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Washington Nationals Part Ways with GM Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez
On Sunday, the Washington Nationals made a surprising announcement by firing manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo, despite the team being more than halfway through a sixth consecutive losing season since their victory in the 2019 World Series jili178 login account. This decision came just hours after the Nationals suffered a 6-4 defeat at home, resulting in a clean sweep by the Boston Red Sox. With a current record of 37-53, the Nationals sit at the bottom of the NL East, trailing only the Colorado Rockies in the National League.
The timing of the announcement is noteworthy, especially with the amateur draft only a week away, where Washington holds the No jili888 com login. 1 overall pick. Taking over Rizzo’s responsibilities on an interim basis is senior vice president and assistant GM Mike DeBartolo. The team has not yet announced a replacement for Martinez.
“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not met the expectations of our fans or ourselves,” said Nationals owner Mark Lerner in a statement. “This is a crucial moment for our club, and we believe that a fresh approach and new energy will be beneficial as we move forward.”
Rizzo’s tenure with the Nationals ends after more than 15 years. One of the first hires made by the Lerner family after taking control of the team, Rizzo had served as GM since 2009 and was named president of baseball operations in 2013. Lerner praised Rizzo, stating, “He played a vital role in transforming our farm system and constructing a roster that achieved unprecedented organizational success. Mike helped shape our organization, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication and hard work.”
Martinez is the fourth manager to be dismissed this season, following Derek Shelton of Pittsburgh, Bud Black of Colorado, and Brandon Hyde of Baltimore. Over his tenure with the Nationals, Martinez accumulated a record of 500-622. Last month, he was defensive when asked how to allocate blame for the team’s poor performance.
“It’s never on coaching,” Martinez asserted. “Coaches work their butts off every single day. We aren’t going to point fingers jl3 basketball website. It’s always about the players. 777pub.org”
When Rizzo hired Martinez to replace Dusty Baker before the 2018 season, Martinez had no prior managerial experience. The team managed an 82-80 record in Martinez’s first year, but struggled with a 19-31 start the following season, prompting calls for a change. However, Rizzo’s faith in Martinez paid off when the Nationals, led by pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, alongside rookie outfielder Juan Soto and other veterans, captured their first championship title.
Following their World Series success, the team took a step back during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, after which Rizzo began dismantling the roster, trading away key players like Scherzer, Soto, and Turner. The reconstruction process has continued with little improvement in the standings, though there are promising talents in the form of starter MacKenzie Gore and outfielder James Wood—both named NL All-Stars recently—along with shortstop CJ Abrams, an All-Star last year.
Lerner expressed optimism for Nationals fans, stating, “We view these changes as a difficult but necessary step toward a positive future. Our family remains committed to winning, just as it has been since my late father took control nearly 20 years ago.”
From 2020 to 2024, the Nationals finished fourth or fifth in the NL East, never achieving a winning percentage above .438 (71-91) in the last two seasons. Lerner concluded, “I’ve always appreciated and admired Davey’s passion for baseball and the affection he has for his players. jili jackpot lucky slot While this chapter ends, it doesn’t close the door on his potential for a successful career in baseball.”
What do you think this means for the future of the Washington Nationals?
