ATLANTA -- Braves interim manager Brian Snitker appreciates the athleticism Mallex Smith offers as an outfielder. But moving forward, Snitker plans to position Ender Inciarte in center field whenever he is in the same lineup with Smith.
"Mallex can outrun anybody out there, but right now [Inciarte] is more advanced," Snitker said after he positioned Inciarte in center field and Smith in left for Tuesday night's series opener against the Brewers at Turner Field.
Former Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez preferred to have Smith in center field and Inciarte in left, but Snitker has realized over the past week that Inciarte's instincts and route efficiency trump the speed Smith attempts to use to overcome some of his occasional inefficient routes.