Nats ax Williams

[Evil Yoda]

To the surprise of no one, Matt Williams will shortly be firing an unemployment insurance claim.

Article (Plays a video I didn't watch, touted as a discussion of whether Cal Ripken Jr. might become the Nats manager.)

[Deleted]

Williams had been on the hot seat since last October, when Washington was eliminated by the Giants in the division series and Williams made a number of questionable moves. Injuries were a factor for Washington, but that team seriously underachieved this year. A lot of preseason prognostications picked them to go to the Series.

There have also been rumors that Mike Rizzo might be on the way out. He did, after all, hand a championship-caliber team over to a novice manager rather than a more experienced one. With that roster, it wouldn't have been difficult to land a qualified candidate. Instead, Rizzo went with "his guy" and the result was far less than anticipated. I doubt if Washington would go the same route by hiring Ripken. Just because someone was a Hall of Fame caliber player doesn't mean they're qualified to manage.

[mmmbeer]

their bullpen absolutely killed them this year. the GM has to take a good part of that blame, IMO.

[Evil Yoda]

Rizzo both brought in Papelbon, who just might be a clubhouse cancer (and whether he is or not, should never, not for any reason, be choking other players). And he was a champion of Williams. So they might well not be done with the firings down the block.

[Evil Yoda]

Rumor is that Ripken "would answer the phone" if the Nats called. Per EPSN.

I don't expect it to happen, but it would be a black eye for the Orioles organization if it did. And I'm in favor of anything that gives Scroogelos heartburn!