PB69 presents "Fire Dave Martinez" (2018)

[GburgNatsFan]

"Act of fielding the ball".  Seems to be the key phrase.

As opposed to calling off your pitcher? 

[Ray D]

Based on this rule I'd say it was the wrong call:

Rule 6.01(a)(10) to 6.01(a)(11)

Rule 6.01(a )(10) Comment: When a catcher and batter-runner
going to first base have contact when the catcher is fielding the
ball, there is generally no violation and nothing should be
called. “Obstruction” by a fielder attempting to field a ball
should be called only in very flagrant and violent cases
because the rules give him the right of way, but of course such
“right of way” is not a license to, for example, intentionally
trip a runner even though fielding the ball. If the catcher is
fielding the ball and any fielder, including the pitcher, obstructs
a runner going to first base, “obstruction” shall be called and
the base runner awarded first base.

An example of how badly the rules are written.  Pretty sure they meant "any other fielder".

[spidernat]

And I think he has the right of way only if he's outside the baseline (in foul territory). I don't think that was the case.

  A right handed batter would have to go around the plate to accomplish that.

[Greg_SRT]

"Act of fielding the ball".  Seems to be the key phrase.

I could understand the Ump  maybe if Kieboom didn’t field the ball. As I remember, Kieboom did field the ball. And it was a sac bunt.

[Ray D]

  A right handed batter would have to go around the plate to accomplish that.

The intent of the rule is that if the (right handed) batter makes a good faith effort to get out of the baseline as quickly as possible, he's ok

[PowerBoater69]

Can someone post the rule with a video of the play?

Here is a still shot:

[mitlen]

Here is a still shot:

Thanks PB69.

[DCFan]

I wonder what Jason Werth would have to say about the current manager/clubhouse/record situation?

[Mathguy]

He could be the next Nats manager

I wonder what Jason Werth would have to say about the current manager/clubhouse/record situation?

[gonats34]

Did we even not bother interviewing Girardi last year before hiring Martinez?

[GburgNatsFan]

He was not interested in managing, if I remember correctly. Which might have meant he was not interested in managing the Nats.

Did we even not bother interviewing Girardi last year before hiring Martinez?

[PowerBoater69]

I couldn't make it through the whole interview. His first statement was that the team was "flat" today. Followed by a series of statements on how they won't be flat in the future and how he believes in them. Does he know that it's his job to make sure that the team isn't flat? All those stupid stunts were supposed to prevent this. He seems to think that flat performance is an act of God.

The other comment that got me was that the team needs to start playing like it's the last game of the season. Does he have any clue that today was that day? Buy or sell, it's decision time and his team just got embarrassed.

Too many years as an assistant, he's just along for the ride, no responsibility for the lost season.

[hotshot]

He was not interested in managing, if I remember correctly. Which might have meant he was not interested in managing the Nats.

I don't think Girardi was interested in us, or living in the DC area. On top of that, we couldn't afford him.

[hotshot]

He could be the next Nats manager

Like starting on Tuesday? Off day tomorrow a good firing day as well as a day to clean house.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I don't think Girardi was interested in us, or living in the DC area. On top of that, we couldn't afford him.

You can't be serious.

[GburgNatsFan]

You can't be serious.

Exceeded the meager budget is probably what he's saying. The distinction may be unimportant if the owners simply won't pay market.

[Jeff in Gaithersburg]

I don't think Girardi was interested in us, or living in the DC area. On top of that, we couldn't afford him.

The Lerners "can" afford him, they just don't value managers enough to pay them what they're worth. Thus the Bud Black situation. Thus Dusty working for peanuts. Thus 70-year old Davey Johnson being asked to manage the team as a favor. Thus the hiring of several rookie managers.

[Ray D]

I couldn't make it through the whole interview. His first statement was that the team was "flat" today. Followed by a series of statements on how they won't be flat in the future and how he believes in them. Does he know that it's his job to make sure that the team isn't flat? All those stupid stunts were supposed to prevent this. He seems to think that flat performance is an act of God.

The other comment that got me was that the team needs to start playing like it's the last game of the season. Does he have any clue that today was that day? Buy or sell, it's decision time and his team just got embarrassed.

Too many years as an assistant, he's just along for the ride, no responsibility for the lost season.

Yeah the "flat" and "last game of season" comments were bad, but nothing compared to "missed opportunities".  We lost today once again because of missed opportunities.   All those guys getting on base and we just couldn't drive them in.

[Jeff in Gaithersburg]

I couldn't make it through the whole interview. His first statement was that the team was "flat" today. Followed by a series of statements on how they won't be flat in the future and how he believes in them. Does he know that it's his job to make sure that the team isn't flat? All those stupid stunts were supposed to prevent this. He seems to think that flat performance is an act of God.

The other comment that got me was that the team needs to start playing like it's the last game of the season. Does he have any clue that today was that day? Buy or sell, it's decision time and his team just got embarrassed.

Too many years as an assistant, he's just along for the ride, no responsibility for the lost season.

Not saying Davey is blameless by any stretch, but "make sure they aren't flat" by doing what? He's not going to trash the team publicly and I don't think that yelling and screaming "GET HITS TODAY!" before each game is a good motivational tactic nor would it work.

I've said all season Kevin Long is a terrible hitting coach and shouldn't have been hired. You can tell a bunch of these guys look confused at the plate as if they're having to do way too much thinking out there from his bad coaching. I don't think Davey being the manager has single-handedly caused the offense to go down the toilet this year from what it was last year. They seemed to have a big comfort level with Schu and a major discomfort level with Long.

[welch]

Did we even not bother interviewing Girardi last year before hiring Martinez?

I don't think the Nats interviewed Girardi. Nats wanted a manager who would communicate with young players, be approachable, act on analytics. The complaint against Girardi was that he intimidated players. Yankees had a core of Judge/Bird, others that age. Girardi was thought to be too harsh and demanding.

Girardi seemed like just the right manager then. Seems great for a team that "comes out flat" two of every three games.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't think the Nats interviewed Girardi. Nats wanted a manager who would communicate with young players, be approachable, act on analytics. The complaint against Girardi was that he intimidated players. Yankees had a core of Judge/Bird, others that age. Girardi was thought to be too harsh and demanding.

Girardi seemed like just the right manager then. Seems great for a team that "comes out flat" two of every three games.

No way to prove this without inside info but I'd bet a grand that the deal with Martinez was set before Baker was notified that he was being let go.

[raleighnat]

I couldn't make it through the whole interview. His first statement was that the team was "flat" today. Followed by a series of statements on how they won't be flat in the future and how he believes in them. Does he know that it's his job to make sure that the team isn't flat? All those stupid stunts were supposed to prevent this. He seems to think that flat performance is an act of God.

The other comment that got me was that the team needs to start playing like it's the last game of the season. Does he have any clue that today was that day? Buy or sell, it's decision time and his team just got embarrassed.

Too many years as an assistant, he's just along for the ride, no responsibility for the lost season.

I get the frustration but I don't think the problem is the manager.  The players have to perform. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Exceeded the meager budget is probably what he's saying. The distinction may be unimportant if the owners simply won't pay market.

It's what he should have said, but instead he made it sound absurd.

[Vega]

People actually watch and draw conclusions from managers' post game press conferences?

[Ray D]

I get the frustration but I don't think the problem is the manager.  The players have to perform. 

The point is, when you listen to him talk, you don't get the sense of any deep thinking (and that's putting it charitably).  Mostly clichés, and many of them are inapropriate - like today when he talked about "missed opportunities".  Given all this I do think the problem is the manager.   Sure, the players have to perform.  The manager is supposed to get them to perform.