Washington Nationals: Who Deserves The Blame?
By Danny Kelly
The Lerner Family
It’s tough to blame an ownership group that’s willing to carry a top 5 payroll in the Majors every single season. With that being said, until they commit to paying a manager, this team will never get to where it wants to be.
The decision to let Dusty Baker go following the 2017 season is not necessarily the issue here. Baker was a fine manager, but he too had faults that showed in the playoffs. The point is, if you’re going to let Baker go, you better be certain that you’re bringing in a guy who is going to get this team to where it wants to be.
That did not happen. Bringing in a rookie manager to guide a team with World Series aspirations was not the wisest decision with the likes of Girardi sitting out there unemployed.
Martinez supporters will say, “but look at the Red Sox; it worked for them.” Sure, it did work for them, but that’s one instance. I urge you to look at history and list off the rookie managers with no managerial experience whatsoever who have won a World Series in their first season – it’s a short list.
The resistance and refusal to invest in a top-shelf coaching staff is baffling. If you want to put the best product on the field, don’t you want the top guys in the dugout pulling strings and coaching them through the season? If you don’t do that, then how can you say you’re fully invested in winning a World Series?