Acuña Jr. Exposes Manager's Hidden Agenda on Social Media, Quickly Deletes Controversial Post
In the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball, where hustle and performance often go hand-in-hand, an unexpected situation has thrown the spotlight back on Brian Snitker, the skipper for the Atlanta Braves. Here we are, looking into whether there’s been a bit of favoritism slipped into his managerial style. Ronald Acuña Jr., you know, the star speedster, seems to think so.
Picture this: it’s a match, tension like a tight string between the Braves and the Twins, and young Jarred Kelenic believes he’s hit the big one, dancing casually to first base with a speculative home run. But alas! The ball kisses the right-field wall, not out of the park, and Trevor Larnach catches it, sniping a throw to second where Carlos Correa tags Kelenic out.
If Kelenic had put in the effort, just hustled a bit, that play might’ve been a simple base hit. Instead, we had a blunder, yet Snitker chose silence over action. Fans, me included, scratched our heads at the lack of hustle, and yet, the fireworks didn’t go off. You’d expect a verbal chiding or a benching, but Snitker seemed more interested in the clouds than coaching at that moment.
Flashback to six seasons ago—when Acuña, then a hopeful with dreams bigger than the diamond, got benched for a languid jog to first, thinking his hit was marking the wall. Snitker’s words? “He didn’t run…”, followed by, “…As a teammate, you’re responsible for 24 other guys.” Powerful stuff, right? Made a statement to the young star, setting what we thought was a standard of accountability.
But contrast that with last Saturday’s game, where Snitker opted for radio silence with Kelenic. Was it a different play, a different player, or just a different day for the manager?
This seeming double standard caught Acuña’s attention while he’s sidelined, his comeback from an ACL tear now looming. His response to Mark Bowman’s post on X, was sharp — “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.”
This scenario is unfolding just as the Braves are wrestling with a season start that’s more low than blow. As we gear up for Sunday’s matchup with the Twins, the team’s firmly lodged in the NL East’s cellar, a place that’s not exactly their usual haunt. They really could use their star player’s expertise, even if currently compromised by injury.
Here we stand at a curious crossroads. Whether it’s an oversight, a calculated move, or just one of those “it’s complicated” moments, Snitker might owe some explanations to his squad, the fans, and maybe Acuña too.
LEARN MORE.Does Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker hold a double standard when it comes to players not hustling while running the bases? Ronald Acuña Jr. apparently believes so.
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