Eric Young Sr. slams Walt Weiss detractors

As far as coaches go, two of the most beloved figures in recent Atlanta Braves history are Ron Washington and Eric Young Sr. — both of whom left for Los Angeles a couple of years ago when Washington was named manager of the Angels.

The two men spent over half a decade in Atlanta under Brian Snitker and alongside Walt Weiss, who was just named the next manager of the Braves. Some fans aren’t happy with the hire, hoping the team would finally step outside its comfort zone and bring in someone unfamiliar with the organization.

However, if you need something that might change your mind, just listen to what Eric Young Sr. had to say about the Braves’ decision to promote Weiss.

“If you have something negative to say about Walt Weiss, you need to check yourself,” Young said in an interview with MLB Network Radio. “That’s number one. Why I think that is because this individual right here is a solid, ultimate pro when it comes to taking care of business, being a mentor to me as a player — the same everything when I was a coach for him.

“One thing about Walt you have to realize is that he will not show you up in the game. You don’t have to worry about him changing his expression. If he’s disappointed or doesn’t like something that’s going on, he will call you into his office, and that’s where you get the matter-of-fact talk. He knows how to communicate very well with this present team. He’s been around for a long time. The guy is respected. Walt has always been respected… If there’s anybody in pro baseball that I’ve come across that has been a true professional every day I’ve been around him — and not been around him — that would be Walt Weiss.”

The one thing that has become overwhelmingly evident since Walt Weiss was named the Braves manager is how well-liked and well-respected he is by everyone in the clubhouse. The players likely went to bat for him during the process — much like Freddie Freeman once did for Brian Snitker — and that turned out pretty well for the Braves, despite the disappointing ending to Snitker’s tenure.

Weiss shouldn’t have any problem maintaining the tight-knit culture that has defined Atlanta’s clubhouse in recent years. Whether he can handle the rest of the responsibilities that come with managing a team with championship expectations remains to be seen.

Additionally, Young’s comments come at an interesting time. He’s currently a free agent as a coach after Washington was let go in Los Angeles at the end of the season. Alex Anthopoulos said during Tuesday’s press conference that additional coaching hires have not yet been finalized. Given Young’s history with Weiss and the Braves, his name will almost certainly come up as the staff comes together.