In comments to the media today, Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo suggested that manager Dave Martinez is expected to stay in his position in 2019. Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com was among those on the scene (Twitter links).
Martinez has overseen a roughly .500 effort from the Nats this season, his debut campaign as a MLB manager and his first year with the organization. Needless to say, the outcomes have fallen well shy of the lofty expectations held both inside and outside the organization for a talented roster.
On the one hand, it’s not terribly surprising to hear that Martinez is expected to get another shot. “I haven’t considered any other scenario,” says Rizzo, seemingly affirming that the plan — on his end, at least — is to stay with a skipper who surely can’t be blamed for all of the team’s travails. Martinez initially signed a three-year deal, so two more campaigns remain on his contract.
On the other, this is a team that has seen loads of managerial upheaval in recent seasons, even while turning in outstanding overall results in terms of regular-season wins and losses. And Martinez has been on the receiving end of rumors of clubhouse problems, though it’s still difficult to assess those accusations and the organization’s feelings on the matter.
It’s only fair to note that, this time last year, it also seemed Dusty Baker was destined to remain in D.C. Even after another disheartening postseason exit, it was tough to pin the blame on the veteran manager. Still, he ended up not being asked back, kicking off a search that ended with the hiring of Martinez.
While there’s time yet for things to change, then, it seems the expectation ought to be that Martinez will remain in the gig for at least one more season. Rizzo says, unsurprisingly, that the organization believes it still has the core pieces in place to build a highly-competitive roster for 2019, so it seems that Martinez will be under pressure to deliver results from the jump.
A terrible manager.
I turned off the game last night. Eaton, the SS and the 2B made mistakes that a decent high-school coach wouldn’t allow. And Martinez has no clue about handling pitchers.
And I was rooting for the Cardinals.
wanna swap for boone?
Yes, Boone is awful as well.
He and Martinez are running what was for decades called “country clubs”. They hold press conferences every day and make excuses for their players that are unprepared to play. They’re sitting on 2 of the biggest payrolls in MLB. The Nationals have 2 starting pitchers, the Yankees 1.5 (CC is sort of big for a half). At least the Yankees had a bullpen for a while.
Both those unqualified managers kiss their players butts. If they hit homers, they win. Whoopie! Harper won the home run derby (I don’t watch that stuff – did they throw underhand, or put the ball on a Tee?). He is a superstar like Dave Kingman and Gorman Thomas were superstars; although Harper can run honestly like you know really really really fast. Like.
The new Royals are starting to play like the old Royals did. Refreshing to see a team that can actually play the sport of baseball. Cardinals as well. Both teams are young and will continue to get better. They appear to be the only teams on MLB Ticket worth watching. The rest you just watch the highlights on cable, and then check out the misleading box score.
Sam, lol, great post and Boone knows nothing about that bullpen of ours and how to manage it, dear Lord, and when he consults with Larry Rothschild. I get so sick to my stomach!!
Thomas, Kingman, great memories, thank you for that!! Enjoy..
First of all, Boone doesn’t manage the Yankee bullpen. Rothschild, one of the premiere pitching coaches in baseball, does. Obviously. The Yankees would be fools not to entrust Larry with that job.
And the Yankee bullpen has been doing a great job all year. One of the main reasons why they’re on track to 101 wins.
In case you missed it, the Yankees BP has been slowly petering out since about the time they brought in Britton. The clock struck 12 on Green and Holder, I do not understand the obsession with Kahnle, and of course Chapman got injured after a couple of awful appearances in which he could not throw the ball over the plate. Robertson has always been solid, and the good Betances has returned. But back to the beginning, Britton has been disappointing (being tactful).
Rothchild is an experienced pitching coach. But 5-6 of his starters washed out this year, and in desperation they had to bring in Happ and Lynn; and that’s pretty desperate.
Samuel, exactly, but that uninformed baseball person loves to argue with any of my
posts, so don’t waste your
intelligence on a fool!!
Thank You Sam
Maybe Rizzo is the problem?
LOL
It’s probably the players underachieving
Rizzo has put together solid teams year after year. He can’t win the games for them, the players have to do that
He said last year one of the players he most regrets losing is backup catcher Sandy leon. leon may not be much with the bat, but he’s one of the best game caller’s around and solid in all aspects with the glove. Just maybe Rizzo gets around to reacquiring Leon and his last 2y of service time now that he’s expendable in Boston over the winter with vazquez signed over the next 3y and Swihart improving with more playing time since July.
So Sandy Leon will all of a sudden make them a playoff team? Please, he may regret it, but he’s not the reason or even a large part of the reason why this team has underachieved. I think the player they miss most and had a significant impact on that team was Werth. He best playing days were behind him, but he was still a solid contributor for the majority of his Nationals tenure. Additionally, he really was one of the leaders of the team and brought a positive influence. This team is now nothing more than a mess, both on the field and in the clubhouse.
As I have posted since before the 7/31 deadline Rizzo is the one who needs to go. No bullpen since end 2016, poor moves in having a closer, traded good prospects for Adams (lol), let Maddux leave when Dusty was fired, doesn’t have any post season results past 1st round, and to cut it short, unloaded Murphy for nobody at a time he was most needed.
And the whole Harper case ?
Time to shift gears and move on – Lerner’s are losing “it” too.
Forgot to mention that Rizzo’s ongoing manager merry-go-round is another reason he’s gotta go. Lerner’s at fault too. Oh and I have followed the Nats since they came to DC and been to plenty of games… and life long Yankee fan (3 gen) never lived in NY. Mantle anyone? Go Nats & Yanks !
Rizzo is the problem. Glad I’m not a Nats fan. Clueless
Well he did sign Soto and brings a stacked team to play every year. So there’s that..
They could be stacked, had they not sent the mother load to the Chisox for Eaton. They dont seem to have a clear focus on what they are trying to accomplish. Making moves just to make moves does not equate to wins.
Rizzo AND Lerner. No Doubt. Blame the two that have been there through all of the disappointments. The two that have always wasted no time in finding a scapegoat. Ever wonder why Riggleman quit?
Dave Martinez has interviewed for seemingly every managerial opening over the last several years, and has failed to be anyone’s top guy until last year when the applicants for the job were relatively underwhelming. What I’ve witnessed is that Dave Martinez is essentially a worse version of Joe Maddon without the charismatic appeal. Considering Dave Martinez lacks the ability to get hiring general managers excited about the thought of hiring him, I can’t see him being too amazing at getting his players excited about playing for him.
Very good point. This guy has been passed on for years, that should tell you something. He’s also a Maddon deciple, who is one of the more overrated managers in today’s game. There’s plenty of things Maddon does well, decision making during crucial postseason games is not one of them.
Honestly believe they will be better without Harper, & a full year of Soto.
Nowhere to go but up, really. Harper shouldn’t affect their playoff chances too much. One player doesn’t really change the dynamic of a team in baseball like in a sport like basketball, where you add LeBron James and you are an instant contender. Look at the Angels and Trout. Harper shouldn’t be a giant loss, especially when the have Robles on the way. I agree with you on this one.
I couldn’t get over how Murphy batted 6th consistently this year. I get he was returning from injury, but he was on a super hot stretch and still down at the bottom of the lineup. And there was a stretch where Michael A Taylor was on fire at the plate, playing great defense as always, and top of the league in steals, but didn’t get in the lineup but once a week. It was a crowded lineup but play the hot hand.
Michael A needs to get out of there. 27 years-old and they have him pigeonholed as a 4th OF.
A few years ago the Indians front office had Jose Rameriz marked as a utility guy. When he played well, Tito just kept playing him.
Michael A needs to be put in CF, and left there. He is already better then half the CF’s starting today. When/If A.J. Pollock leaves in free agency – Rizzo is dumb enough to overpay him if Harper leaves – Michael A would be perfect for Arizona. Could well become a star there.
I agree. He’s shown flashes of a great player when he’s playing consistently. I hope the Orioles acquire him somehow
You have Cedric Mullins. Congrats! He is Kenny Lofton 2.0.
Yeah I’m really excited about him
I am convinced that Michael A. Taylor is Gary Matthews Jr reincarnated (and without the switch hitting skills). So yes, he would look just fine in Orange and Black. I’m kind of shocked to see fans of a few teams here raving about him. I’ve watched him for years. He gets really hot for a few weeks and goes cold for the next two months. Dusty though he was the perfect lead-off hitter, inspite of the career .290 obp. In spite of this I love him. He is an amazing CF and looks exactly like Marlo Stanfield… So there is another reason he might be awesome at OPACY.
“Michael A needs to get out of there. 27 years old and they have him pigeonholed as a 4th OF.”
Michael A is 27, as you point out, has been given every opportunity to earn a full time job, and has posted exactly 1 (one) season with an OBP above .300. He’s great with the glove but strikes out and makes out way too often for a starting gig.
“Michael A needs to be put in CF, and left there.”
The Nats have tried that, more out of necessity than choice. They have been rewarded with an 84 OPS+ for their efforts. Taylor would have lost even more playing time this year had Victor Robles been healthy.
“Michael A would be perfect for Arizona. Could well become a star there.”
Just out of curiosity. Pull M A Taylor’s bb-ref page. Why in the world would you expect that this player would or could be a star in MLB?
Because I’ve see him play since he was in AA.
He changes games with his bat, glove, arm, and on the bases. Plus at his age he’s getting stronger so he’ll hit with more power. I’m not about stats, I’m about winning. Some players are winners. He’s one.
In addition to the D-Backs, he’d be perfect with the Indians. Look what Tito gets out of an aging, over the hill Ragi Davis. Michael A is already better then him. Besides, Rizzo is committed to Victor Robles.
Michael Taylor lacks the plate discipline to be an everyday player, that’s why he is so inconsistent, he has all the tools but needs to be more selective.
“Miss me, Mike ?” – Dusty Baker
G,
lol, good one
He has to keep Martinez around. Firing him puts Rizzo on the hot seat. Now, some of you think he should already be there. But he’s not. Rizzo firing Martinez would raise concern.
Unless ownership steps in and tells Rizzo they will pay Girardi what he wants.
Exactly. It will just seem like he’s throwing the blame around. The Nats have not had any managerial consistency, so people will begin to think that Rizzo is the issue.
I’m pleased with how badly this season has turned out for the Nats after they kicked Baker to the curb. in 2017
So do you also root against the Reds, Cubs, and Giants, since they too preferred someone else? Sometimes there’s justification for replacing a guy. As likable as Dusty is, he has some very questionable philosophies.
But are the Nats struggles really the result of Martinez’s managerial skills? Cora is a first time manager and look at the Sox. But you can’t say that’s all because of him. They finished first last year with Farrell.
John, That is one hell of a team..The best I seen in about 60 years!!
I had high hopes for Martinez, but I’ll admit I’m disappointed.
Wonder if they would prefer Bud Black now.
We may be seeing a bit of why the guy never won any of the thousand jobs he put in for the last several years.
Another over-hyped Maddon guy… not unlike Maddon himself.
They badly need consistency, but I don’t feel as if Davey is right for the job. Seems like Dusty might have been better.
How ironic that they don’t resign any manager that took them to the playoffs, but no deeper than the first round, but then thinking about keeping the guy that didn’t even get them to the playoffs.
The Baltimore / Wash DC area….
The blackhole of MLB
He’s no Joe Maddon!
I was a Martinez supporter and thought he’d do well. But what a train wreck of a job this year. I can’t imagine a worse managing job with all of that talent. He needs to be fired like yesterday. What a terrible job managing a top flight team.
But didn’t Washington Management knew Martinez had no prior experience as a manager? I mean, it’s like when a company wants to pay less to a “junior” to do the job of a pro so they can save the money that is all… It’s a terrible concept that happens a lot in America..
I’d bet good money the Nats problem is chemistry rooted in Bryce Harper’s presence. The guy is naturally uncomfortable in an arrogant manner.
I would suggest replacing Rizzo.