PB69 presents "Fire Dave Martinez" (2018)

[PowerBoater69]

Bradley bats ninth in AL games. Who would intentionally walk him to get to the lead off guy?  It's ok to debate the move but such a dumb article citing that stat. Max should not have thrown a hissy fit and just struck the guy out bid Strasburg did what Max did the board would be crucifying him.

Sure, but still zero through 80 games (including interleague) to two yesterday. Martinez got shook by a guy who isn't hitting for power or average.

[Ray D]

Last year Dusty took tons of criticism for keeping Rendon at 6th in the order, but he did it because he knew all of the injured players would be coming back eventually and he wanted everybody to remain comfortable in their roles. 

Actually I think Dusty took a good look at the splits:  For the three-year period 2015-17 Rendon was overwhelmingly better at six than at two, with a substantial sample size.   This year he's better fourth than third and better third than second. Seems the lower in the order, the better. Rendon himself has said he's more comfortable lower in the order.  Dusty never mentioned any of this, but I'm certain that it played in his decisions.

[spidernat]

It was a dumb article.

that's putting it mildly,the problem was that Scherzer surrendered a double to his buddy when he had him down 0-2

[Natsinpwc]

Sure, but still zero through 80 games (including interleague) to two yesterday. Martinez got shook by a guy who isn't hitting for power or average.

There just aren't as many intentional walks in the AL. I would have let Max pitch to him but why does the manager get all the blame when his pitcher grooves an 0-2 pitch? 

Managers make lots of moves in every game. Doesn't mean they get all the credit or blame. Dusty made lots of dumb moves in the playoffs last year but the great majority of the blame falls on the players.

[ZimW1N]

that's putting it mildly,the problem was that Scherzer surrendered a double to his buddy when he had him down 0-2

Also that ball would have been caught had Soto not made a bad read on the ball iirc. He took a step in and then went back in a really awkward route and barely missed that ball.

Soto is going to be a really good 1B in 2020.

[Slateman]

Bradley had zero IBBs this season before Martinez gave him two yesterday. The best pitcher in the world on the mound and Martinez is giving free passes to a guy with a 624 OPS. He needs to go.

Porcello has a career OPS of .371.

[Slateman]

I love how we lost two .900+ OPS bats and a 5 WAR pitcher and everyone's like, "Why is Davey so bad at managing?"

[PowerBoater69]

There just aren't as many intentional walks in the AL. I would have let Max pitch to him but why does the manager get all the blame when his pitcher grooves an 0-2 pitch? 

Managers make lots of moves in every game. Doesn't mean they get all the credit or blame. Dusty made lots of dumb moves in the playoffs last year but the great majority of the blame falls on the players.

Every manager in every playoff series made multiple moves that were criticized by fans and the media. Only the Lerners were dumb enough to fire the guy who fixed the team Williams left behind.

[PowerBoater69]

I love how we lost two .900+ OPS bats and a 5 WAR pitcher and everyone's like, "Why is Davey so bad at managing?"

Martinez is the guy you want managing if you have a top payroll team with minimal injuries.

[bluestreak]

I probably would have pitched to Bradley, so I could have the pitcher leading off the next inning.
But the fault for that double is on 1) Max for grooving a pitch and 2) Soto, who would have caught that ball if he were a competent fielder.

I think in game management is overrated. Overall it ends up as a wash. The I important things a manager does are the things that you can’t see.

[Slateman]

Martinez is the guy you want managing if you have a top payroll team with minimal injuries.

Because Dusty would have been winning at a .600 clip with this roster

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I probably would have pitched to Bradley, so I could have the pitcher leading off the next inning.
But the fault for that double is on 1) Max for grooving a pitch and 2) Soto, who would have caught that ball if he were a competent fielder.

I think in game management is overrated. Overall it ends up as a wash. The I important things a manager does are the things that you can’t see.

Max's control was horrid for about 2 innings with the HBPs, the near-HBPs, and the wild pitch to Leon that set up the IBB or pitch to Bradley decision. 

[dcpatti]

I probably would have pitched to Bradley, so I could have the pitcher leading off the next inning.
But the fault for that double is on 1) Max for grooving a pitch and 2) Soto, who would have caught that ball if he were a competent fielder.

I think in game management is overrated. Overall it ends up as a wash. The I important things a manager does are the things that you can’t see.

All of this.

Honestly I don’t see Dusty magically having better results with this current team. We stopped winning when Howie went down, and Howie was the very best hitter on our team at the time. Wieters needs to come back to stabilize our pitchers, and everyone not named Anthony needs to watch Adam Eaton approach an at-bat. Soto doesn’t need the batting lesson but he should watch anyway and might pick up some fielding skills by osmosis or something.  The attempt to field the Porcello double last night  was every bit as ugly as Murphy’s attempt to run to third.

[Slateman]

Max's control was horrid for about 2 innings with the HBPs, the near-HBPs, and the wild pitch to Leon that set up the IBB or pitch to Bradley decision. 

This. Had Max grooved a pitch to Jr., would everyone be upset with Martinez for not issueing the IBB to pitch to the pitcher?

[rileyn]

8-16 in one run games.  Yes, the players deserve much blame, but the manager is hired to get the most out of his players.  Whether you fault him or not, the results indicate that Martinez is not successfully doing that this year. 

[hotshot]

What was the $$ amount that caused the Bud Black negotiation to crash and burn? Bet it seems like chump change now.

[Slateman]

What was the $$ amount that caused the Bud Black negotiation to crash and burn? Bet it seems like chump change now.

Colorado is 42-43

[spidernat]

This. Had Max grooved a pitch to Jr., would everyone be upset with Martinez for not issueing the IBB to pitch to the pitcher?

likely

[Greg_SRT]

Are we really talking about the decision to walk a guy to get to the pitcher?

Manager plays the number and tries to give you the best situation. But players still have to play it out.

Dave gave Max a favorable matchup. And favorable is an understatement. Max still had to execute.

No different then when you decide to send out a left handed batter for a right handed pitcher who is horrible against left handed hitters. Batter still needs to swing.

Max didn't execute the situation. But Dave gave Max the situation to be successful. Max didn't get it done.

[dcpatti]

8-16 in one run games.  Yes, the players deserve much blame, but the manager is hired to get the most out of his players.  Whether you fault him or not, the results indicate that Martinez is not successfully doing that this year.

One of the things that has been killing us is the lack of any good options off the bench. These late-inning rallies get killed because there’s no one available who’s actually good off the bench. Taylor is much better when he plays every day than off the bench (.255  Career average when playing in the outfield, .114 as a PH), goodwin’s a .180 PH,  Mark Reynolds is Mark Reynolds, and that’s the bench. Unless you want to talk backup catchers, but they’re not gonna get used till the 8th anyway and ours really should be in Harrisburg still. We went from having this amazing bench, anchored by Howie Kendrick and Matt Adams, and now it’s Mark Reynolds and the rusty version of MAT.  Kinda unrealistic to expect to get more out of those guys, and the late innings are where we’re doing all our rallying.

[OldChelsea]

Listening to Martinez' post-match pressers can be a trying experience...he's inarticulate as all get out and always sounds like he just guzzled 16 cups of Baltic-strength coffee.

[varoadking]

Listening to Martinez' post-match pressers can be a trying experience...he's inarticulate as all get out and always sounds like he just guzzled 16 cups of Baltic-strength coffee.

Maybe that's why Rizzo said he "got his guy"...birds of a feather and all...

[imref]

@richardjustice

Here's how @Nationals have lost 15 of 20...
Offense: 3.6 runs per game (26th)
Rotation: 1-13, 5.78 ERA (30th)
Bullpen: 4-2, 3.80 ERA (12th)
Standings: From up by .5 games to down 7

[Slateman]

Ironically it's the pen that isnt half bad

[LoveAngelos]

Why do they need Davey to help them?  Be professionals and hit the ball.

Hit the ball like a team.
There is no situational hitting....other than from Eaton.........everyone else is trying to just hit homers........no moving the runners around the base paths....no team play.....what does the get you? Baltimore South....lots of 1 run homers.....lots of loses