Washington Nationals news & notes: Davey Martinez on Dusty Baker; facing the Astros again; and Josh Bell

Natstalgia:

The Astros returning to (and profitable) within the nation’s capital was certain to fire up reminiscences of the final sequence Houston and Washington performed in Nationals Park, however quite a bit has modified and Davey Martinez, Mr. Go 1-0 as we speak, isn’t a lot for wanting again, or ahead, remaining as he’s at all times saying, targeted on the duty at hand. However nonetheless, you knew the 2019 World Collection would give you the 2 golf equipment who confronted off within the one hundred and fifteenth Fall Traditional going through off once more in D.C. for the subsequent three days.

“It’s undoubtedly one thing that they’re coming again for the primary time after 2019, however that’s — though it appears — for me, I’ll always remember the reminiscences, but it surely’s behind us. They acquired some new gamers, completely different group, we are available in with completely different gamers as nicely, it’s two completely completely different ballclubs, so we acquired to go on the market as we speak and go 1-0 as we speak,” Martinez mentioned earlier than the sequence opener with the Astros.

“We’re going to go on the market and play baseball,” Martinez continued. “The fellows that had been right here, they’ve been by way of it, they realize it, and so they perceive it, and it was an incredible feeling, it actually was, and a sense that we’ll always remember, however as we speak is a unique ballgame.”

Attending to reconnect along with his personal former supervisor, and long-time good friend Dusty Baker did imply quite a bit to the Nats’ skipper, nevertheless, and he talked concerning the affect Dusty and the opposite managers he performed for and labored with have had on his strategy to his job.

“I love the best way he goes about his enterprise,” Martinez mentioned, “and I’ve at all times — like I’ve mentioned — after I turned a supervisor and earlier than I turned a supervisor, I took somewhat little bit of everyone, discovered quite a bit from completely different folks. I at all times point out Bobby Cox being one, as a coach with Joe [Maddon], discovered quite a bit from him, and from taking part in for Dusty I discovered from him, and it sort of molded me to what I needed to be if I ever acquired a chance to handle, so for me it’s nearly, one, how a lot Dusty respects and loves the sport. I actually really feel like I like the sport simply as a lot, and respect the sport simply as a lot, and likewise how he treats folks, and that’s one thing I’ll always remember about Dusty, how he handled me and my household.”

Martinez has handled Baker and his household nicely too.

Bell Hits the Ball:

Josh Bell began this weekend’s three-game set with the Astros 39 for 113 (.345/.439/.513) in 32 video games performed in a month-plus this season, having, the Nationals highlighted within the notes for final evening’s sport, “reached base safely in 29 of 32 video games this season.” It isn’t only a strong begin in ‘22 for Bell, he’s been hitting the ball since mid-Could 2021, after a sluggish begin in D.C. in his first yr with the group following a stint on the COVID-IL at first of the season.

“Bell is hitting .299/.389/.513 with 27 doubles, one triple, 28 homers, 99 RBI(s), three hit by pitch(es), 76 walks[,] and 81 runs scored in 153 video games since Could 13, 2021,” the Nats wrote.

“He’s actually, actually making an attempt to place the ball in play,” Davey Martinez mentioned when requested about Bell’s success on the plate the final two seasons.

“I talked some time in the past about how he’s not making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. He’s preparing on time, which is a giant factor.

“Virtually each pitch he’s prepared on time, and able to hit the fastball, so kudos to him. He got here to Spring Coaching wanting to chop down, he felt like if he may put the ball in play extra, he may hit the ball exhausting and create higher at bats, and he’s performed that, and you’ll see the outcomes, he’s up there within the league in hitting, however he’s nonetheless hitting the ball exhausting.”

Bell’s .345 AVG at first of play on Friday was the 4th-best within the majors, and he was 4th in OBP too (and twenty first in SLG). So, not a typical all-or-nothing energy hitter, precisely.

Which is a pleasant growth for the switch-hitter and the Nationals, with Bell additionally strolling (17) greater than he’d Okay’d (15) by way of 134 plate appearances going into final evening’s sport.

“Look, I performed with a man that you simply suppose — he seemed like he struck out at lot, however the man hit .345-.350 yearly,” Martinez mentioned, “Frank Thomas. He put the ball in play. Typically it was ugly, and typically — what I say to Josh, ‘You’re going to get some ugly hits, however they’re hits all in all,’ and he appreciates that, and we’ll typically joke round, and he goes, ‘That was an unpleasant hit.’ And I’m going, ‘What was the consequence? It was a success.’ So, but it surely’s good for him, and he understands, and like I’ve mentioned, when he strikes the ball good issues occur, once you strike out, the one factor you are able to do is stroll again and go watch video and see what went fallacious, so he’s actually targeted on simply preparing, and he needs to drive the ball, don’t get me fallacious, however his two-strike strategy is quite a bit higher than it has been.”