The Nationals last season he had the oldest clubhouse in the major leagues. That kind of experience and leadership has been important to their success. This season, many of those same veterans are back, but the club has to adapt without guys like Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman.
Manager Davey Martinez was asked on Saturday who he thought he could step up to take on a more vigorous leadership role in this 2020 version of Nats?
Martinez believes that a veteran short film with a quiet voice could be online to take on a bigger role.
“There are a few,” Martinez told reporters during a Zoom video call. “You have (Max) Scherzer, you have (Stephen) Strasbourg, you have (Aníbal) Sánchez, Asdrúbal (Cabrera), Adam Eaton, also Trea (Turner).
” I see Trea as a guy who is established here and who also keeps things under control. They understand it. They know why we are here. They know what we are trying to do. They also know that we have to stay healthy because it doesn’t hurt Nobody gets sick. We have had two good days so far and they have all been inside, they have all done their job. We hope that you will continue and continue all safe. “
* One of the main changes to the rule to speed up games this season is the extra-inning adjustment which allows each team to start a half-inning with a runner on second base. Martinez isn’t a fan of this tweak of the rules to speed up the game so there won’t be long grueling contests.
“I don’t like it because it takes a bit of the game off,” Martinez told reporters. “You’re 0-0 in a game, or 1-1, or draw, whatever, and you’re still working to play that game, and suddenly they throw a guy out there in practice. For me, it doesn’t seem fair. I do it a long time as a player, as a coach and now as a manager. I’m kind of old school like that.
“But do you know what? It’s a new era, so we’ll see what happens and see what transpires. So far I haven’t met anyone who likes you. “
* Saturday was to be another rematch in the July 4th weekend streak against Astros. The skipper said the World Series rematch against Astros at Nationals Park would have been special if the original schedule had not been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It would have been a good matchup,” said Martinez. “Unfortunately, it won’t happen. It’s a little sad, all of it. We couldn’t wait to organize a big ring ceremony with the fans. We didn’t understand it. The rise of the banner, we did not understand it. Eventually it will happen, but not having its kind of stink. But do you know what? Going forward, we are back, we will play. It’s nice to come back, nice to see the boys. Nice to see the guys training and jumping together. “
There are two new signs in the stadium that declare the national teams as World Series champions: one above the center wall of the field to the left of the batter’s eye and another along the right field line next to the 2012 division title marks, 2014, 2016 and 2017 But the flagpole above the Nats jumbotron display board is empty. This appears to be a part of the banner that Martinez has promised in the past will happen when fans can return to the games.
“It’s something that nobody expected, so we just have to move on,” said Martinez. “I say to the players, ‘hey, we’ll have our rings here soon.’ The banner will go up and probably when the fans return to the stadium. But just remember that it was a success, don’t forget it, let’s build it, let’s go on.”
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