The Washington Nationals are reportedly down to two managerial candidates – Dusty Baker and Bud Black.
Baker and Black will both get second interviews, according to CBS Sports’s Jon Heyman, with no other candidates appearing to be in the picture to replace Matt Williams.
Both candidates have a lot of previous experience. Black spent eight full seasons managing the San Diego Padres, while Baker has twenty years of managerial experience with the Giants, Cubs, and Reds. The team seems to be prioritizing experience after the Williams experiment failed, as Williams had never managed before getting the Nationals job.
Baker in particular is regarded as a player’s manager, which would be a stark contrast to the allegedly “terrible” environment fostered by Williams. After his firing by the Reds, there was talk that Baker was actually too friendly for the Reds clubhouse. Perhaps that’s exactly what the Nationals need after such a disappointing season.
