The magic number for the Washington Nationals has always been 2013. The Nats knew rebuilding a barren minor league system, building a fan base and finding star attractions would take years after arriving in 2005. The Nats have largely done that. As they finish vying for a .500 season on Wednesday, the team seems only a year or so and maybe a little luck away from a real pennant race by 2013.
It would make sense to have that team’s manager on board in 2012 so whenever Washington is truly ready to contend the right man’s in the dugout.
Is that Davey Johnson?
Johnson has done a credible job since taking over on June 28 when predecessor Jim Riggleman quit after realizing he wasn’t the manager of the future. Riggleman just forced the team’s coaching search a few months sooner than expected.
There’s no complaint if Johnson returns for 2012. He’s a solid baseball man and good guy. But Johnson will be 70 in 2013, and while that’s not necessarily the retirement age league-wide anymore, the manager himself may not want to endure the grind.
So back to 2013. A decision should be made now to hire a new manager so the team and its boss gain a good feel for each other when Stephen Strasburg blossoms into a 20-game winner. When Bryce Harper has paid his minor league membership and is ready to be the Nats’ best player. And when Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann are peaking.
The Nats have never found the right manager since firing Frank Robinson in 2006. Robinson’s dismissal wasn’t the problem as much as the callous way it was handled, but successor Manny Acta was considered a placeholder until the team improved. Unfortunately, the Nats fired him after a 102-loss season in 2008 and a 26-61 start in 2009.
Riggleman was supposed to also be a placeholder until the “real” big-name manager was brought in when Washington deserved an expensive marquee boss. Riggleman actually finished the 2009 season decently so 2010 was a reward. A 93-loss season with injuries galore was disappointing, but Riggleman was 39-38 when walking away after not gaining what he believed was an overdue contract extension. Guess Riggleman didn’t realize he wasn’t the long-term solution.
Not that an obvious new manager is available. At least, not yet. Maybe someone of note will come loose after season’s end. Johnson was a big name in his day, but that was a decade or two ago.
The Nats will look for an established manager that can produce a real NL East contender. If there’s no one they really want for 2012, Johnson should return. But come 2013, certainly there will be a noteworthy skipper available.
After all, 2013 is coming quickly.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
