PB69 presents "Fire Dave Martinez" (2018)

[Greg_SRT]

I can't pin this disastrous season on Martinez, but he certainly doesn't appear to have any answers. 

We have seen Gio and Roark shrink at the absolute worst possible time.  When Strasburg went down, we needed those 2 to step up, not turtle.  How does the new pitching coach factor into that?

Eaton and Murphy being yo-yo'd gimps is not helping matters.  Are you in, or are you out?  Right now, we are caught in between with these two.

Zimmerman - I don't even know what to say.  MIA.  Yes, the spring training "experiment" was a disaster and Martinez needs to own much of that.

Turner - what if this is what he is?  I never thought he would be a better defensive player than offensive.  Was it fools gold when he was so good in 2016?

Rendon - nice player but it kills me to watch him smile on the mound after Gio got removed from the TB game after 1+ innings.  Way too laid back for my liking.

Harper - you want $400M?  Carry a team when the situation requires it.  His is not feared around the league anymore.

MAT - nice defender, but will never consistently hit .

Blame factor:  Players (70%) get the initial blame, but Martinez (30%) has done nothing to help turn things around.

Remember when Harper was constantly getting walked? Dave put him lead off and he went mini beast mode. That's Dave doing things to help. Harper then falling off is a Bryce issue, not Dave.

Or remember everyone hating Dusty's lineup. Looking at Dave's lineup before the game, it looks good.

For example look at Trea. He has respectable numbers so far this year. Yes you would love the Average up, but his .260 is doable in this lineup (on paper) his OBP is good.

When he steps in with bases loaded and 1 out and pops the 1st pitch he sees, that's a Trea issue. Dave's job is to have the best option at the plate... and he did. He has all year and the players aren't getting it done.

Next batter, MAT. Was hotter than Polar Bear crap before it hits the snow. Strikes out to end the game.

We get bases loaded with 1 out, can't score. How many times have we seen this team get RISP with 0 outs and not score? Lots this year.

So WNFF... if it's bases loaded with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. Who do you want in the Batters Box?

Answer is Juan Soto folks! Because the likelihood he puts the ball in play with 2 strikes is higher than everyone else. And that is pathetic. He's the Rookie. He should be the one who chokes. He should be the one caught up there making the bone headed decisions and have a poor AB.

Eaton, Soto, and Difo seem to have the extra passion when they are in pressure situations, the others seem to treat it as just another AB. They need to change that.

We are wasting the best pitching staff this team has ever had with this lineup's lack of balls attitude.

[hotshot]

If this was the Bronx, Davey would be gone already. Low expectation DC, different story. He'll get another year even if this implosion continues.

[tomterp]

Published? It's just a blog post, no editors or fact checkers on the payroll.

Then he needs to figure out how to be smarter.

[LoveAngelos]

After the Phillips sweep Martinez gets sent packing if I were King

[Natsinpwc]

Poor Martinez, stole another man's job, now everyone's piling on.

https://districtondeck.com/2018/06/27/washington-nationals-firing-dusty-baker-looks-like-mistake/#click=https://t.co/5ZiQTXwSpw

Finally read this.  Nothing new; the only thing that bothered me was he said the Nationals were pilloried for firing Dusty.  The he cited just one article. I believe the Nats were called out on a few fronts for the way they did it--not sure there was any general media angst about moving on from Dusty.  So, is he is saying it's karma for handling the move badly? Do people really believe stuff like that? Ok, have to go and check on my lucky Nick Backstrom t-shirt to make sure it will be ready for next Spring.

[Natsinpwc]

After the Phillips sweep Martinez gets sent packing if I were King

The only King is Angelos and his kingdom is north of here.  And not in very good shape. 

[Air Desmond]

Seriously. If the Nats get swept this weekend, do you fire Martinez? Even with the injuries, 41-41 at the halfway mark is unacceptable. It’s no longer early. Send this guy home on a camel.

[Baseball is Life]

Seriously. If the Nats get swept this weekend, do you fire Martinez? Even with the injuries, 41-41 at the halfway mark is unacceptable. It’s no longer early. Send this guy home on a camel.

Nah, Kevin Long will get canned at the ASG if they keep hitting like this. Davey is not going anywhere.

[Air Desmond]

Heads need to roll if they fall under .500

Bottom line.

[Jeff in Gaithersburg]

I like Davey but I don't think he's the guy to lead them to a World Series title. Managers rarely win titles with their 1st team, hasn't been done since Guillen in 2005. Managers typically win more with their 2nd/3rd team, not their 1st.

[imref]

I like Davey but I don't think he's the guy to lead them to a World Series title. Managers rarely win titles with their 1st team, hasn't been done since Guillen in 2005. Managers typically win more with their 2nd/3rd team, not their 1st.

There are several first year managers doing just fine right now, including the one who beat us again last night.

[aspenbubba]

There are several first year managers doing just fine right now, including the one who beat us again last night.

Yep, and look at the Yankees and Red Sox. I originally posted that I thought we got the best of the bunch.

[miket14]

Thank God we got those two runs in the 9th. Whew. I was reallllllly worried we were only going to score 1 run in that 3 game losing streak.

[NatsAllThe Way]

Maybe we should have kept Dusty as our regular season manager and hired dave as our playoff manager.

[Monarch]

Thank God we got those two runs in the 9th. Whew. I was reallllllly worried we were only going to score 1 run in that 3 game losing streak.

This team really likes to put the winning run on base in the 9th inning just to twist the rusty knife of hope right into our hearts.

[Greg_SRT]

And what manager would they get mid season.

I don’t support the idea, just asking.

[miket14]

And what manager would they get mid season.

I don’t support the idea, just asking.

Honestly, I am more about getting a new hitting coach.

[PowerBoater69]

And what manager would they get mid season.

I don’t support the idea, just asking.

Offer Baker enough money to make him forget they fired him over the phone. Might be too late but our best chance.

[Air Desmond]

And what manager would they get mid season.

I don’t support the idea, just asking.

Girardi?

[Cinqo de Mayo]

Girardi?

Good choice.

[hotshot]

Honestly, I am more about getting a new hitting coach.

Players make enough to just have them hire their own personal hitting coaches, if they feel they need one at all.

[PowerBoater69]

@jorgecastillo Ryan Zimmerman played catch and tracked pitches during Gonzalez and Scherzer’s bullpens. He still hasn’t taken groundballs. Didn’t sound like he thinks he definitely needs to go on a rehab assignment, but Martínez wants him to whenever he’s ready.

This is exactly my concern with the Martinez hire. Big shots like Zimmerman doing their own thing, the players and their agents are running this team. Martinez had to complain to the media to try to get RZ in line. Next thing we'll hear is that he lost the clubhouse.

[LoveAngelos]

This is exactly my concern with the Martinez hire. Big shots like Zimmerman doing their own thing, the players and their agents are running this team. Martinez had to complain to the media to try to get RZ in line. Next thing we'll hear is that he lost the clubhouse.

I don't think he ever had the clubhose. Not from the moment anyway when he told Zimmerman to do his own thing.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't think he ever had the clubhose. Not from the moment anyway when he told Zimmerman to do his own thing.

He's a player's manager. The guys who like music, golfing, and camels love playing for Martinez. Harper's a huge fan, hit south of 220 and get bumped up to lead off.

[PowerBoater69]

®jorgecastillo Solis wasn’t happy. Said he was upset. Felt like he’s put it all on the line this season after appearing in 40 of the Nationals’ 80 games and not feeling great a lot of those days. But he said he understands it’s a business decision.

Do everything the manager asks and get sent down. Clear message being delivered personally to the farm.