What Happened to Dave Martinez? Why Was Dave Martinez Ejected?
Updated Jun 23, 2023
What Happened to Dave Martinez?
Dave Martinez, the manager of the Washington Nationals, was ejected from Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning. His ejection occurred after an exchange with crew chief Doug Eddings, during which Martinez kicked dirt near the home plate and assumed a crouched position. This reaction was a response to being tossed from the game.
Following the Nationals' 5-3 loss, Martinez spoke about the incident, stating that his main concern was protecting his players. He believed that in that crucial moment, a favorable call could have potentially influenced the game's outcome. Martinez mentioned how the called third strike on shortstop CJ Abrams in the fourth inning, which replays showed as a low pitch, frustrated him. The strikeout happened with runners on first and second base, and the Nationals were trailing 2-1 at the time.
Martinez's frustration continued when, in the fifth inning, Doug Eddings called a ball on the first pitch thrown by Nationals' starter Jake Irvin to Carson Kelly, resulting in one out. The accumulation of these events led to Martinez's ejection and subsequent display of frustration on the field.
The Washington Nationals have been experiencing a difficult period, having lost 14 of their last 17 games. Their recent performance has been disappointing, and they concluded a 1-6 homestand before the game in question.
The incident involving Dave Martinez's ejection stemmed from his belief that his players were not receiving favorable calls, which he felt affected the outcome of the game. Martinez's actions were driven by his desire to protect his players and turn the team's fortunes around amidst their struggling performance.
Why was Dave Martinez Ejected?
Dave Martinez was ejected during the fifth inning of the game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The ejection occurred after shortstop CJ Abrams took a called third strike that ended the fourth inning. Martinez was displeased with the call as replays showed that the pitch was low. At the time of the strikeout, the Nationals had runners on first and second base, and they were trailing 2-1.
Martinez's frustration continued into the fifth inning when crew chief Doug Eddings called a ball on the first pitch thrown by Nationals' starter Jake Irvin to Carson Kelly. This decision further infuriated Martinez, leading to his ejection from the game.
Following his ejection, Martinez displayed his frustration by kicking dirt near the home plate and assuming a crouched position. His actions were a visible expression of his dissatisfaction with the calls made by the umpire crew.
In Martinez's own words, he stated that he was determined to protect his players, emphasizing the importance of the moment and its potential impact on the game. He believed that if the previous pitch had been called differently, it could have led to a positive outcome for his player, such as reaching base or potentially altering the game's course.
It is worth noting that the Nationals have been struggling recently, having lost 14 of their last 17 games. This disappointing performance likely added to Martinez's frustration and the intensity of the situation.
Dave Martinez Press Conference
During the press conference following the Washington Nationals game against the Houston Astros, manager Dave Martinez took the opportunity to address the controversial call that occurred during the match. The Nationals had suffered a 5-4 walk-off defeat, reminiscent of a previous contentious call involving then-Nats shortstop Trea Turner in the 2019 World Series. This time, however, the Nationals found themselves on the opposing end of the disputed decision.
Martinez, visibly frustrated by the outcome, shared his dissatisfaction with the call made by home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs, who was a substitute umpire from Triple-A. Seeking to provide visual evidence to support his argument, Martinez brought a printout of a still image from the play to the press conference. Holding up the image for everyone to see, Martinez pointed out that the runner had deviated from the defined path and interfered with the throw to first base.
In Martinez's own words, he exclaimed, "There it is, right there. Take a look at it. Is that on the line? I don't think so. I'm over this play. Seriously. They need to fix the rule. This is what the umpire sees? That he's running down the line? Tired of it. Tired of it. Fix it. We lost the game, and he had nothing to say about it because he can't make the right call. Brutal. Brutal."
Martinez's frustration stems from his belief that the rule in question needs clarification and adjustment. Referring to MLB rule 5.09(a)(13), he argued that the lines marking the three-foot lane are considered part of the lane itself, requiring a batter-runner to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines. However, the batter-runner is allowed to step, stride, reach, or slide outside the three-foot lane in the immediate vicinity of the first base solely for the purpose of touching the base.
The dilemma arises from the fact that the first base is located in fair territory, making it necessary for a runner to make an awkward reach or step toward the base. Consequently, runners tend to avoid the runner's lane to first base and establish their path outside of it. Umpires often exercise some leniency when enforcing this rule.
Despite acknowledging that the throw to first base was not ideal and led to the first baseman colliding with the runner, Martinez argued that the ball should have been declared dead, resulting in the runner being called out. It is the uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of the rule that has left Martinez deeply frustrated.
With his passionate plea and presentation of the still image, Martinez aimed to draw attention to the perceived flaws in the rule and advocate for its revision. While the outcome of the game remained unchanged, Martinez's intention was to shed light on the issue and prompt a reconsideration of the rules to ensure fair and consistent calls in similar situations.
Given the determination and fervor with which Martinez addressed the matter, it is possible that he will continue to use visual aids, such as PowerPoint presentations, in future press conferences to reinforce his arguments and advocate for rule modifications.
Who is Dave Martinez?
Dave Martinez, born on September 26, 1964, is an American baseball coach and former player who currently serves as the manager for the Washington Nationals in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his career, Martinez has held various coaching positions and played for multiple MLB teams.
As a player, Martinez was an outfielder who played in the major leagues from 1986 to 2001. He spent time with several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves. Over his career, Martinez achieved a .276 batting average with 1,599 hits, 91 home runs, 795 runs scored, and 580 runs batted in.
Following his playing career, Martinez transitioned into coaching. In 2008, he became the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays under manager Joe Maddon. When Maddon moved to the Chicago Cubs after the 2014 season, Martinez followed and served as the Cubs' bench coach as well.
Martinez's managerial career began after the 2017 season when he was hired as the manager for the Washington Nationals. In his second season with the Nationals, he led the team to a historic victory in the 2019 World Series, securing their first championship in franchise history.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, Martinez spent his childhood in various locations, including Manhattan and Brentwood, New York. At the age of 13, his family relocated to Orlando, Florida. Martinez attended Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida, where he played baseball and helped his team win the Five Star Conference championship in 1981. He then went on to play college baseball at Valencia Community College.
With his extensive experience as a player, coach, and now manager, Dave Martinez has made significant contributions to the world of baseball and continues to lead the Washington Nationals in their pursuit of success in the MLB.
What Happened to Dave Martinez? - FAQs
Dave Martinez was ejected from a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks after an exchange with the crew chief. He kicked dirt near the home plate and assumed a crouched position in frustration.
Martinez was ejected due to his disagreement with a called third strike on shortstop CJ Abrams, which he believed was a low pitch. His frustration intensified when another unfavorable call was made in the fifth inning.
Martinez displayed his frustration by kicking dirt near the home plate and assuming a crouched position on the field.
Dave Martinez is the manager for the Washington Nationals in MLB. He is a former player who had a successful career as an outfielder and has since transitioned into coaching and managing.
Martinez was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his childhood in various locations, including Manhattan and Brentwood, before relocating to Orlando, Florida at the age of 13.