Following a disappointing 2015 MLB Season where the Washington Nationals finished 83-79, general manager Mike Rizzo fired manager Matt Williams one season removed from being named National League Manager of the Year. The expectations of being a World Series contender and then falling short of the playoffs was the biggest reason for Williams’ dismissal, but the handling of the Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper didn’t help and it seemed that the team tuned out its manager down the stretch.
With Williams out the door, it became pretty obvious that Rizzo was searching for a manager with previous experience to replace Williams. One of Williams’ biggest downfalls was the handling of the pitching staff and that made former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black one of the favorites from the get-go.
On Wednesday night, the Nationals seem to have got their guy:
bud black has been hired as nationals manager. done deal, sources say. @JamesWagnerWP on this.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 29, 2015
Black had been the manager of the Padres since 2007, before being fired earlier this season due the an underachieving team that was expected to compete for a playoff spot after a laundry list of offseason moves. Prior to his time with the Padres, Black was with the Los Angeles Angels from 2000-2006 as the team’s pitching coach. He was a member of the Angels’ 2002 World Series team which should help during his time with the Nationals.
With the size of the payroll the Nationals currently have, the team is expected to make the playoffs every single season. With players such as Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon, that task shouldn’t be too difficult once Rizzo retools the bullpen, which is expected.
Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.