When the Braves decided to move veteran manager Brian Snitker into a consulting role last October, many believed the team would make a drastic switch in leadership. Snitker represented part of the Bobby Cox tree, a tie with the organization dating back to when Snitker started as a minor league player back in the late 1970s.

Would general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who inherited Snitker when he took over the Braves prior to the 2018 season, go in a completely different direction and hire a younger manager, perhaps a first-timer with little managerial experience, maybe someone not connected to the Braves in any way, or someone with a more analytical background compared to the old-school approach employed by Snitker?

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Well, turns out Anthopoulos’ choice had been in the Atlanta dugout, standing next to Snitker, all along. Walt Weiss, a 62-year-old former All-Star shortstop, and a former MLB manager, was the choice to be only the fourth Atlanta manager in the last 36 years.

Weiss had been Snitker’s bench coach since the start of the 2018 season, which was the same season the Braves started a six-year run of consecutive National League East division titles. Of course, that included a World Series championship in 2021.

So, the selection was not a reset, but instead a belief from the front office that the success that had happened with Snitker could continue with his chief lieutenant.

There are new ideas, new ways of doing things, and a number of new coaches. But the transition from Snitker to Weiss could not have gone much better this spring.

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“I think it’s gone really well,” Weiss said, as spring training ended in Florida. “I’ve tried to communicate some things clearly from day one as far as what the expectations are, what our mentality needs to be, what our style of play needs to look like. I communicated that very clearly, right out of the gate.”

The players were not shocked by massive changes this spring, only hearing a new voice. Their familiarity with Weiss made the it easier after a great, successful run with Snitker.

“I have a lot of respect for Snit, and, you know, now having Walt, I think it’s been unbelievable,” said third baseman Austin Riley. “I think he’s going to be a great manager, very knowledgeable of the game. I think, you know, people underestimate his knowledge for the game and the adaptability of the new style of baseball. What we’ve done over the last seven, eight years has been pretty impressive. So, you know, I think he was the perfect fit, and Alex obviously saw that. I think he did a good job there.”

“Everyone likes Walt,” said catcher and reigning Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. “He was awesome these last couple years with the Braves. It was a pretty seamless transition there. So I know we have a lot of new coaching staff and they’re all just willing and hungry to win and get better. So it’s been fun.”

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Fun is something you could tell Weiss had a lot of this spring. He seemed relaxed, at home in his own skin, especially compared to the first time he managed in the big leagues with Colorado, from 2013 to 2016.

“I was coaching high school football for four years before I took that job,” Weiss said. “I was out of the game (of baseball). So I went in there very blind, really, and had to learn on the job, had to learn a completely new team and a new job. I’d never managed before. So yeah, I was drinking from a fire hose, for sure. Those were lean years in Colorado, but I felt good about some of the cultural changes we made there by the time I left. So, like I said, very different circumstances here. We got a team that’s built to win, and I’m certainly excited about that.”

Managing in baseball has changed, even in the decade since Weiss last led a team. There are piles of more paper, endless amounts of data for every manager to consume on a daily basis. But Weiss believes there are still basic principles he will use that he learned from those who managed him, like Cox, Tony LaRussa, and Don Baylor, veteran managers who had tremendous success.

“My job is about leadership,” Weiss said. “I know we get judged on bullpen moves and that type of thing. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Hopefully they work more times than they don’t. But this job is really about leadership, leading men, and creating a culture. I’m excited about doing those types of things. Those things are kind of in my blood. That’s what gets me going every day.”

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For a team that has had two straight years of bad luck, with an enormous number of injuries, the last thing this new manager needed this spring was more of the same. That’s exactly what happened, as pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Joey Wentz and Spencer Strider went down with injuries. Plus, left fielder Jurickson Profar was suspended again for performance enhancing drugs, and he’ll miss the entire season.

Weiss has maintained a level of optimism, believing this team can bounce back if players can stay healthy and put up the numbers that are on the back of their baseball cards. There will be pressure, as most fans want no excuses after suffering through Atlanta’s first losing season since 2017.

“The focus has been fine-tuned,” Weiss said. “There’s been a level of intent every day that’s been really good to see. So we’re in a good place right now. These guys are great. We’ve got great guys. They love to play, they love to work, they love to compete, they’re easy to motivate. It’s a really good group. They care for one another, and we’ve got a good thing going here.”

Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on The SuperStations, 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. Email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss a welcome sight in the clubhouse