Step One: Fire Manager Dave Martinez
On October 29, 2017, the Washington Nationals announced Dave Martinez as the team’s eighth manager since their return to D.C. in 2005. Martinez took over for the recently let go Dusty Baker, in a move that was questioned by many outside the organization.
Baker had led the Nationals to back-to-back 90 plus win seasons but was unable to get out of the first round of the postseason, losing in the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Despite the questions from the outside, there was optimism from the Nationals organization that Martinez could be the right man for the job.
He quickly grew a close relationship with then Nationals’ superstar Bryce Harper, and in his first spring training quickly gained admiration from his players. Expectations were high from Martinez in year one, but the team finished 82-80 in a year where Martinez was criticized exponentially for his managerial decision, especially his management of the bullpen.
After losing Harper in free agency, expectations were still sky high for Martinez and the Nationals coming into the season. There was a belief Davey would learn from his mistakes in year one, and we would see a new, more effective game manager in 2019.
This narrative could not have been further from the truth, as it seems Martinez has almost regressed in his managerial ability in year two. 50 games into the season, it seems almost every day Martinez makes a decision that makes people scratch their head.
Whether it was warming up Joe Ross to have him experience getting hot but not getting into a game, matching up subpar reliever Dan Jennings with All-Star Rhys Hoskins because they liked the “matchup”, or overusing Sean Doolittle in every situation possible, Martinez has seemingly made the wrong call every chance he has had this season.
Now you can’t put the blame entirely on the manager. Martinez can’t make the team hit better with runners in scoring position, he can’t make Wander Suero not groove a fastball right down the middle in a 1-2 count, some things are out of his control. But you can’t fire the team, you fire the manager. Martinez has had his chances, but it is time for a new voice. In trying to fix this mess of a team, step one has to be firing Dave Martinez.