Rick Eckstein fired as Nationals hitting coach, Rick Schu takes over
Sounds like Davey would've preferred it if he got the axe. Did he consider pulling a Riggleman?
"Even in my discussions about firing Rick, I said, ‘There’s other options,’ You could do away with me if you want to change the scenery or change the philosophy."
(Davey Johnson, via Nationals Journal, 7/22/2013)"Obviously I’m not in agreement with it."
(Davey Johnson, via Nats Insider, 7/22/2013)
Well, Davey Johnson had no answers, Mike Rizzo needed a scapegoat, so Rick Eckstein took the fall.
Godspeed Rick Eckstein, God help you, Rick Schu.
Here's Rick Eckstein:
"I'm the one to blame. I fell short. I don't blame anybody else. ... At the end of the day, I'm the hitting coach and it wasn't going in the direction that I felt it should have been going as far as performing on the field, so I'm responsible."
(Rick Eckstein, via Nationals.com, 7/22/2013)
Eckstein probably won't be unemployed for long...
(Screencap via MASNSports.com video)
I still think we're tipping our swings.
Posted by: cupcake_killer | July 22, 2013 at 08:25 PM
Though ... if you're going to fire someone ... the product of the hitting coach has been lacking, wouldn't you agree? By the same token, if the Nats bats were league-leading, instead of lead-lagging, folks would be talking about Eckstein as a possible successor to Davey.
Posted by: mvm2 | July 22, 2013 at 08:37 PM
Nationals had a great team. Won a championship. Than made to many changes. KNOCKED down morale that will be hard to repair. Keep up the bad work!!!
Posted by: Bill | July 25, 2013 at 01:46 PM