https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/2793941-how-the-nationals-completely-ruined-the-bryce-harper-era.amp.html
The Strasburg Shutdown
1. I think people are overestimating the effect Strasburg would have had in the playoffs. He was clearly feeling the effects of his first full season and honestly, I'm not sure how effective he would have been in the playoffs. It's not like his next two starts in the postseason were anything special.
2. Harvey has been a disaster since not being shut down. Frankly, the decision likely kept Strasburg in baseball for the next few years.
But overall the story completely overlooks how poorly the Nationals have played in big moments. Say what you want about Matt Williams decisions, but the players allowed Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson, Yusmeiro Petit, and Ryan Vogelsong to dominate their lineup.
Baker more than earned his keep in two years. The Nationals won 95 games in 2016 and 97 in 2017. And while they once again fell short in the postseason, it's hard to pin those failures squarely on Baker.
Utter and complete bullcrap. Baker failed to manage his team even remotely competently in 2017. Starting Werth was a catastrophe, bringing in Sammy Solis was moronic, and letting Gio go back out was bafoonery. Sorry, but Baker deserved to be fired.
