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Braves' Walt Weiss Named NL Manager of the Year Finalist
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- Braves' Walt Weiss Named NL Manager of the Year Finalist
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Walt Weiss has turned out to be the right hire for the Atlanta Braves who made it back to the postseason in just his first year at the helm once held by long-time skipper Brian Snitker.
After an underwhelming managerial stint with the Colorado Rockies from 2013-2016, Braves fans were understandably skeptical that Weiss could succeed in a higher position than bench coach.
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Nonetheless, Weiss put what he learned under Snitker's wing to action this season and it paid off not just for Atlanta but also for himself given that he was named an NL Manager of the Year finalist on Monday alongside Philadelphia's Don Mattingly and the Brewers' Pat Murphy.
It can be argued that the Braves struggled once again in the playoffs and were consequently bounced in the Division Series by the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the award takes into account a manager's performance during the regular season rather than the postseason.
With that, Weiss certainly has a strong case here. The Braves were on fire early on, beginning the season with two-consecutive series wins and finishing May 40-20 overall. They would go on to end the first half of the season 55-40, a step forward from 42-53 last year.
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While the Braves' record obviously improved and core players like Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin stepped up, there is more to the story. The rise of right-hander Didier Fuentes comes to mind.
The 21-year-old out of Colombia had a rough start to the season, but Weiss continued giving him chances to prove himself against major-league hitters. As the year progressed, Fuentes' command and composure on the mound only got better as he finished the season with an impressive 2.45 ERA and 92 strikeouts.
Even as the Braves' postseason run was cut short, Fuentes showed out in Game 2 against the Dodgers, helping Atlanta avoid a sweep with a 3-2 win that saw him record three punchouts.
With Snitker in charge, it appeared that Fuentes' ceiling was capped at him being a reliever. Now, Fuentes should be in the mix for a rotation spot as Bryce Elder, Martín Pérez and Reynaldo López get back into gear after injuries ended their seasons sooner than they would've hoped.
Atlanta's early playoff exit this year stung, but as usual, it can be chalked up to the players not delivering when it mattered instead of Weiss who definitely deserves the nod if he gets it.
