The last thing the Braves need at this point of the season, with nothing more to gain or lose in the standings, is an injury issue — least of all to a key player. In that light, it was rather concerning to see young star Ronald Acuna depart yesterday’s game early.
Per a club announcement at the time, Acuna was pulled owing to hip tightness. The team characterized the decision as precautionary. Of course, that’s something of a typical placeholding statement in such situations, so Braves fans would be forgiven for fearing worse.
Manager Brian Snitker made clear after the contest that the organization doesn’t see cause for alarm, as MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports. “He’ll just be day to day,” says Snitker. “We’ll treat him up and see how he is tomorrow.”
Acuna was even more forceful on the point, saying he didn’t feel he needed to be removed and will be ready to go whenever he’s written back into the lineup. That’s just the sort of gung ho attitude you admire in a young player, but it’s also something the team needs to protect against with the postseason beckoning.
Indeed, the 21-year-old also indicated that this isn’t a new issue.
“I’ve been feeling it before. But I’m a warrior and I’m going to keep playing through these types of things. That’s just the way that I am. I was dealing with it and pushing through it. But eventually, it came to the point where it became a little more intolerable.”
Given that, it was surely wise of the Braves to take a cautious approach. Acuna is, after all, one of the team’s key players. Even if the hip isn’t a significant hindrance at the plate, it could conceivably limit him in the field and on the bases — where he derives significant value — or end up resulting in a more concerning health issue.
Sadly, looks like another one and done for the Braves in the post season. Prove me wrong Braves!
Yea I’m kinda feeling it too. I understand relaxing a little when you clinch playoff berth, much more a division title… but gosh they look a little rough.
If only Snit gave these guys more days off during the regular season……
I don’t follow the Braves really closely, but I did hear the announcers recently talking in glowing terms about Snitker’s opinion that these guys are paid to play every day and don’t need (or want) days off. There’s nothing here to indicate that regular days off would have prevented this injury, but it does seem like common sense to ensure that your players are “fresh” for the postseason, especially when your team has cemented its playoff slot.
With four players having played in 150+ games, perhaps folks feel like his strategy works, however.
Anyone who disagrees with a professional manager has no clue what it takes to sit in their seat. Monday morning QB is easy and often comes easier from the thumb tip. Snit has done a fantastic job and the players love him. Anyone slapping an injury on him being the cause is ludicrous. Most guys are banged up at this point in the season. Anyone saying this team is another one and done should get off the bandwagon and go root for the Tigers.
Braves should easily win the division series. Snitker should win manager of the year for the 2nd year in a row. The only person that is even considered to be competition is Craig Counsell and he will be lucky to snag his team a #2 wildcard spot. A few years ago that spot didn’t even exist and he would receive no consideration for manager of the year. You hit on something very important. Snitker’s players love him. That is for many reasons. He looks after them and treats them like his kids. He has been with the Braves his entire career. From a player to a minor league coach to a Major League 3rd base coach to the AAA manager to finally the MLB manager. That has taken a span of over 40 years. He got offered other managerial jobs and turned them down. I would love for anyone to point out any other manager in baseball that has that kind of commitment to their organization. Snitker will leave as the Braves manager when he decides to retire… period. As for Acuna’s injury: in normal circumstances he would have gotten time off but this is a different case. Acuna was playing very well at the time and he was/is 3 stolen bases away from joining an elite MLB record club. As of several days ago, Acuna was 3 stolen bases away from going 40/40. He would be one of five major league players to do that in all of history. The other four are Canseco, Bonds, A-Rod and Soriano. The thing is that the first three players on that list are 100% known to use performance enhancing drugs. If I had to guess I would suspect Soriano did at some point in his career as well considering he was only big until the tail end of the steroid era. Acuna is 21 years old and is 3 sb’s away from being the only clean player in MLB history to go 40/40. Snitker had to let him try. Snitker has taken back to back teams that were both expected to finish in 4th place and brought them division titles. If anyone thinks Snitker is not an elite manager they clearly have not watched his post game interviews. He is unbelievably dedicated. He frequently shows obvious sincere caring emotion his players and the team as a whole while rarely ever showing anger or frustration. His players love him. He has taken suspected 4th place teams to back to back division titles. What more do you want? Everyone has different opinions on what move should be made at each time and that’s why no manager will be totally perfect in anyone’s eyes. If the argument is that he is working his star players to much by only giving them a dozen days off while they are chasing historic records then that is a very weak argument. Snitker is at the very least the best manager the Braves have had since Joe Torre. No disrespect to Bobby Cox and I am so glad he is out of the hospital and back with the Braves but Snitker is twice the manager Cox was and his relative payroll is a lot smaller. Back when Cox was manager the Braves had the highest payroll in MLB at one point. Snitker has had a team in the lowest payroll bracket since he started. Cox has 3 hall of famers in host starting rotation (Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz) not to mention a hall of famer 3rd baseman (for Chippers entire career) and a power hitting center fielder that won 10 consecutive gold gloves in Anduw Jones. There were many players that left the Braves disliking Cox’s management style. So far I have heard of no one to say that about Snit. Snitker has been in one organization his entire career and is doing way more than expected. And by his professional career I mean over 40 years. I both think and hope he will end up being our managerial version of Chipper Jones. Or the Astros Craig Biggio. Or the Yankees Derek Jeter/ Mariano Rivera.
“Hip tightness” makes me very nervous if I’m a Braves fan. Part of his amazing bat speed comes from his very quick hip movements. He’ll likely be fine for the time being (he is 21 after all) with a little rest.. But the part that should freak Braves fans out is when he said he’s had this before. You should not have recurring hip tightness as a 21 year old super-freak athlete. There’s something going on.
No. I think you are making this mor3 concerning then it needs to be. A “super freak athlete” puts more on their body than a normal human being too and Acuna plays hard.
Dude it’s a groin strain. He’s an energetic and somewhat undisciplined runner. Remember last year when he hurt his leg and went to the DL? He’ll be fine. He’ll also learn to conserve his body.
Hopefully this truly isn’t a serious injury. The Braves can ill-afford to go into the NLDS with another major component to the order ailing, in addition to Freeman. As a Braves fan, I really want to see them advance this season. Rest up and get better,Acuna!
Not the most important thing in this situation, but i was pulling for him to get to 40-40.
They should shut him down and let him rest so he will be fully healthy come spring.
Cards fan?
It’s a bit surprising to see the regular guys being used so much at this point of the season. I would have given the entire everyday roster like a full week off, let them come back for the last 3 games (to be in rhythm) and coast into the playoffs.
I’m a warrior, you know, until I’m not.
Not to worry. Acuná says he’s a “warrior.” Really? A warrior? Playing a ballgame with hip tightness makes him a warrior? How inept.
Somehow you’ve taken the term too literally, but hey, what a surprise in this day and age. It means he is persevering & pushing through niggles. Anyway, you’re entitled to your manifestly incorrect opinion. Have a great day..
“pushing through niggles” sounds like a lyric from Mary Poppins.
wtf is a niggle?
Lol woof. This guy’s daddy didn’t lose his life in Korea for punks like Acuña to refer to themselves as WARRIORS!
Moron.
Since he was likely speaking Spanish and was translated, we don’t know if he said warrior or fighter or something else. Even so, it’s common for athletes to use that word. Don’t read too much into it.
It wouldn’t be a normal day in baseball without more luck heading the Cardinals way. Why wouldn’t Acuna be hurt? St. Louis plays them next week in the playoffs. It’s only fitting.
Yes, the Cardinals get all the luck. They win the World Series every year, no one on their roster ever gets injured, everyone they draft become HoF’ers, they have the perfect coaching staff and their FO never make mistakes in trades and/or signings.
That’s how fans see the team through their rose colored, pollyanna, sheeple covered, wool glasses.
And you see everything in a negative light, which enhances your lack of knowledge.
FWIW his name should be spelled Acuña not Acuna for the correct pronunciation.
His name should be spelled “ shame on the Braves” for swindling him on that contract.
Right… I’m sure his agent didn’t fight them for it either. Other wise he wouldn’t have signed it.
Crazylarry should be spelled “shame on Larry for being entitled and not understanding the poverty these kids come from and what guaranteed money can do for their lives today instead of in a decade”
40/40 is cool and all but they are better off just resting him until the division series starts. Plenty of time to rest. Just my two cents.
This is an excuse to prevent him from striking out 200 times this season.
Go be an Orioles fan
This is Acuna realizing he could use a recharge before the playoffs and bot facing the pressure of the meaningless 40/40
He will be fine 3 SB in what amounts to what would have been 4 games is no easy task
I think he may have had it on his mind since the All Star break and if the Braves were out of it he may have pushed to get it
He is wise beyond his years and he knows a bit of rest before the playoffs could do wonders and this sit down keeps the pressure off of him
Wouldn’t be suprised if Snit said to him you got til KC to get if not by then it probably isn’t going to happen so I am resting you before postseason