadly cutter from his dad, he is learning the ropes as a closer behind a 2016 All-Star season.
Yesterday, we began our look at the rich, family tradition in the MLB. Baseball DNA is alive and well, and has long been passed down from generation to generation. One former Colorado Rockie has passed his genes down twice.
I’m not going to pretend to have the words to write about the young life of a man I only knew from what I saw on the field and read online. He was a kid who risked it all to do what he loves for a better life for his family, and seemingly enjoyed every minute of it as evidenced by his infectious smile.
Wayniac Nation is terribly saddened by Fernandez’s passing and we wish our condolences to every life he touched.
When Jose Fernandez burst onto the scene a few years ago, he gave us one of my favorite GIFs ever. He instantly became appointment viewing. pic.twitter.com/ZWo9QvruIG
It’s hard to call a team’s top offensive prospect a breakout candidate, but that is precisely what Willy Adames did this past summer. While playing his first full season above A-Ball, Adames showed that the potential many saw in him was reality, as he had a career-year across the board.
Kevin Newman entered 2016 with several question marks surrounding him. Would one of the best collegiate bats in the 2015 MLB Draft translate to professional pitching after an up-and-down debut? Would he be able to stick at shortstop? Just how high on the Pirates’ prospect — and overall prospect — lists was he?
This season answered many of those questions, as Newman skyrocketed to top-five status in the Pirates’ system, while sitting on the cusp of the top-50 overall.
The Rome Braves’ huge second half surge led them to their first South Atlantic League title in 13 years. The achievements of their heralded young pitching staff and the tremendous second half Austin Riley had with the bat have been well documented over the past few months. While Ray-Patrick Didder and Patrick Weigel made some waves as two of the Atlanta Braves’ breakout prospects, closer Devan Watts quietly slid under the radar and played a huge role in Rome’s SAL Championship.
It sounds like a broken record, but another night has passed and yet another Rome Braves starter has hurled another impressive performance. Max Fried dealt a dandy last night, striking out 13 en route to Rome’s first South Atlantic League Championship in 13 years.
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