Nationals manager Dave Martinez knows where not to point fingers during his team’s rough patch.
Responding on Saturday to questions about the Nationals’ offensive struggles following their 4-3 defeat to the Marlins—which marked Washington’s seventh consecutive loss—Martinez emphasized that the coaching staff is not to blame.
“It’s never on coaching,” Martinez stated. “Never on coaching. Coaches put in immense effort every single day. We’re not going to point fingers here and blame the coaches. It’s never on them. They work tirelessly. The message is clear, and all the groundwork is laid beforehand. Ultimately, it’s about the players going out there and playing the game. It’s always about the players. Always.”
The Nationals, who sit fourth in the National League East, hold the third-worst batting average since the start of June, hitting just .227 as a team.
Additionally, Washington is ranked last in MLB in walks (23), runs (30) and slugging percentage (.267) in the month.
Martinez, 60, spent 16 seasons in the MLB as a player, and insisted that he never blamed any coaches during his playing career.
“I’ve played this game for a long time,” Martinez continued. “Not once have I ever blamed a coach for anything. We put in the effort to improve, and they provided us with the necessary information. It’s up to us to use it. These guys know the game, man. I’ve never had a group of coaches who work as tirelessly as they do.”
During Saturday’s game, the Nationals went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and folded in a bases-loaded opportunity in the ninth inning.
“These coaches, they work their asses off,” Martinez said. “And I know every coaching staff is like that. And the players know. Sometimes you have to put the onus on the players and they have to go out there and they have to play the game and play the game the right way.
“We can’t hit for them, we can’t catch the ball for them, we can’t pitch for them, we can’t throw strikes for them. They’ve got to do that.”
