KISSIMMEE, Fla.—It has to have been the strangest series of job interviews Atlanta GM John Coppolella has ever conducted. First up for the manager’s position last September was interim skipper Brian Snitker, who arrived at the executive offices above Turner Field and offered to accept a demotion if he didn’t get the job. “Whichever way you go, I’m a Brave,” he said. A few days later, bench coach Terry Pendleton opened his session by suggesting that the team not choose him. “I think Brian deserves the opportunity to lead the ballclub,” he said.
“It was a weird process,” says Coppolella.