Brian Snitker’s decision to pull Ian Anderson, explained

Braves pitcher Ian Anderson had a no-hitter going through five innings when manager Brian Snitker decided to pull him. Did he have a good reason?

On Friday night, Ian Anderson pitched five innings of no-hit baseball in the World Series, joining Don Larsen as the only pitcher to ever get that far without giving up a hit on that stage.

Anderson had the chance to become just the second pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter in the World Series. Braves manager Brian Snitker took him out of the game all the same.

Baseball fans on Twitter were merciless in dragging Snitker for the move in the moment.

Did Snitker make the right call?

Brian Snitker had a reason to pull Ian Anderson

The result will ultimately justify the decision or prove it very wrong. Still, given the available data, there was a reason for the manager to pull him.

Anderson had walked three and struck out four, while producing strikes on just 51 percent of his pitches. He was having an excellent outing in terms of results, but that all could have fallen apart quickly if the manager kept him out too long. It’s been a long season, it could be a long series and the pitcher was getting deep into the count often. Chasing history like a no-hitter can’t come at the expense of a World Series win.

There was also some talk of Snitker looking at Anderson’s hand on the Braves’ radio broadcast. So perhaps there was something going on there.

Moreover, Anderson was going to need to be pulled at some point for a pinch hitter. Whether or not his no-hitter was intact, it was never going to make sense to keep him in for nine innings.

Either way, A.J. Minter entered the game and did exactly what he was brought in to do. He didn’t allow a hit and got the Braves into the seventh inning without giving up a run.

The real impact could come on Saturday when Atlanta will have a bullpen game. Snitker will have to own the result.