http://www.federalbaseball.com/2015/10/6/9460313/washington-nationals-fire-matt-williams-what-theyre-saying

 

Tons of links on it but that's from the Nats SBNation page.  Obviously, the Nats were a pretty common pick to make the WS this year yet they finished with the same record as the Twins.  They had a lot of injuries and their starting pitching failed to meet expectations. Much of the blame has been put on Williams.  Articles reported that he lost his clubhouse and his in-game managing was dubious, to say the least.  

 

Joe Posnanski had an article about how Williams is getting too much of the blame (can't find the link, sorry) and the main problems were the starting pitchers underperforming.  That wasn't to suggest Williams was blameless and I do think the ability to keep a clubhouse intact is a much more important ability than we normally give it credit for.  

 

Apparently, Williams was pretty rigid in his thinking - reports said that Williams would plan out ST schedules months in advance but lacked the ability to change his plans despite what was happening.  The common example has been showing his bad bullpen use but it also seemed that he was unable to get players to buy into his programs and it got worse as the season went along.

 

But Black seems to be the leading candidate to replace him.

I also read that Bud Black is the leading candidate, with Wakamatsu and Gardy also expected to get strong consideration. Apparently they will be looking externally, which is probably smart. Black was just fired from a team of veterans so I'm not sure what the media appeal is with him.

 

I saw a story somewhere that Jason Werth went to check the starting lineup for the day. Werth's name wasn't on it.

 

Werth tore the lineup off the wall and carried it into Williams office and stuck it in his face and said "what the f-- is this?"

 

First of all, you gotta love a guy who wants to be in the lineup that bad.

 

I don't know about Bud Black but a situation about a veterans playing time would never develop into that with Gardy. There would be expectations set and communication every day about it. And if that did happen, the player would lose that battle. I am pulling for Gardy.

 

I also read that Bud Black is the leading candidate, with Wakamatsu and Gardy also expected to get strong consideration. Apparently they will be looking externally, which is probably smart. Black was just fired from a team of veterans so I'm not sure what the media appeal is with him.

I saw a story somewhere that Jason Werth went to check the starting lineup for the day. Werth's name wasn't on it.

Werth tore the lineup off the wall and carried it into Williams office and stuck it in his face and said "what the f-- is this?"

First of all, you gotta love a guy who wants to be in the lineup that bad.

I don't know about Bud Black but a situation about a veterans playing time would never develop into that with Gardy. There would be expectations set and communication every day about it. And if that did happen, the player would lose that battle. I am pulling for Gardy.

 

The rest of your Werth comment is that he was never told that he was going to be given a day off, a very common thing you do as a manager with a veteran player so they can arrange their day differently than they would if they knew they were starting the game.

 

Werth lit into Williams, refusing to take the discussion into Williams' office, pointed around the room to the other teammates, now gathered to hear the comments, and asked Williams along the lines of "When exactly did you realize you lost this team?"

The rest of your Werth comment is that he was never told that he was going to be given a day off, a very common thing you do as a manager with a veteran player so they can arrange their day differently than they would if they knew they were starting the game.

 

Werth lit into Williams, refusing to take the discussion into Williams' office, pointed around the room to the other teammates, now gathered to hear the comments, and asked Williams along the lines of "When exactly did you realize you lost this team?"

I stand corrected, in detail if not in spirit. I don't know how these baseball stories get so distorted!

 

I stand corrected, in detail if not in spirit. I don't know how these baseball stories get so distorted!

 

I didn't intend to correct. There's been an expanded story put out on that big incident, but a lot of players have said that the clubhouse was quiet after that. That Werth moment was a real watershed moment in their clubhouse, apparently. The writing was on the wall after that for an upcoming firing was pretty strong and Williams lost whatever possible hold he still had in the clubhouse that day.

 

I'd have to find the Washington Post article on it, but it was tremendous.

Of course Williams got way too much of the blame, managers/leaders usually do.

 

This would be a nice job to get, almost impossible not to be better just by default.

It's hard to say how much blame he should or should not get, but from pretty much every account I read (or read, since present and past tense are the same, how odd), he is a terrible, terrible tactical manager.