Fire Dusty Baker!

[Slateman]

Cora can't interview until Houston is out, but he's supposed to be #1 on Boston's list. They talked to Ausmus yesterday and are talking to Gardenhire. 

You can still interview if your team in the playoffs. Cora is interviewing with the Red Sox today.

[expos1994]

I'm good with Dusty. I don't think he made any really bad decisions. I actually thought he out managed Joe Maddon. Who gets way too much credit.

I hate how the knee jerk reaction is to blame the manager when players don't perform. Strasburg and Scherzer took no hitters deep into their games and the Nationals lost BOTH. Is that Dusty's fault? No way. That's on the players. If they want to win a playoff series then they'll perform on the big stage. A different manager isn't going to magically change that. Dusty has taken them to the show twice in a row now. You can't fire him. It would be dumb. You might end up with another Matt Williams.

[Smithian]

I still think Baker is back but interesting to talk candidates until we know for sure.

I'm okay with Alex Cora since he has some bench experience, but I have always thought Joey Cora is overdue an opportunity. Has playing experience, lots of bench coach experience backing up Ozzie Guillen, and now has managed a minor league club and is currently in the NL as a Pirates assistant. My guess is he is hurt by association to Ozzie.

I still like Bo Porter and think he'll be a good manager when given an opportunity on a club not tanking.

I want a manager with experience, but if they even consider Gardenhire or Wedge they should just extend Dusty Baker.

[GburgNatsFan]

Some people would say that baseball is unique in how differently you play in the postseason. If you buy that, then it follows that you manage differently in the post season too. I think it's fair to question whether Dusty can adjust.

Maddon survived some bad moves (paging Carl Edwards Jr.), but Dusty made some really questionable moves, IMHO.

I'm good with Dusty. I don't think he made any really bad decisions. I actually thought he out managed Joe Maddon. Who gets way too much credit.

I hate how the knee jerk reaction is to blame the manager when players don't perform. Strasburg and Scherzer took no hitters deep into their games and the Nationals lost BOTH. Is that Dusty's fault? No way. That's on the players. If they want to win a playoff series then they'll perform on the big stage. A different manager isn't going to magically change that. Dusty has taken them to the show twice in a row now. You can't fire him. It would be dumb. You might end up with another Matt Williams.

[Ray D]

I'm good with Dusty. I don't think he made any really bad decisions. I actually thought he out managed Joe Maddon. Who gets way too much credit.

I hate how the knee jerk reaction is to blame the manager when players don't perform

I'm good with Dusty as well. But just to play devils advocate.... let's look at a few of the key mistakes: Wieters not knowing how to deal with a runner clearly caught off base; Lobaton getting picked off; Wieters throwing the ball into right field when he should have held on to it; the disaster in short center field when three players watched the ball drop in for a hit.  These were four critical mistakes which taken all together cost us the series so of course they are magnified.  You can say it's the players fault for not knowing how to handle these situations, but why don't they know?  I put that on the manager.  Over the course of the season these sort of mistakes occur but are forgotten because we end up winning most of these games. 
But the reason these mistakes occur is that the players are not properly prepared.   So it's a concern, to me anyway.  And this is not a knee-jerk reaction.  Still, I want Dusty to stay, because I have no reason to expect that these problems will go away with any of the managers that have been suggested.

[skippy1999]

but if they even consider Gardenhire or Wedge they should just extend Dusty Baker.

Agree completely with this. 

[raleighnat]

I'm good with Dusty. I don't think he made any really bad decisions. I actually thought he out managed Joe Maddon. Who gets way too much credit.

I hate how the knee jerk reaction is to blame the manager when players don't perform. Strasburg and Scherzer took no hitters deep into their games and the Nationals lost BOTH. Is that Dusty's fault? No way. That's on the players. If they want to win a playoff series then they'll perform on the big stage. A different manager isn't going to magically change that. Dusty has taken them to the show twice in a row now. You can't fire him. It would be dumb. You might end up with another Matt Williams.

Totally agree.  The series was on a razor's edge.  If it tilts just a hair the other way, this isn't a conversation.

[aspenbubba]

I'm good with Dusty as well. But just to play devils advocate.... let's look at a few of the key mistakes: Wieters not knowing how to deal with a runner clearly caught off base; Lobaton getting picked off; Wieters throwing the ball into right field when he should have held on to it; the disaster in short center field when three players watched the ball drop in for a hit.  These were four critical mistakes which taken all together cost us the series so of course they are magnified.  You can say it's the players fault for not knowing how to handle these situations, but why don't they know?  I put that on the manager.  Over the course of the season these sort of mistakes occur but are forgotten because we end up winning most of these games. 
But the reason these mistakes occur is that the players are not properly prepared.   So it's a concern, to me anyway.  And this is not a knee-jerk reaction.  Still, I want Dusty to stay, because I have no reason to expect that these problems will go away with any of the managers that have been suggested.

The four plays you cited certainly stand out and yes I agree that it was the difference of advancing to the NLCS or going home.  What I do question is that these are mental errors as opposed to physical errors (booted ball). These guys have been playing this game since Little League. There is no freakin' excuse for this crap to occur especially in the play-offs. Did Dusty prepare them well enough? I don't know how to gauge that. And that is why a change is needed. De Rosa , Cora , Ausmus are going to be hired by someone soon and do we get Dusty back by default again?I'm older than Dusty and I run a business full time and yet I recognize that I miss little things and my energy level isn't what it used to be only a few years back. He is going to need to be replaced soon and it might as well be now.

[Slateman]

Some people would say that baseball is unique in how differently you play in the postseason. If you buy that, then it follows that you manage differently in the post season too. I think it's fair to question whether Dusty can adjust.

Maddon survived some bad moves (paging Carl Edwards Jr.), but Dusty made some really questionable moves, IMHO.

The difference is that Maddon didn't have better options, but Dusty did.

[whytev]

Totally agree.  The series was on a razor's edge.  If it tilts just a hair the other way, this isn't a conversation.

True both years.

[Scraps]

Totally agree.  The series was on a razor's edge.  If it tilts just a hair the other way, this isn't a conversation.

Really guys????

Had there not been an act of god in 2016 when Lobaton hit his homer against the Dodgers and Harper getting a hanger after swinging at two pitches in the dirt against the Cubs this year, our Nats would have been and should have  been SWEPT in consecutive years in the NLDS.

Baker is responsible to get this club ready for Playoff Baseball and has failed  miserably both years. He is an old donkey  that had an opportunity to go after  the Dodgers in the month of September but chose instead  to turn it into Spring Training II by showcasing the young guys and sitting his everyday players into a funk  while messing up the timing of his hitters including Murphy who never looked so bad early in that series.

If you want a tentative, stale, slow witted, chicken poop manager,  by all means Baker he is your guy. This team is a reflection of their manager -  desperate and gutless!

BYE-BYE BAKER! Gone!

 

[bluestreak]

Really guys????

Had there not been an act of god in 2016 when Lobaton hit his homer against the Dodgers and Harper getting a hanger after swinging at two pitches in the dirt against the Cubs this year, our Nats would have been and should have  been SWEPT in consecutive years in the NLDS.

Baker is responsible to get this club ready for Playoff Baseball and has failed  miserably both years. He is an old donkey  that had an opportunity to go after  the Dodgers in the month of September but chose instead  to turn it into Spring Training II by showcasing the young guys and sitting his everyday players into a funk  while messing up the timing of his hitters including Murphy who never looked so bad early in that series.

If you want a tentative, stale, slow witted, chicken poop manager,  by all means Baker he is your guy. This team is a reflection of their manager -  desperate and gutless!

BYE-BYE BAKER! Gone!

 

Yeah. I think he’s coming back. And managing is overrated. Otherwise genius Maddon wouldn’t keep trotting out Edwards.

[skippy1999]

Really guys????

Had there not been an act of god in 2016 when Lobaton hit his homer against the Dodgers and Harper getting a hanger after swinging at two pitches in the dirt against the Cubs this year, our Nats would have been and should have  been SWEPT in consecutive years in the NLDS.

Baker is responsible to get this club ready for Playoff Baseball and has failed  miserably both years. He is an old donkey  that had an opportunity to go after  the Dodgers in the month of September but chose instead  to turn it into Spring Training II by showcasing the young guys and sitting his everyday players into a funk  while messing up the timing of his hitters including Murphy who never looked so bad early in that series.

If you want a tentative, stale, slow witted, chicken poop manager,  by all means Baker he is your guy. This team is a reflection of their manager -  desperate and gutless!

BYE-BYE BAKER! Gone!

 

Please, we were desperate and gutless well before Baker

[HattoriHanzo]

The more I watch mlb network, the more I want DeRosa.

[rbw5t]

The more I watch mlb network, the more I want DeRosa.

Does he seem smart/insightful/likeable?  I only watch MLB Network at night, and he's never on then.  I remember he was here as a player, but I didn't have much of an impression of him then, and from the little I've seen of him on TV, it seems to me like he's got a big personality that might be more noise than substance.  But I admit I could be totally wrong. 

[bluestreak]

I'm sure I'll get blowback, but honestly,  he just seems like a Bro to me. he seems to know his baseball though.

[skippy1999]

I'm sure I'll get blowback, but honestly,  he just seems like a Bro to me. 

what does that mean, that he seems like just a guy to you? Nothing special? But yet  you say he knows his baseball I mean, isn't that one of the biggest things a good manager needs is great baseball knowledge?  Not sure what your knock on him is, and for the record I don't want him but I just can't figure out what you don't like about him.

[aspenbubba]

what does that mean, that he seems like just a guy to you? Nothing special? But yet  you say he knows his baseball I mean, isn't that one of the biggest things a good manager needs is great baseball knowledge?  Not sure what your knock on him is, and for the record I don't want him but I just can't figure out what you don't like about him.

Respectfully asking why you don't want him. I would like to see one of DeRosa , Cora or Ausmus here. Gardenshire and Farrell bring too much baggage.

[skippy1999]

Respectfully asking why you don't want him. I would like to see one of DeRosa , Cora or Ausmus here. Gardenshire and Farrell bring too much baggage.

Because I want Cora or Martinez.  do NOT want Farrell or Gardenhire.

[LoveAngelos]

The Lerner's  pay scale calls for minimal pay for the manager. It is not a high priority position in the teams salary  structure.
Fact is Dusty is the most qualified canidate who will work below MLB market.
We can yak all we want about who we want but none of the names I have seen mentioned will work for chicken feed

[MorseTheHorse]

I could care less who manages, but I hope they pay top $$ for a quality base-running coach, if there is such a thing.  People love to talk about how great that 90 year old we have at 1st base is, but I'm not seeing it in the results.  This team has been dreadful at baserunning since 2005 and it cost us big time this postseason.  BTW, aside from the obvious mistakes, Zim should have scored on Murphy's double in G5 IMO. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Can't believe there are so many fans who are content with Choker.

Maybe this fanbase deserves what it's getting.

[Natsinpwc]

I could care less who manages, but I hope they pay top $$ for a quality base-running coach, if there is such a thing.  People love to talk about how great that 90 year old we have at 1st base is, but I'm not seeing it in the results.  This team has been dreadful at baserunning since 2005 and it cost us big time this postseason.  BTW, aside from the obvious mistakes, Zim should have scored on Murphy's double in G5 IMO.

The Phillies were a great baserunning team when he was their coach a decade ago; not sure if he has slipped or if the players just don;t listen to him.  The one I want gone is Chris Speier.  Either he is telling Dusty the wrong things or Dusty doesn't pay attention to him.  Get a good young coach who could be the manager in future when Dusty goes.

[HondoKillebrew]

I seem to recall that DeRosa, when he was signed as a Nats bench player, had a reputation around the league as having a great "clubhouse presence" and being a leader.  I haven't watched him on the daytime MLB show, but he seems like a decent guy with extreme baseball smarts and instincts, together with high energy, but not in an irritating way.  Whenever the Nats consider hiring their next manager, I'd like to think he'd be on the list, although I'd be a lot more comfortable if he got some time in as an MiLB manager, or at least as an MLB bench coach. 

[bluestreak]

what does that mean, that he seems like just a guy to you? Nothing special? But yet  you say he knows his baseball I mean, isn't that one of the biggest things a good manager needs is great baseball knowledge?  Not sure what your knock on him is, and for the record I don't want him but I just can't figure out what you don't like about him.

I wouldn’t necessarily mind getting him at all. I was just responding to the comment about his personality.