There is a saying in Canada that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Look, I understand being an Expos fan, since I am one. Just understand something about the Nationals. Outside of being relocated from Montreal, this team from top to bottom would much rather share its roots with the city of Washington D.C. than Montreal. It has been 10 years and there hasn't been one throwback Expos game. Not one. The ring of honor has more Washington players on it than Expos players. The bronze statues, say what you will about them, are all of ex Washington players. This team is aligned with it's city, and it's city's baseball heritage. I feel for you, but after Desmond is gone, there won't be any player that ever was an "OG Expo" left in the organization. If you came here to be a fan of a Montreal team, I'm afraid this isn't the place. Although my fan heritage of the Expos has led me here, I am a Nationals fan now, and even if a new team lands in Montreal, I won't be following.
Most here were fans of the old Nats teams of the 60s and 70s, or became fans when the team moved here and had nothing to do with the Expos. So that being said, no one really cares about a guy who was at the end of his career when baseball returned to the district. The fans here want a winner, and the Nats have tried the "manager with little to no experience" route with MW, and it's blowing up in their faces. Similar to how Ausmus is doing in Detroit, the Nats gambled on a guy who was a great player, but not a leader and his inabilities as a manager has led to the unraveling of the team he was given.
As for the times Dave Martinez has been "the bridesmaid" as you say:
- The White Sox interviewed a guy who would be well received by the Chicago fans in Ventura
- The Astros hired Porter because he was considered to be one of the best up and coming managers out there
- Rick Renteria was hired since he was Bud Black's (considered to be a great manager) bench coach.
I think the reservations about the "Maddon technique" was if it was built well for just a place like Tampa, or if it would work in a big market. Now in Chicago, with a team of young guys who all need to be managed well, Joe is still striving and I bet that Martinez's stock couldn't be any higher.