Do you like the Davey Johnson hire?

[RL04]

I feel like the team is in disarray with Davey Johnson at the helm.

The past is the past. DJ hasn't managed in a decade. I get a nasty feeling in my stomach watching him manage. It's like he's too detached.

McLaren and even Riggs (while they were here) gave this job everything they had and you could see it.

Took the words right out of my mouth.
As a former Mets fan I was thrilled in '86.
But DJ is just too old now.
Age happens.
I'm not confident this is going to work out well at all.

[Baseball is Life]

I saw the Davey Johnson interview last night. It was the first TV interview glimpse I've had of him. Wow, he has aged and he seems not to have much energy. I followed the Mets in the mid-'80s so I know him well.

If he his physically as bad off as he appears on TV, I don't think this will be more than a one year shot. Cue Legion of Doom.

[blue911]

I don't recall Johnson ever being a high energy guy. He always had the quiet, thinker persona. But you never know until it plays out. For now, my moneys on the guy with the rings and career .560 winning pct.

[shoeshineboy]

I don't recall Johnson ever being a high energy guy. He always had the quiet, thinker persona. But you never know until it plays out. For now, my moneys on the guy with the rings and career .560 winning pct.

No he never has been. He's going to be low key and deal with things in that matter. He's the right kind of manager if you want to have someone who actually knows what they're doing with players. He's the wrong kind of manager if you want some clown who thrown chairs and picks fights with umpires.

[Ray D]

Johnson in the dugout has a look on his face as if he's clueless. He makes odd decisions. He seems like a senile old man when interviewed.

Don't let any of that fool you.  His mind is working faster than any or ours.  He's figuring it all out. It may take 5-10 games.  After that the team will catch on fire.

[hammondsnats]

Johnson in the dugout has a look on his face as if he's clueless. He makes odd decisions. He seems like a senile old man when interviewed.

Don't let any of that fool you.  His mind is working faster than any or ours.  He's figuring it all out. It may take 5-10 games.  After that the team will catch on fire.

all the shots of the clubhouse, the guys are always listening to him or laughing with him, etc.  and everyone has praised him about his experience and what they've learned from him in spring, etc.

but that's not the point.  i really think people are freaking out b/c the team is 0-2. 

we really don't have a smart fan base (yet).

[welch]

Saw Davey in a few TV shots during the early innings of last night's game. Yes, he has aged. Good points: he has always been thoughtful, relaxed, has wry sense of humor.

Irrelevant issues (for the first week): how he manages a game. All managers do pretty much the same thing: pull a pitcher, send up a pinch-hitter, make late-inning defensive change. None of the results are absolutely predictable.

One question I have: what about the coaches? Do they have the solidarity they had a week ago, or during the McLaren "interregnum"? Do they all sense that they will lose their jobs at season's end? Do they have their focus on finding a new job?

Still, let's give this a month.

[Lintyfresh85]

Saw Davey in a few TV shots during the early innings of last night's game. Yes, he has aged. Good points: he has always been thoughtful, relaxed, has wry sense of humor.

Irrelevant issues (for the first week): how he manages a game. All managers do pretty much the same thing: pull a pitcher, send up a pinch-hitter, make late-inning defensive change. None of the results are absolutely predictable.

One question I have: what about the coaches? Do they have the solidarity they had a week ago, or during the McLaren "interregnum"? Do they all sense that they will lose their jobs at season's end? Do they have their focus on finding a new job?

Still, let's give this a month.

Agreed with everything you said but the very last statement.

If the Nats want to have any shot this year, they can't give it a month... things have to start clicking and soon... or the Nats will fall back out of the Wild Card race quickly.

[GburgNatsFan]

"Catch fire" meaning play to their level, which is not .600 baseball. We need to have reasonable expectations.

Johnson in the dugout has a look on his face as if he's clueless. He makes odd decisions. He seems like a senile old man when interviewed.

Don't let any of that fool you.  His mind is working faster than any or ours.  He's figuring it all out. It may take 5-10 games.  After that the team will catch on fire.

[Ray D]

"Catch fire" meaning play to their level, which is not .600 baseball. We need to have reasonable expectations.

"Catch fire" to me means end with 85 wins.

[Tyler Durden]

What's the baseline if 'catching fire' means 85 wins?  Most people predicted this team would win 70-75 games - and that was before losing LaRoche and Zim. 

As far as the playoffs go, I think they care much more about laying the groundwork for 2012 than they do about trying to get to the playoffs this year.

[Lintyfresh85]

I'm convinced with LaRoche in the lineup... the Nats never come close to being .500

He never showed anything... even if he was hurt, he didn't produce, at all.

[UMDNats]

LaRoche had a 1.2 WAR last year.

Morse has a 1.8 WAR so far this year, and that includes terrible defense in LF (he had a -14.4 UZR/150 there; 6.6 at 1B).

So basically, Morse as a 1B > LaRoche

[Smithian]

At seasons end I'll keep Porter and McCatty, the rest can go on.

[The Chief]

LaRoche had a 1.2 WAR last year.

Morse has a 1.8 WAR so far this year, and that includes terrible defense in LF (he had a -14.4 UZR/150 there; 6.6 at 1B).

So basically, Morse as a 1B > LaRoche

All of this.  If Morse keeps playing well and they trade him, I will rage.

[PterodactylKev]

LaRoche had a 1.2 WAR last year.

Morse has a 1.8 WAR so far this year, and that includes terrible defense in LF (he had a -14.4 UZR/150 there; 6.6 at 1B).

So basically, Morse as a 1B > an injured LaRoche

I would argue that Morse at first is better than a healthy LaRoche at first.  But until now we have only witnessed bits and pieces of Morse as a full time player.  This will be his first season where he plays everyday.  LaRoche has proven that he can contribute with an okay average and stellar defense year in and year out.

[Lintyfresh85]

Yeah... add me to the group of ragers if they keep Magic Glove over Morse at years end.

[houston-nat]

Add me to the Morse > ALaRWH people. However,

If the Nats want to have any shot this year, they can't give it a month... things have to start clicking and soon... or the Nats will fall back out of the Wild Card race quickly.

You can't just fire Davey Johnson after two weeks. We'll look like a traveling carnival of circus freaks.

[UMDNats]

Yeah... add me to the group of ragers if they keep Magic Glove over Morse at years end.

I will indeed also rage.

[mitlen]

I will indeed also rage.

Rage here as well.

Poll it !

[R-Zim#11]

All of this.  If Morse keeps playing well and they trade him, I will rage.

...what if it's for someone like Mike Trout?

[Ray D]

What's the baseline if 'catching fire' means 85 wins?  Most people predicted this team would win 70-75 games - and that was before losing LaRoche and Zim. 

I think under Riggleman the team was on course to around 70 wins. 85 would be a huge difference, that would justify the 'catch fire' characterization. And I think Davey Johnson could pull it off.

[shoeshineboy]

all the shots of the clubhouse, the guys are always listening to him or laughing with him, etc.  and everyone has praised him about his experience and what they've learned from him in spring, etc.

but that's not the point.  i really think people are freaking out b/c the team is 0-2. 

we really don't have a smart fan base (yet).

Not sure the fan base can be accurately represented by a couple of panicked voices on a fan forum.

[chemist]

Rage here as well.

I, too, would rage.

[GburgNatsFan]

Rage. I would truly rage, as well.

I, too, would rage.