Fire Matt Williams! (2015) - Standard Decision.

[BeltwayBaseball]

He finished with 87 pitches. Threw 13 in the top of the sixth before he got lifted, so he was at 76 going into the inning. He gave up a homer and a sharp single to start the sixth. That's when the reliever should have gotten up (and did). But in the four pitches he threw what should have been TWO double play balls and been out of the inning. He did his job. He would have been at 82 pitches. Matt didn't go wrong there.

This...Matt has screwed up bullpen management before, I thought Roark in Milwaukee was a mistake, but Doug did the job. Matt gambled on Doug and Matt won. Is it Matt's fault Desmond can make routine plays? He worked with Desi personally in April on his freaking fielding for crying out loud. Matt is innocent. The only time Fister should have been relieved is maybe right before the last batter when Harper got injured. 4 ground balls is a bit much to expect from a pitcher, he's got to be emotionally demoralized at that point. But the inning and the situation never should have happened to begin with.

[PC]

It's not Matt's fault that Desmond can't make routine plays but it is his fault for starting him everyday.

And when Desmond is playing shortstop, you've got to expect less than stellar defense.   If you have a tired pitcher plus Ian at SS, hilarity is likely to ensue...hilarity for the other team.

[Ray D]

It's not Matt's fault that Desmond can't make routine plays but it is his fault for starting him everyday.
  If you have a tired pitcher plus Ian at SS, hilarity is likely to ensue...

Funny, first time, I read that as "Hillary". And I imagined a shortstop in a pants suit.

[whytev]

Here is a great article getting into what I was implying about leaving starters in too long.

Good point though...he doesn't trust the 'pen so he's now gambling on starters in the late middle innings.

http://www.federalbaseball.com/2015/6/19/8811411/matt-williams-throws-down-gauntlet-after-bryce-harper-injured-in-loss

[whytev]

Funny, first time, I read that as "Hillary". And I imagined a shortstop in a pants suit.

Ian's pants look like sailor pants when he bats.

[GburgNatsFan]

Funny, first time, I read that as "Hillary". And I imagined a shortstop in a pants suit.

With cankles.

[Mathguy]

Ray - regardless of what side of the political aisle you're on, you need HELP !

Funny, first time, I read that as "Hillary". And I imagined a shortstop in a pants suit.

[welch]

Fister had two rehab starts in the minors. First was 3.? innings, second was 5 innings. Why have him pitch six or seven innings in his first start against major leaguers? The Rays are not the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

Same thing with Roark, who went from alternating long reliever to 8th inning setup man, when Stammen was hurt and everybody else pitched like dirt, to starter.

Same thing with Scherzer. Did Max need to pitch a complete game, like this is 1960 or 1928?

[Slateman]

Fister had two rehab starts in the minors. First was 3.? innings, second was 5 innings. Why have him pitch six or seven innings in his first start against major leaguers? The Rays are not the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

Same thing with Roark, who went from alternating long reliever to 8th inning setup man, when Stammen was hurt and everybody else pitched like dirt, to starter.

Same thing with Scherzer. Did Max need to pitch a complete game, like this is 1960 or 1928?

Because Matt Williams sucks balls.

[Ray D]

Ray - regardless of what side of the political aisle you're on, you need HELP !

Correction:  not just a shortstop in a pantsuit;  a shortstop in a pantsuit WITH A FAT ASS!

[bud]

I am really unimpressed with Williams as manager.  Good player and super guy.  Just have no confidence in his managerial abilities.

[BrandonK]

I am really unimpressed with Williams as manager.  Good player and super guy.  Just have no confidence in his managerial abilities.

Alright player, but a steroid user. Not sure why he got the gig to begin with. Rizzo's love of AZ beef, I guess.

[pazzo83]

I am really unimpressed with Williams as manager.  Good player and super guy.  Just have no confidence in his managerial abilities.

Not sure what mistakes he made today?  Maybe leaving Rivero to pitch to Chris Johnson, but he got the next guy (lefty) out on a K.  Taken Zim out after 8 was a good call, guys were lining out all over the place in the 7th & 8th.  Loading the bases with none out in the 9th was risky, but it was a reasonable call and worked out in our favor big time.  Other than that?  Maybe taken Rendon out, but he's still recovering from a DL stint, remember.

[whytev]

Not sure what mistakes he made today?  Maybe leaving Rivero to pitch to Chris Johnson, but he got the next guy (lefty) out on a K.  Taken Zim out after 8 was a good call, guys were lining out all over the place in the 7th & 8th.  Loading the bases with none out in the 9th was risky, but it was a reasonable call and worked out in our favor big time.  Other than that?  Maybe taken Rendon out, but he's still recovering from a DL stint, remember.

Remember when Espinosa backed up Desmond on that stolen base?

Rendon is hobbling around right now.  Great bat but his legs aren't under him.  I'm cool with Espinosa and Rendon on the double switch.

[pazzo83]

Remember when Espinosa backed up Desmond on that stolen base?

Rendon is hobbling around right now.  Great bat but his legs aren't under him.  I'm cool with Espinosa and Rendon on the double switch.

Yep, and with Espy hitting reasonably well you aren't losing a ton there.

[NattyBroskinator]

We should totally hire uvas manager tbh

[pazzo83]

We should totally hire uvas manager tbh

WAAAHOOOWWWWWWAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No.

[NatsAllThe Way]

... should rename the thread  "Matt Williams firing on all cylinders"  Booyah!

Go Nats

[Mattionals]

Does anybody think MW is worse than any other manager the Nats have had in the past 10 years? I'm too lazy to read the entire thread, so forgive me if this was discussed before.

I for one like him better than everyone sans probably Frank Robinson, but that one is for sentimental reasons.

[Slateman]

Does anybody think MW is worse than any other manager the Nats have had in the past 10 years? I'm too lazy to read the entire thread, so forgive me if this was discussed before.

I for one like him better than everyone sans probably Frank Robinson, but that one is for sentimental reasons.

Bring back Rigg

[Ray D]

Does anybody think MW is worse than any other manager the Nats have had in the past 10 years?

Not me.  I think he's better than Davey, Riggleman, Manny, and Frank.   Not saying he's a great manager but he's better than those.

[HalfSmokes]

Does anybody think MW is worse than any other manager the Nats have had in the past 10 years? I'm too lazy to read the entire thread, so forgive me if this was discussed before.

I for one like him better than everyone sans probably Frank Robinson, but that one is for sentimental reasons.

I think most managers make countless decisions/nondecisions over the course of a game- we harp on the couple we don't like and over look the rest. I think Williams is like most managers- competent, but he'll screw up in ways we remember

[Ray D]

Of the five Nats managers, Williams is the only one who says substantive things when he talks about baseball. All the others were full of cliches and non-information.   I like listening to his interviews and press conferences because I always pick up information.  Not to say he doesn't throw around cliches, but I never learned any information from any of the former managers.   When Williams is asked why he did this or didn't do that, he always has a concrete answer.

[mitlen]

Of the five Nats managers, Williams is the only one who says substantive things when he talks about baseball. All the others were full of cliches and non-information.   I like listening to his interviews and press conferences because I always pick up information.  Not to say he doesn't throw around cliches, but I never learned any information from any of the former managers.   When Williams is asked why he did this or didn't do that, he always has a concrete answer.

I've discovered that I enjoy Matt's "conferences" much more when I listen and don't watch.    Some of his mannerisms drive me nutz.   I've also found his Junkies' interviews to be the best interviews he does.       The last few TV conferences I have watched though, it appears he's given up the gum.    That's broadcasting 101.     However,  I put that on the folks with the Nationals who should have mentioned it to him earlier.

[Ray D]

I've discovered that I enjoy Matt's "conferences" much more when I listen and don't watch.    Some of his mannerisms drive me nutz

Same here.