Grading Snit Jr's First 2 Weeks

Snit Jr is 2 weeks in, and I've probably been his biggest critic from the moment he was hired. I'm quick to point out every little tactical mistake he makes, but let's try to take an objective look at how he's handling the only things a manager actually controls that we can measure: 1. Batter platoon management, 2. BP platoon management, 3. BP leverage management, and 4. Player load management.

Batter Platoon Management:

The Braves really only have 3 LHHs who should have their platoon matchups managed, Yaz, Dom and Harris.

Yaz has 39 PAs vs RHP, and 5 PAs vs LHP
Dom has 25 PAs vs RHP, and 1 PA vs LHP
Harris has 35 PAs vs RHP, and 14 PAs vs LHP

It's hard to be too upset with how this has played out so far. There have been 1-2 instances where we maybe would have preferred to see a RHH in place of Yaz, but the available RHHs are pretty mid, so I can understand the hesitance. When Kim and Murphy are back I expect to see this tightened up even more.

Grade: B+

BP Platoon Management:

Bummer is really the only LHP who should be facing mostly LHHs. He has faced 4 LHHs and 9 RHHs. This is not the correct usage pattern for Bummer. It needs to be addressed.

The one guy who needs to be used properly isn't being used properly.

Grade: D

BP Leverage Management:

Managers should be using their best BP arms in the highest leverage situations. Iggy, Suarez and Lee are very clearly the top trio. The average Leverage Index for when each BP arm has entered the game:

Iggy: 1.49
Lee: 1.16
Bummer: 1.01
R. Suarez: 0.92
Payamps: 0.89
Kinley: 0.84
Didier: 0.44
J. Suarez: 0.17
Perez: 0.16
Bido: 0.07

While the top and bottom of the BP is mostly being used correctly, Bummer and R. Suarez are not being leveraged correctly. Bummer is being allowed to face too many RHHs in spots that are too important. R. Suarez is being used in too many low leverage spots. This needs to be corrected as soon as possible.

Grade: C-

Player Load Management:

The narrative this season was to use the DH slot to help rest guys. Games started by each position player, as well as their starts at DH:

Baldwin: 8 at C, 5 at DH
Olson: 13 at 1B
Albies: 13 at 2B
Riley: 12 at 3B
Dubon: 10 at SS, 1 at 3B, 1 at LF
Yaz: 9 at LF
Harris: 12 at CF
Acuna: 12 at RF, 1 at DH

Baldwin, Acuna, and Albies should have gotten at least 1 real day off during that 13 game stretch. We know Olson will never sit, and 1B is the best place for silly things like that to happen. The DH spot has been filled by Smith (7), Baldwin (5), and Acuna (1), so at least there is some rotating through DH going on, but not much.

The Braves don't have a single BP arm with more than 6 appearances despite playing 13 straight games. There is nothing to criticize here.

I would say this is slightly below average load management during a 13 game stretch.

Grade: C-

As expected, the concepts of modern tactics are lost on Snit Jr, but he's been acceptable. I reluctantly agree he is better than Dino Snit so far.

Overall that comes out to roughly a Grade of C.

I don't see "form tackling" anywhere in this analysis.

What about him removing players during our one blowout game this year? He managed to get Acuña and Riley off their feet for 2.5 innings, and maybe another player I don’t remember. That’s something Snitker never did and can really add up over a full year.

I’d remove a half letter grade for pitching Bido that third inning

chop2chip said:

I’d remove a half letter grade for pitching Bido that third inning

Click to expand...

Basically prevented us from going undefeated on the road trip.

Bummer pitching against righties is inevitable with a 3 hitter minimum. He's rarely going to have more than 1 or 2 LHPs in a row.

I think we need at least a fourth of the season to really start grading, but a C is asinine. It’s at least a solid B so far. I think there have been a couple usages of Suarez where the point is valid.

I think AA obviously was very intentional with who he surrounded Weiss with, and I think Weiss is likely consulting more with his staff than Snit did/would have.

Although I think there will likely be an injury before Murphy and Kim are both back, their return should open up more opportunity for a balancing of DH time/hard days off for some guys. Question is, if there aren’t any injuries, are they going to stick with three catchers with two of Mateo/Farmer/White gone or will they cut Heim loose? Not using Farmer more would probably be my main question at this point.

The load management, so far, has been a breath of fresh air. As has mostly been the use of platoons. If you're grading him against the average manager, then it's not anything special. But if you're grading him against snit, it's easily a B+. Maybe an A

I would like to see a better ABS strategy when it comes to who can do it and who can’t. And when they can, and when they can’t.

Overall, I think he’s done a good bullpen management. But I would like better understanding of what leverage situations are. Down by one run in the sixth inning is still a very high leverage situation and should deserve high leverage relievers versus up by four runs in the seventh-inning.

But overall, I would give him a B as well

I do not agree that Bummer has platoon splits big enough to care about and treat him like a LOOGY. Now whether we should be giving him high leverage innings, worth discussing.

It does seem like we've been out of challenges by the third inning multiple times, so this is something that needs to be addressed by Weiss and his staff. Between that, the occasional WTF base running, and things like Harris airmailing no-chance throws and allowing runners to advance bases, this is still not a very smart baseball team.