Another year of Daveyball

Washington Nationals new manager Davey Johnson watches the team take batting practice before their MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California, June 27, 2011. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL HEADSHOT)

 

Davey Johnson will return as Washington Nationals manager in 2012.

After going through the motions of a managerial search, the worst kept secret in history was made official today by the Washington Nationals: Davey Johnson will return as manager for the 2012 season.

Davey immediately set the bar pretty low for what he expects out of the Nats in 2012:

"Winning the pennant. Winning the division. Winning the National League. I couldn't have said that last spring. I didn't think the talent was ready. But after being there and seeing the progress that some of the young players made, I think we definitely can contend. And I would be sorely disappointed if we didn't do just that."
(Davey Johnson, via NatsInsider, 10/31/2011)

That's a far cry from the sentiment around these parts this time last year, when the hope was to finish .500; but that's what a strong finish can do to you. April 5th can't get here soon enough...

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