Nationals Manager Dave Martinez Defends Coaches Amid Seven-Game Losing Streak

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez publicly defended his coaching staff amid the team’s seven-game losing streak, asserting that the responsibility for the struggles lies with the players rather than the coaches. Martinez emphasized that the coaches work diligently every day to prepare the players, but ultimately, the players must perform on the field, a stance that has reportedly left players feeling "shocked, dismayed and pissed." Despite Martinez's assurances that his comments were not meant to criticize the players personally, his remarks were widely perceived as blaming them for the ongoing offensive woes, which include an MLB-low run production in June and poor performance with runners in scoring position. The Nationals have scored three or fewer runs in most of their June games and remain near the bottom of the NL East, prompting scrutiny of Martinez’s leadership as the team’s record dips further below .500. Martinez, who led the Nationals to their only World Series title in 2019, is now facing a challenging season with a rebuilding roster and growing calls for accountability within the organization.