Nationals bringing back Dusty Baker and Bud Black for second interviews
James Wagner of the Washington Post reports that the Washington Nationals are bringing back Dusty Baker and Bud Black for second interviews in their managerial search. According to Wagner seven candidates were initially interviewed, but GM Mike Rizzo was most concerned with “experience.”
The Nationals fired manager Matt Williams on October 5th after an extremely disappointing 2015. Many picked the Nationals to run away with NL East and make a strong push for the World Series. Yet they finished the season with an 83-79 record and 7 games back of the Mets. This was on the heels of a successful 2014 when the Nationals finished 96-66 and Williams won NL Manager of the Year.
Injuries and under-performing players played a large part in Washington’s down fall this season. However, as the year wore on reports began to emerge about trouble in the Nationals’ clubhouse. The Jonathan Papelbon – Bryce Harper altercation was a clear sign that things had soured. One of the most telling stories was an account of Jayson Werth angrily confronting Williams with the question, “When exactly do you think you lost this team?” One common complaint seemed to be players voicing a lack care and communication on the part of Williams.
If that’s the case then it is understandable why Rizzo is so focused on finding a manager with more experience. It also sheds light on why the focus has turned to Baker and Black.
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Baker has spent twenty seasons as an MLB manager including stints with the Giants, Cubs, and Reds. He amassed a record of 1671-1504 and won the NL pennant with the 2002 Giants. In 1993, 1997, and 2000 Baker was the NL Manager of the Year.
Over the years Baker has faced plenty of criticism as a manager. In 2013 Emma Span wrote about the perception that Baker refused “to embrace advanced statistics and strategies….” He has also carried the reputation of a manager who over uses young arms without regard for the future.
However, for all of those faults Baker has a great reputation in the game. He’s widely known as a “player’s manager.” Doug Glanville wrote for ESPN about how much players love playing for Dusty. If discord in the clubhouse is Washington’s biggest problem, then a few years of Dusty Baker might not be a bad solution.
Bud Black spent 9 seasons in San Diego before he was let go earlier this year. During his tenure the Padres were 649-713 and finished above .500 only twice. Many expected the Padres to take a major step forward this season after a flurry of off-season moves by GM A.J. Preller. However, the new look Padres never really clicked. Ken Rosenthal reported that the front office let Black go over concerns about his ability to develop players at the major league level.
Like Baker, Black is well respected within the game of baseball. Ben Lindbergh noted in June that Black’s ability to stay on with the Padres after a regime change says something about his ability to work well with others. Most assumed Black wouldn’t be out of work long. If Rizzo is searching for someone with managing experience who can hold a clubhouse together then Black seems to tick both of those boxes.