PHILADELPHIA — The family of Atlanta Braves' manager Brian Snitker did not join him in Philadelphia on opening day.
Snitker criticized Phillies fans during spring training, saying they behaved objectionably towards his wife and other Atlanta friends and family during the playoffs.
“It was tough there,” Snitker said in a March 21 interview with Atlanta radio station WZGC. “And they don’t seem to mind, either, quite honestly. It was tough on them all last year to the point where it was concerning.”
The Phillies knocked out the Braves in Philadelphia in the last two seasons in the NL Division Series. The Braves have won six straight NL East titles and the 2021 World Series.
Snitker had also said that Philly had the “most hostile crowd” and his wife would not want to go back to Citizens Bank Park.
Asked what made his family feel unsafe at the ballpark, Snitker said on Friday, “I’m not going to get into all that. Let’s talk about today.”
“My wife’s babysitting and the grandkids are in school,” Snitker said in Atlanta’s dugout. “They wouldn’t be anywhere, honestly, other than home.”
Snitker otherwise praised the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park, which, this season, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and has a reputation as one of the rowdiest places to play in baseball.
“This is a passionate fan base and there’s a lot of energy in the air, and rightly so,” Snitker said. “This is a really good club. These fans are passionate about what they do. It’s a fun place to come play, quite honestly, because there is a lot of energy.”
