Nationals manager Matt Williams booed at presser after loss to Mets
Nationals manager Matt Williams had a rough night Tuesday, when after watching his team blow a 7-1 lead in an 8-7 loss to the National League East-leading Mets he also was booed at his postgame news conference.
The room where the Nationals hold their news conferences is across from the President’s Club, allowing fans to watch the proceedings and, in this case, voice their displeasure.
Williams, who grew up in Carson City and starred at UNLV, has been criticized for his handling of Washington’s bullpen, which surrendered six walks and six runs in the seventh inning Tuesday as New York tied it 7-7.
But Williams was mostly second-guessed Tuesday for having Anthony Rendon bunt on a 3-1 count with Jayson Werth on first and nobody out in the ninth with his No. 3 and No. 4 hitters due up. Rendon laid down a poor bunt, Werth was forced out at second and the Nats went on to lose and fall six games behind the Mets.
Williams told reporters afterward that he had Rendon bunt against New York closer Jeurys Familia because he was worried about the double play, a decision ripped to shreds by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, who wrote, “In other words, Williams gave up an out from one of his best hitters who never bunts because he was worried about something that happens 12% of the time — that’s how often Familia actually gets a double play when one is in order (about the same as the MLB average of 11%). The odds were overwhelming against a double play happening, but Williams was petrified enough of that longshot to give up Rendon’s bat, even with the count overwhelmingly in his favor.”
Williams was then booed as he departed the dais at his news conference.
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DUDE, WHERE’S MY RING
It wasn’t a good night, either, for Las Vegan Bryce Harper, who cracked, “Where’s my (World Series) ring?” in spring training after the Nats signed ace pitcher Max Scherzer.
FamousDC posted a picture of a handwritten flyer that was posted near Nationals Park following Tuesday’s meltdown that mocked Harper’s preseason proclamation. The flyer read, “**MISSING** World Series Ring Last seen: 7th inning of Nationals-Mets game near bullpen Please contact: Bryce.”
Harper is a leading NL Most Valuable Player candidate this season, but he didn’t do himself any favors with Washington fans by calling them out for leaving Monday’s game early.