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Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez reached a boiling point Thursday against the New York Mets.
With his club mired in a season-long slump, the skipper lost his cool after home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman ejected Howie Kendrick – and then Martinez himself – for arguing a check-swing call.
Dave Martinez got his money’s worth pic.twitter.com/Xr5vDcP2uQ
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 23, 2019
Martinez flashed shades of legendary manager Billy Martin, who was known for his epic meltdowns.
After Washington’s bullpen blew another late lead, Martinez said his team is searching for answers.
“We’ve got to find a guy in the 7th and 8th to get the ball to Doolittle,” he said, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
Martinez did add, however, that “you can’t put the blame on one thing. When we lose, we lose together. When we win, we win together.”
The Nationals (19-30) entered Thursday’s action with the National League’s second-worst record. They boast the fourth-lowest winning percentage (.388) in the majors, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals (.347), Miami Marlins (.326), and Baltimore Orioles (.306).
Many expected the team to compete for another NL East division title despite losing superstar Bryce Harper to the rival Philadelphia Phillies in free agency. This season, however, has been anything but a success so far. The Nationals already fired pitching coach Derek Lilliquist as their collective 4.93 ERA ranks 24th in the majors and the bullpen’s 6.89 ERA sits dead last.
