ATLANTA – A day later, Brian Snitker had shed his uniform but was still wearing the pain of yet another one-and-done postseason exit for his baseball team.
“It’s going to take me a while to kind of get over this whole thing,” the Atlanta Braves manager said Thursday.
Snitker and general manager Alex Anthopoulos had no quick explanations for the franchise’s 10th straight loss in a postseason round, which tied an MLB record. After splitting the first four games of their National League Division Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Braves were bowled over and embarrassed Wednesday in a 13-1 home loss in Game 5.
“You throw that one away,” said Anthopoulos, adding the defeat was “a tough pill to swallow. From my standpoint in the front office, we need to turn the page quick.”
The Cardinals’ knockout blow was quick and decisive as they scored 10 runs before the Braves ever went to bat, setting a record for most first-inning runs by one team in a playoff game.
“It happened so quick, I don’t think there was anything we could do,” Snitker said.
The Braves have won two straight NL East titles, but they haven’t won a postseason series since 2001, falling in the NL Championship Series later that year, losing an NLDS eight times – including this year – and also dropping the 2012 NL wild-card game to the Cardinals. Atlanta tied the Chicago Cubs’ record for consecutive losses in playoff rounds.
An inability to end their drought seemed to hurt the Braves more this time than a year ago, when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Management and players believed this team had the talent to play deep into the postseason.
“We weren’t just glad to be here this year,” Snitker said. “There wasn’t a guy in that room just glad to be here.”
Added third baseman Josh Donaldson, who homered in the loss: “I think what is disappointing about it, I feel like all year we played better than we did today.”
There could be significant turnover before spring training. Brian McCann, the 35-year-old catcher in a second stint with his hometown team, announced his retirement after the loss. Anthopoulos said the team will try to re-sign Donaldson, the 33-year-old third baseman who will be a free agent.
The Braves have 2020 team options – and face possibly difficult decisions – with starting pitcher Julio Teheran, outfielder Nick Markakis, catcher Tyler Flowers and others. The relief pitchers headed for free agency include Jerry Blevins, Chris Martin, Darren O’Day, Anthony Swarzak and Josh Tomlin.
Donaldson wasn’t willing to speculate about his future. His $23 million deal was the largest one-year contract ever given to a free agent, but his all-around production made the Braves feel good about the investment.
“We will definitely have interest in trying to sign him back,” Anthopoulos said. “When both sides have interest, that’s a great starting point.”
Other options at third base include Austin Riley, the rookie who was left off the postseason roster after his hot start and dramatic decline, and Johan Camargo. Riley appeared in 80 games this season and was in left field in 58 of them.
Anthopoulos said the Braves aren’t ready to assure Riley of a starting job next season but said “we believe in him long term.”
Mike Foltynewicz, Max Fried and Mike Soroka are probable locks for the 2020 rotation. If the Braves pay a $1 million buyout to part ways with Teheran and don’t bring back Dallas Keuchel, who signed with Atlanta at midseason, the team may shop for a veteran to help fill the rotation.
There will be another opportunity for at least one rookie to land in the rotation next season. Right-hander Ian Anderson, who finished the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, is a breakout candidate after being named the Braves’ minor league player of the year. The 21-year-old was the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2016.
Freddie Freeman has been a stalwart for the Braves this decade, but the four-time All-Star first baseman struggled this postseason. After hitting 38 homers and finishing second in the NL with 121 RBIs during the regular season, he hit only .200 in the NLDS.
He had a key first-inning error Wednesday and then tried to take full blame for the loss while adding his late-season elbow injury was not a factor.
“I know everybody is going to say what they want to say,” he said, “but this one is on me.”
Freeman was not the only Atlanta hitter who struggled against the Cardinals – McCann hit .188, Donaldson .158 and Markakis .143.
Snitker didn’t discuss McCann’s retirement Wednesday, waiting for the player to make his announcement. McCann said he enjoyed renewing a friendship with Snitker that began in the minor leagues, and Snitker returned the compliment on Thursday.
“I’m honored I gave him the call to the big leagues and I got to manage him his last game,” Snitker said, adding McCann ranks with the “all-time Atlanta Braves.”