The hiring of a manager is the biggest move the Washington Nationals will make all winter. Here are two candidates we feel fit the job better than anyone.
With the managerial chase underway for the Washington Nationals, not only is it important to share who is in the mix, but who we feel should get the job.
We filled you in on the two candidates the Nats have asked to interview and 10 others they are considering. Now, in a nod to a newspaper’s editorial page, District on Deck has two formal endorsements to share.
The two site experts, Drew Douglas and myself, picked who we think are the two best men capable of taking the Nats to the World Series. Expectations cost Dusty Baker and the coaching staff their jobs and whoever replaces him has tremendous pressure to meet them.
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Mixed with ambitious goals, the new manager must build a top-level staff and bond with the team in short order. As with the 2017 Nats, injury concerns greet the new boss as Daniel Murphy rehabs his right knee.
Not for the squeamish, here is who we think can come in and do the best they can.
Drew:
When the Nats surprisingly dismissed Baker, one of the best teams in the league was suddenly in need of a manager. The job certainly comes with some baggage, but there should be plenty of suitors. Among those suitors, Hensley Meulens may be the best fit.
Meulens has been the Giants’ hitting coach since 2010, but was recently re-assigned to become their bench coach if he remains on the staff in 2018. As a member of the Giants’ coaching staff, he has worked closely with future Hall-of-Fame manager Bruce Bochy for eight seasons and has won three World Series titles. With this experience, he has undoubtedly observed how to successfully run a team.
In addition to serving as the Giants’ hitting coach, Meulens was the manager of Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Team Netherlands played very well, perhaps over-performing, which has been attributed to Meulens’ leadership.
Meulens also speaks five languages, including Spanish, which could help him better connect with the Nats’ foreign-born players, namely Victor Robles and Juan Soto.
The final and one of the most important boxes that Meulens checks off for the Nats is the fact that he is still relatively young at 50 years old. The Nats have gone through seven managers in their first 13 seasons since returning to DC, so they will likely seek a manager who can hold the job for a long time. At just 50 years old, Meulens has the potential to be a great manager for years to come.
There will certainly be other qualified candidates for the job, but, in my opinion, Meulens is the Nats’ best option.
Ron:
Porter spent two years as the Nats third-base coach in 2011 and 2012. He is familiar with Mike Rizzo and the older stars of the Nats. Now, with the Atlanta Braves, he has a knowledge the division working in the front office and as an ex-coach.
Five years younger than Meulens, a Porter hire offers the Nats the chance, if they want, to bring someone in for a decade. Although his record in Houston was poor, so was the talent on the field when the team switched from the National to American League.
For me, experience matters in this case. The Nats are wanting a person who has gone through assembling a staff, knows the grind of a full season while massaging egos to win. Toss in understanding strategy in October and you have a winner.
Porter has the knowledge of handling the first three. How he handles the chess match of playoff baseball is a mystery.
You cannot go wrong with either of our picks but for me, despite his prior record, Porter’s prior experience as a manager and as a coach with the Nats gives him the edge.
Next: Murph's knee injury serious
Who do you want as manager? Answer in the comments.