Fire Matt Williams! (2015) - Standard Decision.

[rileyn]

Heading out west at 57-53, the question is, if one week from now we are below .500 does Williams still have his job?  This team is cratering.  We are 9-14 since the ASB and 11-17 in our last 28 games with managerial gaffes piling up.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Dombrowski and Rizzo can team up and continue to do everything except build a bullpen.

[Natsinpwc]

Heading out west at 57-53, the question is, if one week from now we are below .500 does Williams still have his job?  This team is cratering.  We are 9-14 since the ASB and 11-17 in our last 28 games with managerial gaffes piling up.

I think it's basically too late to change the manager at that point; if a bad road trip like that we may be 4-5 games out.

[mitlen]

Boswell's column containing comments (near the end) about yesterday's exchange with Williams.   

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/for-nationals-missed-opportunity-against-rockies-could-be-costly/2015/08/09/c68ad084-3ecf-11e5-9ab1-17f1805120f1_story.html

A second year flailing manager takes on the Boz.    I don't always agree with Boz but to think Williams would dismiss his question like he's some cub reporter is amazing.

[HalfSmokes]

Boz tends to be a great bellwether for management/ownership, if Boz turns on you, it's not good

[mitlen]

Boz tends to be a great bellwether for management/ownership, if Boz turns on you, it's not good

We've heard for years that he had management's (Lerner) ear.    He was a semi-mouthpiece, if you will.    As you say, if that is true  ...  not good for MW.

[Natsinpwc]

We've heard for years that he had management's (Lerner) ear.    He was a semi-mouthpiece, if you will.    As you say, if that is true  ...  not good for MW.

Probably why the question annoyed him so much.  Like hearing the executioner coming down the hall.

[HalfSmokes]

I almost feel bad for him, he's not a good manager, but the roster is utter dog crap right now. The offense isn't hitting, the starters are giving up runs and even his great 8th inning guy (the result of the only move Rizzo made to fix things) looks like the most hittable reliever on the team

[Ray D]

I think it's basically too late to change the manager at that point;

I don't.  I think this team has more than enough talent to win the World Series.  With a month and a half left, I think a good manager could turn it around.  The question is who's available.   There is no point to firing Matt just to change the scenery. Unless the philosophy changes - particularly the offensive philosophy, but also bullpen management, and even willingness to bench players that should not be playing -- this season is doomed.

[Minty Fresh]

I almost feel bad for him, 

I'm not even close.  He was a moron as a player and someone gave him a managerial spot. 

[HalfSmokes]

The question is who's available.   

we've got the 2014 international league manager of the year in syracuse- the guy has been a manager for 21 seasons, so you'd think he be more experienced than williams. I'm sure there are a few retired D backs around so, there's that option too

[varoadking]

I've little doubt that Rizzo represented Williams to the Lerner's as "The Guy." 

He'll get a pass on 2015 due to all the injuries and will "manage" this team thru 2016.

Not happy about that...just stating what seems to be the obvious...

[Ray D]

I've little doubt that Rizzo represented Williams to the Lerner's as "The Guy." 

That's a depressing thought.   Rizzo is FAR smarter than Matt.   Matt seems to think he"s Earl Weaver (managing for the three-run homerun).  Earl Weaver was FAR smarter than Matt.   Matt cannot pull off Earl Weaver.   If Rizzo cannot see that the managerial philosophy of Matt Williams is failing (not because the philosophy is bad, but because we don't have the right players, nor a smart enough manager, to pull it off) then the team is doomed.

[OldChelsea]

Williams' post-match pressers (as excerpted on the radio broadcasts) are becoming unlistenable...an endlessly repetitive mishmash of one-liners about specific players and other statements with a rushed, 'next question please' lilt to them.

Wouldn't it be funny if he turned up drunk for a presser...say, started about the 6th inning nipping from a hip flask of Velicoff, Odesse or Aristocrat vodka (in full view of the telly cameras, guaranteed to elicit at least one remark about 'cheap' from the commentators)...or alternatively, doing shots of slivovitz with chasers of room-temperature Yuengling Lager....it'd be a lot more entertaining than following the recent misadventures of this team.

[mitlen]

Williams' post-match pressers (as excerpted on the radio broadcasts) are becoming unlistenable...an endlessly repetitive mishmash of one-liners about specific players and other statements with a rushed, 'next question please' lilt to them.

Wouldn't it be funny if he turned up drunk for a presser...say, started about the 6th inning nipping from a hip flask of Velicoff, Odesse or Aristocrat vodka (in full view of the telly cameras, guaranteed to elicit at least one remark about 'cheap' from the commentators)...or alternatively, doing shots of slivovitz with chasers of room-temperature Yuengling Lager....it'd be a lot more entertaining than following the recent misadventures of this team.

....   and speak Stengelese.     

[welch]

Boz tends to be a great bellwether for management/ownership, if Boz turns on you, it's not good

I have thought the same.

[welch]

....   and speak Stengelese.     

I doubt that Matt is smart enough to speak Stengelese. Or the wisdom of a Yogi: "It ain't over til it's over", said Yogi Berra about July, 1973, when managing the Mets...who were in last place in the NL East. Tug McGraw kept shouting "Yo gotta BELIEVE!!!" and the Mets won the pennant.

Nats need some public defiance, some "Hey, frack the world and the experts and most of all the fracking Mets!"

Maybe Harper should do the post-game stuff. Bryce has the right attitude.

[Kevrock]

We've heard for years that he had management's (Lerner) ear.    He was a semi-mouthpiece, if you will.    As you say, if that is true  ...  not good for MW.

Boz basically defends Williams in the Q&A today.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

we're talkin' top shelf here

nipping from a hip flask of Velicoff, Odesse or Aristocrat vodka .

[HattoriHanzo]

Don't worry guys.  The nats will be in the 2054 World Series.  If anyone else saw the minority report pilot you'll get it.

[whytev]

Williams' post-match pressers (as excerpted on the radio broadcasts) are becoming unlistenable...an endlessly repetitive mishmash of one-liners about specific players and other statements with a rushed, 'next question please' lilt to them.

Wouldn't it be funny if he turned up drunk for a presser...say, started about the 6th inning nipping from a hip flask of Velicoff, Odesse or Aristocrat vodka (in full view of the telly cameras, guaranteed to elicit at least one remark about 'cheap' from the commentators)...or alternatively, doing shots of slivovitz with chasers of room-temperature Yuengling Lager....it'd be a lot more entertaining than following the recent misadventures of this team.

You mean he's not already managing the last 3 innings drunk?

[tomterp]

Williams' post-match pressers (as excerpted on the radio broadcasts) are becoming unlistenable...an endlessly repetitive mishmash of one-liners about specific players and other statements with a rushed, 'next question please' lilt to them.

His pregame interview with Dave Jageler is much better.  He seems relaxed and a bit more open.

[HalfSmokes]

cooley just put it perfectly- "Williams reminds me so much of Jim Zorn"

[Matugi]

cooley just put it perfectly- "Williams reminds me so much of Jim Zorn"

eh zorn is kinda in a class of his own, he was in over his head and the management never really decided to make him their target until the very end, plus that organization was corrupt from top down.  I'd say he's closer to Shanahan, sought out by the organization, a season of success with complete mediocrity surrounding

[Elvir Ovcina]

eh zorn is kinda in a class of his own, he was in over his head and the management never really decided to make him their target until the very end, plus that organization was corrupt from top down.  I'd say he's closer to Shanahan, sought out by the organization, a season of success with complete mediocrity surrounding

When did Williams manage two World Series winners?