Braves manager Brian Snitker Photo Credit: Bally Sports South on X
By Reice Shipley on

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ramón Laureano made several mistakes during the team’s 3-2 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday night. After the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t mince words about just how crucial one mistake in particular was.

In the top of the tenth inning, the Braves attempted to score a run by laying down a bunt. But Laureano, the runner on third base at the time, decided to break for home before the bunt was placed.

The Mets played it perfectly, pitching out and catching Laureano in a rundown, ultimately tagging him out for the second out of the inning.

Laureano’s second mistake ended up costing the Braves the game, overrunning a fly ball from Jeff McNeil, which led to the game-winning run that crossed the plate for the Mets.

The former National League Manager of the Year was asked about both mistakes after the game. The baserunning error, which Snitker called “unacceptable,” particularly frustrated him.

“I don’t know what that was,” said Snitker. “Quite honestly… You’ll have to ask him. I didn’t have anything on. We normally don’t bunt in that situation, but I was trying to score a run. We had two pretty good hitters coming up. That’s unacceptable.”

He was far less upset about Laureano’s fielding mistake, calling it “unfortunate.”

“Yeah, he just ran a long way for it,” said Snitker. It’s unfortunate.”

As you may expect, Laureano was also asked about both mistakes after the game by reporters. For the baserunning error, he admitted that he believed there was a squeeze play on.

“Yeah, they called a pitchout,” said Laureano. “It was a good strategy. I thought there was a safety (squeeze). Yeah, I don’t know what happened.”

It is quite rare that a manager calls out a player so directly for their mistakes. But at least in this instance, Snitker seemingly believed that his player’s mistake was bad enough to be publicly addressed in his postgame presser.

This could also be a sign of frustration from Snitker and the Braves organization in general, as it was their fifth straight loss.

[Bally Sports Braves on X]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley