Fire Matt Williams! (2015) - Standard Decision.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I thought we didn't like KLaw around here?

Broken clocks etc.

[DPMOmaha]

Broken clocks etc.

Sure, but if I look at a broken clock, I'm not going to trust it's reading, even if it is right twice a day.

[NJ Ave]

"I'm not saying that Matt Williams is a perfect, great or even good manager. But let's not downplay his success managing the personalities of some pretty talented ballplayers that have been asked to do things out of their comfort zone...
And he's handled these things very well in my opinion. None of them became long-term distractions."

Very well? Leaving aside the strategic moves that you admit we all have problems with, this team looks flat and lifeless to quote outsiders, and completely unprepared, from the rash of errors to plate discipline and so forth.  The Mets and Marlins?  They've handled things very well.  Here, success has not exactly been on display, especially when the pressure has been on. 

As far as long-term distractions, we're still in April, and we've already seen the kid-glove handling necessary for Escobar; I'd say the jury is out on long-term distractions as the team attempts to clamber up the standings.

The team cratered before an outside motivational force (Simmons) combined with the less-than-amazing Braves to eke out a series win, yay.  Let's see whether that sustains itself or if the problems already present persist.  If a Ftorek-for-Robinson switch is in order (New Jersey's late season firing that ended with a Stanley Cup), better sooner rather than later.

Back to the strategic side, it affected last year's playoff aspirations, and it's hardly surprising that many are not exactly fine with having this team at the peak of its window for contention to have the manager just now learning strategy. 

As many people know, I'm a huge stat guy, so I'll respond to this post statistically: Haters gonna hate.

I disagree the team looks flat and lifeless. I don't think they performed well early on, but they had a rash of injuries to major hitters. I don't think there's been a lack of emotion at all, and the team in general looks cohesive despite - as I said - a lot of deck shuffling.

I'm not going to get involved in the blame game with you. I find it as ridiculous to blame Matt Williams for Ian Desmond's inability to field as I found it to blame Matt Williams for a bunch of veterans unable to hit in the playoffs. This isn't a Disney movie - Matt Williams' job isn't making Ian Desmond field groundballs into the wee hours of the night. It's not his fault there's no improvement montage with crescendoing music in the background.

[NJ Ave]

I mean jeez - I'm SUPER surprised that you take out Anthony Rendon and Denard Span and put in Dan Uggla and Michael Taylor and the lineup looks like it has less plate discipline.

Shocking.

[PANatsFan]

Sportsfan would be a better manager

[PebbleBall]

Sportsfan would be a better manager

You're joking, but I'm assuming he would have known to remove Scherzer before facing Stanton.  Today was an "in spite of Matt Williams" win and I'm not sure there's another kind.

[Optics]

Leaving Scherzer in the 8th was a terrible mistake today. He had gone 7 and had over 100 pitches. You don't wait for your SP to screw up before pulling him, that was the ideal spot.

Thankfully we were up 5 runs so it didn't cost us the game, but it's decisions like that in close games against better teams in October that will knock us out of the playoffs...again.

[nats2playoffs]

Leaving Scherzer in the 8th was a terrible mistake today. He had gone 7 and had over 100 pitches. You don't wait for your SP to screw up before pulling him, that was the ideal spot.

Thankfully we were up 5 runs so it didn't cost us the game, but it's decisions like that in close games against better teams in October that will knock us out of the playoffs...again.

I think Scherzer was at 97 or 99 pitches after 7 innings. I was about to post his stats in the GDT, and assumed he'd be relieved. He had 10 Ks.

He left the 8th at 114 pitches, gave up a 3-run homer to Stanton, and got nobody out. I don't want to lose him to Tommy John Surgery, a sore shoulder, etc. Matt Williams should have pulled him after 7, definitely after he put two men on base and was facing Stanton.

[whytev]

Leaving Scherzer in the 8th was a terrible mistake today. He had gone 7 and had over 100 pitches. You don't wait for your SP to screw up before pulling him, that was the ideal spot.

Thankfully we were up 5 runs so it didn't cost us the game, but it's decisions like that in close games against better teams in October that will knock us out of the playoffs...again.

Totally agree.  At least take him out before Stanton.  Roark proved he could handle Stanton.

[whytev]

I think Scherzer was at 97 or 99 pitches after 7 innings. I was about to post his stats in the GDT, and assumed he'd be relieved. He had 10 Ks.

He left the 8th at 114 pitches, gave up a 3-run homer to Stanton, and got nobody out. I don't want to lose him to Tommy John Surgery, a sore shoulder, etc. Matt Williams should have pulled him after 7, definitely after he put two men on base and was facing Stanton.

Starting the 7th was okay considering what the bullpen has been through and the fact that we had a 5 run lead.  Letting him pitch to Stanton was the mistake.

[Natsinpwc]

If he had come out and the bullpen gave up the runs then everyone would have been jumping on Williams asking why he pulled his ace after only 99 pitches.

[Kevrock]

Yup ^^^

Scherzer should have a long leash.

[mmzznnxx]

If he had come out and the bullpen gave up the runs then everyone would have been jumping on Williams asking why he pulled his ace after only 99 pitches.

Yup ^^^

Scherzer should have a long leash.

Surely most people would expect a guy paid so much would be able to get to the 8th consistently. I think the anger at the bullpen would be less than expected too because no one really trusts the bullpen this year.

Either way, it's a crap situation, why aren't either stepping up? Scherzer, stop being a strikeout king and go long. Bullpen, stop being dicks and preserve leads.

This just screams early exit.

[Ray D]

I'm really sick and tired of all the Scherzer babying.   For $210M you expect to get an elite pitcher, not a godam  sissy girl.   When we signed him, and i read that he's essentially a 6 inning starter. that''s when I seriously questioned the signing, and I still do.

[Lintyfresh85]

Scherzer was about the only thing holding this team together the first few weeks. I don't have any problems with how he's performed thus far.

[BeltwayBaseball]

The bullpen was tired, the guy had been cruising along. A little squibbler between first and second, a right-field single from a hot hitter, and a mistake pitch to an MVP-type player. He hung a slider, had he gone fastball again he might have struck out Stanton then be relieved, or maybe left a little longer looking for a DP or popups on a couple pitches.

An opportunity to save the bullpen in a situation where the game could not possibly have been lost in that moment (Stanton's AB, two on with a five-run lead). We expect our bullpen to not be able to hold a two-run lead for two innings? It ain't the postseason, it's early May, take a couple risks to save the bullpen. Opportunities to save the pen like today is what keeps 'em fresh for the actual postseason. And perhaps, in the future, when Casey Janssen is healthy, he will become a shut-down 8th inning guy and provide much needed depth in lieu of poor Craig Stammen.

[PebbleBall]

Yup ^^^

Scherzer should have a long leash.

He had a long enough leash.  Nobody is complaining that he started the 8th.  It's that he faced Stanton after allowing two straight singles to start the inning. 

I'm really sick and tired of all the Scherzer babying.   For $210M you expect to get an elite pitcher, not a godam  sissy girl.   When we signed him, and i read that he's essentially a 6 inning starter. that''s when I seriously questioned the signing, and I still do.

What?  He's been the workhorse of the rotation so far.  Scherzer is 5th in all of baseball in IP, and 62 pitchers have 6 starts.

[Smithian]

Matt Williams made the right call letting Scherzer pitch the 8th. It just didn't work out.

Scherzer has been a stud so far. No complaints from me.

[NatsinFla]

Scherzer was about the only thing holding this team together the first few weeks. I don't have any problems with how he's performed thus far.

Agree.  Hes been 100% as advertised SO FAR.  Problem is.......for it to be REALLY worth every penny.....hes going to have to be as advertised for many years...

[madj55]

Scherzer was about the only thing holding this team together the first few weeks. I don't have any problems with how he's performed thus far.

Yep, he's only gone 6 once. He's gone 7+ all of his other starts and has been great thus far. Scherzer was leading the league in ERA until that Stanton blast.

[shoeshineboy]

Yep, he's only gone 6 once. He's gone 7+ all of his other starts and has been great thus far. Scherzer was leading the league in ERA until that Stanton blast.

Yeah, you always have to balance between the guy on the mound and the guy you would bring in. And with the lead they had, it was a good chance to push Scherzer to see what he would do. You know Scherzer wanted to be in there. He is going to face these same guys many times this season. Also a good chance for Williams and McCatty to get a read on Scherzer for future situations. All pitchers will say they want to stay in (although I always respected Livan when he would say take me out, I'm gassed.) But you are basically giving a guy a yeah baby moment. Sherzer's a Cy Young winner, and it was his game. He deserved the right to go get the top of the order. It didn't work out. He could have been yanked and had the pen give up the runs, and then everyone would be wondering about the what ifs. This was Williams giving the ace ownership of the game. He probably learned something from the way the top of the order faced him that last time through, and that should help him down the stretch.

It is one thing to have a short leash with younger guys, but at some point, they need to be pushed or they don't learn. I wish other pitchers were pushed in similar situations.

I wasn't watching the game. On paper, I may have pulled Scherzer to start the 8th, but would have had a hard time pulling him for Stanton to let a bullpen guy face him with no outs and two inherited runners. At that point, you have a cushion and need to let Scherzer take ownership. The key is what McCatty saw in Scherzer, what they felt the stress factor was on him at that point. Sometimes you are better off letting a veteran stay in and face the music rather than having him think you are going to hook him at a certain pitch count or at the first sign of trouble. That messes with their heads. I think the pitchers benefit from knowing Williams will give them a chance. And that makes it easier for them to respect his decision when he does pull them.

[MarquisDeSade]

Matt Williams is still a bum.

[Slateman]

Matt Williams is still a bum.

Tanner for manager?

[MarquisDeSade]

Tanner for manager?

Now you're talking.  Where are those home improvement pics?

[PebbleBall]

Matt Williams made the right call letting Scherzer pitch the 8th. It just didn't work out.

Scherzer has been a stud so far. No complaints from me.

Again - letting him start the 8th wasn't the mistake.