Braves Fire Award-Winning Hitting Coach & Here's Why the Move Made Sense | Atlanta Braves Podcast

We discuss the recent firing of three Atlanta Braves assistant coaches, including hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. We explore the reasons behind these decisions, the potential changes in strategy, and the team's future outlook. Additionally, we delve into the performance and feedback issues that contributed to these changes, particularly focusing on the team's struggles with offensive consistency. Speculation about potential candidates for the hitting coach position, such as Troy Snitker, is also discussed. The episode includes insights on secondary approaches for players and the significant influence of Chipper Jones' public comments on the team's decision-making process.

Braves Fire Award-Winning Hitting Coach & Here's Why the Move Made Sense | Atlanta Braves Podcast
02:05 Why Were the Coaches Fired?
04:27 Impact on the Team's Strategy
07:06 Speculations and Future Prospects
25:17 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

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[EdHarrell]

Great show and great thoughts. I honestly think Arcia is prime for a new approach and can be a non-liability at the plate. His speed seems like he could have an approach like Raphael Furcal did. If the outfield is back, drop a drag bunt for a hit then be disruptive on the base paths. Try to hit some over the middle infield if they're in; just little singles.

[Clementeburke]

The injuries was the main reason. Its hard for guys like olsen to get hot when his success is when acuna and albies is on base. 2025 Best record in baseball and world series champs.

[RobertElliott-sg]

I look at 3 hitters: Sean Murphy, Orlando Arcia and Jared Kelenic. None of those 3 did well this past year, so either they weren’t listening to the hitting coach, or they weren’t receiving good guidance from him.

[gregphipps]

Exactly. Braves had a 46% hard hit rate. Very unlucky on their ABs. This yr was more about pitch selection than anything. Too many taken strikes and too many swings out of the zone. Seitz is correct. When u are struggling, whether it’s bc of lack of productivity or injuries. It takes its toll. Ppl quoting chipper on “X’ but he himself mentioned how hard it is when you’ve got guys in and out of the lineup. That just magnified some dudes lack of production. This is probably why they’re built to slug: SINCE 2018, postseason teams that out homer their opponents are 156-29; .843% as you mentioned, it’s a lot harder to get consecutive hits to score runs in mlb. Yet alone, in the postseason. I do agree with the change in philosophy on hitting with RISP. Too many times they failed in that aspect

[TheZachariahrivas]

This is completely a money thing. The dodgers had twice as many injuries but still signed stacked players and forced a game 5 division series. We need superstars and more of them. Not average rejects like snitker said himself.

[CarltonWright-vvyu]

I like to see more squeeze plays, if any.

[laurobond]

I think the lineup is constructed the way it is because, AA is still traumatized from the 2020 LA NLCS series. I remember watching that series, I felt every dodger in that lineup could go yard at any time, I as a fan had a lot anxiety at every at bat, I can only imagine how AA felt. But I think lineup is mirroring that dodgers lineup, in terms of long ball and slugging

[EdoRiver]

You gotta force the. Guys to. Study 😢the film. A new guy can establish a new message.

[jeffreyhumphries-jwfo]

Why isn't Ben Taylor on Braves Today any longer?

[renlynn]

thinking about Seitzer's comments makes me very curious: do the Braves utilize a sports psychologist on staff?

[clayphillips]

it was time for a change in hitting approach imho

[EdoRiver]

What does chipper say? I think the team had a top 25% per plate appearance. above 4, 00. This. Surprised me.

[JorgeDiaz-lyqp]

I disagree with Greg Phipps. Like football, there is a game plan when you face a pitcher each day. Hitters are supposed to know how to hit to the opposite field and take a ball up the middle, along with pulling a ball. What is the POINT of having a manager and hitting coach if a lineup is going to do what it WANTS to do every day? EVERYONE is getting pitched outside, whether it's Riley or Urshela, whether it's Acuña or Laureano, or whether it's Albies or Merrifield. Teams like the Mets and Tigers have advanced because they have a varied approach to hitting where the middle to the opposite field are in play. There are 1, 400-plus strikeouts that say all this team does is YANK, YANK, YANK. It is why they bit the bone TWICE against the Phils, it is why they lost two straight to SD. In '21, Freddie Freeman's memorable left center doubles often started rallies and drove in clutch runs, an approach that was replicated by bats up and down the lineup, including the likes of Rosario and Pederson. Freeman's approach to hitting was the heartbeat of that lineup - especially augmented by the absence of Acuña, who we ALL know was a foil to Freeman's leadership. Well, Freeman is still playing playoff baseball, and Acuña is recovering from another knee surgery. While I often agree with Alex A's personnel decisions, letting Freeman walk was a MONSTER miscalculation. Olson has done NOTHING in the playoffs, like Acuña and Ozuna. History will speculate on how Freeman staying would have affected team chemistry with Acuña present. What I CAN tell you is that the current hitting philosophy EVEN WHEN HEALTHY will do well in the regular season, probably go to the playoffs, and die like it has these three seasons. Playoff baseball is ALL about adjusting on the fly and understanding fundamental tenets of situational hitting - all done, like Jack Nicklaus said, with the same one swing. In the playoffs, you don't play the Rockies, Marlins, White Sox or Angels - all teams that gave the Braves fits in well-pitched games by the Braves - ESPECIALLY Chicago, who took two out of three and then went on to lose 121 games. This lineup acts like it has the baseball IQ of a mosquito - and mosquitoes die when the weather changes and turns drier and cooler.

[beatricemohsinger]

Get rid of Soler keep Laureano in left

[laurobond]

Pitch selection will dictate MHII career outlook, he hits the ball hard, but gives way to many at bats away, and strikeouts really look bad, so pitch selection will determine whether he’s a perennial all star or potential hof

[jonathanward]

They need to get Larry back as a hitting instructor in the worst way. Whatever it takes..

[laurobond]

I swear, why do fans automatically want former players to take positions, it baffles me, 1. These dudes millionaires, why the hell would they want to coach 2. Just because they were good to great players doesn’t mean that will translate to coaching3. Why do we continue to hand out positions based on family connections, when we supposedly reject the idea of monarchy and inherited power

[laurobond]

The Sal firing was weird, maybe AA is mad that Sean Murphy hasn’t developed into what we thought he would be

[richarddavis]

Let the injury excuse go. It's BULL. Acuna wasn't hitting when he got injured, NO ONE except for Ozuna hit all year

[snackcakeman]

All the stats in tge world and all the hitting coaches in the world won’t change Matt Olson from being a career .250 hitter. When every player was having a career year last year and all the bounces were going the Braves way, things were great. Some injuries this year, every team has them, and management fails to obtain a better career hitter.
They settle for the scrap heap and get Jorge Soler. The Yankees got Jazz Chisom because they committed themselves to winning. The Dodgers found a way to obtain Ohtani services and it has paid huge dividends. The Braves would sign Charlie Culberson. It would have cost a lot of money to get Ohtani, no risk no reward.
Quit sugarcoating the firing with all this pressing nonsense. No pressing when their winning.