Fire Dusty Baker!

[BrandonK]

here's a double freaking move i'd like to see.  rizzo and dusty - gone

Lerners won't do it. Too expensive. They have to HOPE that AZ offers up a fat paycheck, then try and coax anything of value out of them for Rizzo.

[baldkid]

Great season, Dusty did a fantabulous job with this team. It's not popular on here to praise the manager or team, but I will.

[aussienatsfan]

Great season, Dusty did a fantabulous job with this team. It's not popular on here to praise the manager or team, but I will.

i suppose if you like losing with Wilmer Difo and MAT sure

[baldkid]

They only let you carry 25 guys in the playoffs, had to use a good chunk of the bench in the 7th inning. Was 2015 more fun? 

[sportsfan882]

Please can someone explain to me why Solis was taken out in favor of Kelley to face Justin Turner who is a notorious masher vs RHP? That move absolutely stunned me and of course it cost us 2 crucial runs.

[sportsfan882]

Dusty will never get it, period.

Following his Washington Nationals’ 4-3 Game 5 loss to the Dodgers, Baker didn’t strictly applaud his opponents and the gutsy maneuvering of opposing manager Dave Roberts, but rather he pointed out the downside to Roberts’ moves.

Dusty Baker: "I’d be interested to see — they won the war — but the effects of Jansen and Kershaw when they get to Chicago."

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 14, 2016

Sour grapes, Dusty? We know he’s never been shy to speak his mind, but that remark is still a surprise.

Roberts’ pitching staff may be overworked at this point, but at least his team is moving on to the NLCS rather than going home, which is sort of the objective, not making sure your staff is well rested and set up for games they’re not going to play.

Roberts is being lauded for his creativity with managing the Dodgers in the decisive game. He pulled his starter in the third; went to his setup man that inning; used a 20-year-old in relief; put his closer in for the 7th; and then used his ace, Clayton Kershaw, on short rest in the ninth. Baker says that managing in that manner, which is going against the proverbial “book,” is not something he’ll be doing any time soon.

I asked Baker if the Dodgers' use of Jansen tonight could turn into a trend: "It’s not a trend that I’d like to be a part of anytime."

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 14, 2016

Maybe it’s Baker’s failure to adapt that’s preventing the Nats from going further. The team still has yet to win a playoff series.

[mmzznnxx]

Great season, Dusty did a fantabulous job with this team. It's not popular on here to praise the manager or team, but I will.

Sorry your dad sucks at managing.

[HattoriHanzo]

LOL. Dusty is so salty. He's really got no one to blame but himself for mismanagement and poor lineup construction.

[baldkid]

This thread is filled with an unreal amount of juvenile comments. If you represent actual fans DC must be an awful place to watch games. The Nationals lost, you guys gonna hold your breath until you get your way and the Lerners trade all 25 guys and fire the entire staff? 

[baldkid]

Sorry your dad sucks at managing.

 

[mmzznnxx]

This thread is filled with an unreal amount of juvenile comments. If you represent actual fans DC must be an awful place to watch games. The Nationals lost, you guys gonna hold your breath until you get your way and the Lerners trade all 25 guys and fire the entire staff?

Drink a glass of thumbtacks and buy a pint of them for your dad too.

[HattoriHanzo]

The Lerner's better not extend Dusty for another season. I'd love to see this team go with a forward thinking baseball manager even if it happens to be someone who has no previous managerial experience. I would rather give Mark DeRosa/Wotus/Martinez a shot over Dusty. This loss reminds me of the world series game where Dusty pulled Russ Ortiz early and turned it over to a pen that was overused and folded. Having Melancon this season was great, but losing Rivero really hurt the team too. This team needs a power pitching lefty out of the pen and I don't see one in the organization. Dusty will have to go with ollie for another season lol. The NL lefty lineups like the dodgers and cubs need to be shutdown if you have any chance to make it to the world series.

[BigMeech]

Why did he switch Rendon out for Difo?

I mean yeah, Rendon was crap tonight but he would've had a better chance against Kershaw than Difo.

Dusty is a dope.

[miller10]

I actually agree with Dusty.  How our team lost to the Dodgers the way they were managed is a mystery.  They went all in on one series, destroyed their ace and their closer, the Cubs will tear them apart.  Dusty put our players in a position to win and the freaked it up.  Werth not being able to plate a guy from third with less than 2 outs twice?  The 3rd base coach for sending Werth home.  Harper, for being Harper.
I don't think this one falls at the feet of Dusty Baker. 

[Traded For Mclain]

I actually agree with Dusty.  How our team lost to the Dodgers the way they were managed is a mystery.  They went all in on one series, destroyed their ace and their closer, the Cubs will tear them apart.  Dusty put our players in a position to win and the freaked it up.  Werth not being able to plate a guy from third with less than 2 outs twice?  The 3rd base coach for sending Werth home.  Harper, for being Harper.
I don't think this one falls at the feet of Dusty Baker.

 This team is talented but dumb as mud (except Murphy).  Six one run losses in a row in the postseason. Too many K's when they just need to move a runner over.  That's just stupid baseball.

[miller10]

This team is talented but dumb as mud (except Murphy).  Six one run losses in a row in the postseason. Too many K's when they just need to move a runner over.  That's just stupid baseball.

I agree.  I took so much joy from watching the Royals last year because they did all of the fundamental things that the Nats players can't seem to do.  I am so tired of Harper, Werth, Zimm striking out, going for the long ball when a slow ground ball would get the job done.

[Slateman]

Why did he switch Rendon out for Difo?

I mean yeah, Rendon was crap tonight but he would've had a better chance against Kershaw than Difo.

Dusty is a dope.

Rendon has been crap all series. He had one more hit than Espinosa and a lower OBP.

[HalfSmokes]

What's the point of firing dusty? Does anyone think we'll get anyone creative? Well get another lifer making the same standard decisions

[JCA-CrystalCity]

When you use 6 pitchers in an inning and get forced into a double switch to take out your #5 hitter that comes back to bite you in the bottom of the 9th, it is easy to get on Dusty.  Not really excusing that, but one of those pitchers has to come through and get the first guy he faces.  Dusty managed with an inordinate fear of Howie Kendrick v. one of his lefties, which led to some bad matchups for Treinen and others.  Not great managing, but the Nats roster was poorly constructed for the playoffs.  I'll give him C grade. 

[RobDibblesGhost]

Why did he switch Rendon out for Difo?

I mean yeah, Rendon was crap tonight but he would've had a better chance against Kershaw than Difo.

Dusty is a dope.

Rendon was pulled earlier as part of a double switch. Difo pinch hit for Melancon.

[BrandonK]

Please can someone explain to me why Solis was taken out in favor of Kelley to face Justin Turner who is a notorious masher vs RHP? That move absolutely stunned me and of course it cost us 2 crucial runs.

Or why Ollie and Sammy warmed up in the 5th/6th, yet neither came in till after the damage was done. I don't get it.

[BrandonK]

When you use 6 pitchers in an inning and get forced into a double switch to take out your #5 hitter that comes back to bite you in the bottom of the 9th, it is easy to get on Dusty.  Not really excusing that, but one of those pitchers has to come through and get the first guy he faces.  Dusty managed with an inordinate fear of Howie Kendrick v. one of his lefties, which led to some bad matchups for Treinen and others.  Not great managing, but the Nats roster was poorly constructed for the playoffs.  I'll give him C grade. 

I'm sorry you had to see that crap in person. That being said, that was one of the best crowds I've seen at a Nats game. Would love to hear your opinion on that.

[BrandonK]

What's the point of firing dusty? Does anyone think we'll get anyone creative? Well get another lifer making the same standard decisions

Not true. Should've hired a fresh guy anyways, like Wotus, or at least Black, but nope. Settled for a "vet," who's lost once again. Bad move.

[imref]

Not true. Should've hired a fresh guy anyways, like Wotus, or at least Black, but nope. Settled for a "vet," who's lost once again. Bad move.

You mean like Acta or Williams?

Break the bank and sign Bochy.

[BrandonK]

You mean like Acta or Williams?

Break the bank and sign Bochy.

Acta and Williams didn't have nearly the amount of experience as Wotus or Martinez.

I'm fine with that. I know if will never happen. If they wouldn't even pony up some extra dough for their first choice this year... Nope, LAC