While more Washington Nationals fans call for Davey Martinez’s removal, his replacement is still needed. Could Bo Porter go from the studio to the dugout?
While the Washington Nationals continue their freefall, it raises an obvious question: When will Davey Martinez lose his position? After that, it raises another question: Who should replace him?
The names Joe Girardi and Buck Showalter immediately pop in Nationals fans’ heads, and even the hope of Dusty Baker’s return to the dugout for the team he was unceremoniously dismissed from two seasons ago.
What if the answer is already currently near the organization in a different capacity?
How about Bo Porter, a broadcaster for the Washington Nationals on MASN?
Porter recently worked for the Atlanta Braves as a third base coach in 2015 before moving into a role as special assistant to GM John Coppolella in 2016.
Porter has ties to the Nationals organization as he was the team’s third base coach from 2010 to 2012 before moving on to Houston as the team’s manager.
During his tenure as the Astros’ skipper, Porter oversaw the rebuild that would eventually produce the 2017 World Series Champion.
While the Astros finished dead last in baseball in 2013 at 51-111 they improved to 70-92 in 2014.
Known as a player’s manager, Porter focused on the fundamentals, which the Nationals are desperately lacking at this time under the current regime.
At various times on MASN, he has called out the team and players such as Juan Soto and Victor Robles for easily avoidable mistakes. He knows how to get the most out of his team, which is also something the current squad is lacking: a true leader who can ignite a fire under the organization.
While fans may yearn for the big, expensive names such as Showalter or Girardi, the Nationals may have themselves a quality replacement right under their nose.
The Nationals are falling fast and time is against the Lerner’s in salvaging this season. If they have any hope of competing in the wild card race or dare I say the division race, its time for a new manager. Why not Bo?