Nationals Fire Matt Williams

Matt Williams was sacked Monday morning after a tumultuous 2015 season in Washington.

Williams showed a few signs of growth with in-game strategy, managing with the same by-the-book style even in must-win situations. However, after finishing a distant seven games behind the New York Mets for the National League East title and 14 games back in the Wild Card hunt, the Nats were considered one of the biggest disappointments in baseball.

Williams went 179-145 (.552) in two seasons in Washington, which is an excellent winning percentage, but when you take over a stacked team the expectations are extremely high and there was seemingly nothing anyone could point to about his actual managing that suggested he was doing a good job. This would be the final nail in the coffin for a manager who had clearly lost his team.

GM Mike Rizzo hired Williams, who he knew from their days with the Diamondbacks, prior to last season. They were quickly eliminated in the National League Division Series, however.

Williams is the most public face of the Nationals’ wretched season, but he is not alone in the downfall.

Williams wasn’t the only member of the coaching staff to go.

The direction the Nationals will now go in the dugout and beyond is unknown, as they have a few changes coming to the roster thanks to free agency and a vacancy in the dugout.

Rendon is the Nationals’ second best player, and though he has missed most of the season with injuries, he has been hot at the plate for over a month now.

The organization has toggled between managing styles through the years.

Now with Williams gone, the Nationals can focus their attention to finding their new skipper. He was sacked in the midst of the 2009 season, replaced by veteran Jim Riggleman. Neither team made it out of the NL Division Series. From a mismanaged bullpen to having key players sacrifice bunt in a close game, Nationals fans and the front office grew tired of Williams and his overmanaging. That didn’t happen this season.