The lack of passion from Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez really stood out in last nights loss
As the Washington Nationals losing streak extended to seven games, one thing that stood out was the lack of fire from manager Davey Martinez. The camera’s panned to him multiple times after controversial calls, and the Nationals manager did not say a word. It is not a great look for the manager of a team that needs to get going.
In the bottom of the ninth with two outs in a full count, Dylan Crews took a pitch above the zone that was called for strike three. The struggling Crews was clearly upset, but as they panned to Davey, he was just staring into space. This is jarring for a manager that was known for explosive ejections earlier in his career.
Well, there’s more video proof. If Dylan Crews walks, Tena becomes the potential tying run. Now a 7-game losing streak. https://t.co/YUeaeXSmpf pic.twitter.com/xBT148A0NJ
— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) May 14, 2025
Later that night in a different game, a similar situation occurred. Yankees rookie Jasson Dominguez was given a rough ride, getting rung up on a pitch below the zone in the 9th inning. However, the response from Yankees manager Aaron Boone was very different. He stuck up for his guy, getting thrown out of the game in the process. This is the kind of stuff players want to see from their manager.
Aaron Boone gets ejected in the ninth inning after a low strike three call on Jasson Dominguez pic.twitter.com/lXvrikm4a7
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 14, 2025
It is the kind of stuff Davey Martinez used to do. Remember when he picked up the base and threw it back in 2021 after a bad call, or when he printed out a picture of a bad call back in 2023? Where has that guy gone? It is strange seeing him so reserved in the dugout in moments like this.
The team is on a seven game losing streak, now is the perfect time to go out there and show the team you have their back. The MASN camera crew was looking for that moment, panning to him after questionable calls. However, they did not get what they were looking for.
It caught the attention of multiple prominent Nationals voices online. Grant Paulsen called it out, asking for more passion from the Nationals manager. Your struggling rookie gets rung up on a bad call to end the game to extend a long losing streak, that is the perfect time to go out there and make a statement. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
It really has not happened at all this season. Most of the complaints from the dugout have come from assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson, who got thrown out of a game earlier this season.
This would not be as big of a problem if Davey was known as a tactician. That is not his forte, instead he is a players manager. He should stand up for those players every once in a while, especially when the team is struggling to find a spark.
With Martinez’s heart issues, him not getting fired up like Bobby Cox is understandable, he has to pick his spots. However, that is one of the spots you have to pick as a manager. The team just lost their seventh game in a row after the highly touted rookie who is struggling to find his feet got rung up on a bad call. If that is not the time, what is?
Davey will always have a place in my heart for 2019. He really helped turn that team around. However, it is 2025 now and the Nationals are mired in a funk. Davey has been given a long leash, and his contract is up at the end of the season. Ideally, you would like Davey to play the season out. However, things are really starting to get out of hand right now, and change has to at least be in consideration.
Even when he made some maddening bullpen moves, you used to always know that Davey Martinez had his players back. For the first time in his tenure that is coming into question. For a players manager, that is a problem. Davey Martinez needs to right the ship to save what has been a disappointing season. If he cannot, change will come.