WASHINGTON – Dave Martinez stood in the Nationals’ clubhouse early in November 2017 on a fall day in which the carpeted space on this occasion was not housing 25 players.
That space had been re-configured for a press conference to introduce Dave Martinez as the new manager of the Nationals. The team had just won two National League East titles in a row under the popular Dusty Baker – whose had been dismissed – so the hiring of Martinez was met with tons of cynicism.
As a player, he performed under several top managers and even had some Hall of Fame teammates in the minors.