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Matt Williams doesn’t deserve to be fired by Washington Nationals

By Michael Natelli

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It’s been a truly trying season for the Washington Nationals, who sit 6.5 games back of the New York Mets in the National League East entering play on Wednesday. If they drop two more consecutive contests, they’ll drop below .500 on the season with roughly a month to play, putting a team that many picked to win the World Series on track to have a losing record when it’s all said and done.

Matt Williams had led the struggling Nats into battle night in and night out, though it seems more likely by the night that his days as the Washington skipper are limited. And that’s a damn shame.

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It’s hard to blame Williams for the Nationals’ struggles. The team fielded its full Opening Day lineup for less than three full games this season, and spent significant time without the likes of Denard Span, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Aaron Barrett among others. Williams played no part in any of those players suffering injuries, but to the contrary, he has kept Washington in the playoff hunt into September despite lacking most of his proven talent.

Some argue that Williams hasn’t gotten the most out of his roster, but while the struggles of Strasburg, Doug Fister and Ian Desmond may suggest that’s the case, it’s worth noting that Michael Taylor, Clint Robinson and Danny Espinosa have all been able to handle playing significant roles on the injury-riddled Nationals, and Bryce Harper is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. Joe Ross has also thrived on the mound in his first taste of the majors, while Drew Storen was pitching up there with the best closers in baseball before he was pushed out of the way when the Nats traded for Jonathan Papelbon.

While in concept, the Papelbon trade seemed like it could only benefit Washington — nothing wrong with adding another talented arm, right? — it backfired and destroyed the strong season Storen was having by shifting his role. Papelbon himself has done just fine since joining the Nationals, but Storen has posted a 9.82 ERA (11 runs across 11.2 innings pitched) since the trade, seeing his season ERA balloon from 1.60 to 3.24 in that stretch. He now finds himself an offseason trade candidate with Papelbon seemingly set to be Washington’s closer in 2016.

Storen blew an eighth-inning lead of the Nationals on Tuesday night in a game that left more fans and media calling for Williams’ job than ever. The manager opted to pitch Casey Janssen in the ninth inning of a tie ballgame instead of Papelbon, and watched as the former Blue Jay allowed two runners to reach before giving up a walk-off three-run homer to Brandon Moss. Williams’ rationale for the decision was that Papelbon was going to be reserved for a save situation, which is a sound explanation. But many aren’t buying it.

Of course, Washington would’ve never been in that position had Storen never given up the lead. And Storen would’ve never been in that position had Mike Rizzo traded for mid-bullpen help instead of fixing something that wasn’t broken at the back end. A Joaquin Benoit or a Jonathan Broxton would’ve then pitched the eighth, doing so in their natural roles unlike Storen, and the Nats would’ve had a much better shot at having Storen close out a 5-3 win in the ninth. They instead dropped the contest 8-5, the second time in two nights that the bullpen has cost Washington a 5-3 lead against St. Louis.

Williams didn’t make the Papelbon trade, as general manager Mike Rizzo is responsible for all player personnel decisions. And even if he requested a Papelbon deal or another trade for a closer to Mike Rizzo (which there’s no evidence suggesting he did), Rizzo is the ultimate fall guy if a trade doesn’t pan, as he has the final say on all roster decisions, not Williams. But with Rizzo looked at as one of the best general managers in baseball (understandably based on his track record), Williams is unfairly in position to be his fall guy for properly using the sliding team that the former Executive of the Year has constructed.

Had a fully healthy Nationals team struggled to the point that it has now, it would be far more reasonable to suggest Williams should be replaced. But if anything, he should be applauded for keeping his club above water through one of the most unlucky seasons a pre-season contender has endured in recent memory. He’s also been instrumental in both the development and maturation process of Harper, who went from being a confrontational teenager under Davey Johnson to a 22-year-old that handles himself like he’s in his golden years. Washington has also continued to fight through a difficult stretch, putting up at least three runs in 13 of their last 14 games and at least four in 11 of 14.

Anytime things get tough, someone always has to take the blame, but the blame for the Nationals’ season rests on injuries, and specifically an injured and, at times, incapable bullpen. The portrayal of Williams’ role in Washington’s shortcomings is an absolute travesty. The man doesn’t deserve to lose his job. Hopefully, a miraculous strong finish by the Nationals can save it.

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