Dave Martinez Defends His Coaching Staff Amid Nationals’ Offensive Struggles
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez expressed his unconditional support for the team’s coaching staff after the 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins. The team’s recent offensive struggles have raised questions, but Martinez was emphatic in defending his coaches.The Nationals are currently going through a seven-game losing streak, matching their worst streak of the season. In June, the team is averaging 2.5 runs per game and has a 2-10 record. With a 30-40 record, they are ten games below .500, only two games above the Marlins, who are in last place in the National League East Division. Martinez, who led Washington to its first World Series title in 2019, has seen the team struggle in recent seasons, especially since the start of the rebuild in 2021. In the last five years, the Nationals have not finished above fourth place in the division. In eight seasons, Martinez has a record of 493-609.“It’s never the coaching staff’s fault. Never. Coaches work hard every day. We’re not going to point fingers and say it’s the coaches’ fault. It’s never the coaches’ fault. They work hard. The message is clear. All the work is done beforehand. So, sometimes, they have to go out and play the game. It’s always been about the players. Always.”
Dave Martinez
Washington’s offensive woes have been particularly evident this month. The Nationals are last in the majors in runs scored (30), walks (23), on-base percentage (.267), and slugging percentage (.304) in June. In the last two weeks, they are second-to-last in home runs (six) and batting average (.216). They have only scored more than three runs in a game twice this month. In Saturday’s game, the Nationals performed poorly with runners in scoring position, failing at crucial moments. Martinez emphasized the importance of players taking responsibility for their performance on the field.“I played this game for a long time. I’ve never blamed a coach for anything. We worked hard to improve, we were given information and we used it. These guys understand what the game is, man. I never had a group of coaches who worked as hard as they do.”
Dave Martinez
