Atlanta Braves lose two legends of our time

It’s the end of an era, and an end that we might very well look back on with some angst while saying ‘remember when…?’

I was going to talk about some Atlanta Braves‘ trade rumor updates, but I have some unfinished business to discuss that takes priority.

It took a day to collect my thoughts on the sudden departure – firing, dismissal, whatever – of two Braves’ legends: scouts Brian Bridges and Roy Clark.

Inasmuch as I appreciate what Alex Anthopoulos has done to stabilize this organization after a year+ of increasing conflict and misbehavior, I fear that this action could end up being his worst deal during his tenure in the Atlanta GM chair… however long that might be.

Whatever chaos seemed to have been going on in the Coppolella-led Front Office, all indications are that the Amateur Scouting Department (the domestic side of the house) was operating well.

Under the leadership of Bridges and his mentor/advisor Clark, there have been a steady stream of major league contributors that have come through Atlanta – plus many still on the way.

Here’s a few names you are sure to recognize:

Craig Kimbrel
Jeff Francoeur
Brian McCann
Freddie Freeman
Jason Heyward
Mike Minor
Adam Wainwright
Alex Wood
Ian Anderson
Kyle Wright
Mike Soroka
Kyle Muller
Bryse Wilson

I could go on, for this list is indeed longer, but one thing needs to be pointed out right up front: the selection of pitchers in a draft is said to be a serious gamble, with the adage being that you need 10 prospects to make a major league pro.

Bridges and Clark have apparently figured out how to reduce this ratio substantially, and that’s exactly why the Braves are now flush with pitchers that have already made it to the majors… with more on the way. That can’t be an accident. They know what to look for.

Thoughtful and Diligent

I never met Bridges, but I have spoken with him at length. I told him this morning that he’d made a friend in doing so. So I have heard some of his thoughts and philosophies about scouting – much more of this than of war stories, for it’s not about him, it’s about the kids.

He works hard at his job – on the road a lot more than he’s home (I think I recall him saying that he’s typically home only about 2 weekends per year). This is the life of a lead scout.

It was therefore somehow fitting in a bittersweet/melancholy way that when he was contacted about Anthopoulos’ decision, he was in the Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

Of course he was.

The story doesn’t need to be known

The cover story for the change was something about administration or oversight or something of that ilk. Whatever. It ultimately doesn’t matter what ‘the reason’ was.

More from Tomahawk Take

Fact is, Anthopoulos is entitled to put people in his Front Office that he knows and connects with fully – that’s how these things work best.

Frankly, it’s a little surprising that this pair of longtime Atlanta Braves – that’s how I will always think of them: as members of the team – lasted this long after the change in leadership.

But forget about administration stuff. Bridges belongs in the field… watching fields, watching kids. He’s not an office jockey, he’s a baseball observer.

I’m pretty sure he isn’t done, either. Some other club will be lucky to pick him up to join – or lead – their staff to build their team.

While we all here at The Take wish Brian Bridges – and Roy Clark – ‘Godspeed’ in their future endeavors, I just hope that they don’t end up working for another NL East club!

The new minor league leadership teams. dark. Next

After all, they’ll probably beat the daylights out of us in this game that they know so well.

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