Redemption stories in sports are like the biblical prodigal son.
The Washington Nationals winning the World Series gives us several from which to draw. Howie Kendrick as the journeyman who actually was the last out as a Dodger two years ago in the World Series against the same Astros. This year he was NLCS MVP and drove in the winning run in Game 7 of the World Series.
Then there is Gerardo Parra, who after being released by my Giants signed with the Nats at their lowest point, and by all accounts immediately became the spirit booster in the Nats clubhouse. His enthusiasm spread to the fanbase with the Baby Shark tune, which has become an anthem among some international protest movements. He supplemented that by being their most reliable bat off the bench.
There is Ryan Zimmerman, the Dean of the Nats, and the Washington franchise’s first ever draft pick in 2005. He was once compared to Brooks Robinson as a 3rd basemen. Then the injuries and throwing hiccups came, and while the bat has always remained formidable, his place as a potential all-time great was missed.
All good stories but for me the two that resonate most are those of Stephen Strasburg and Manager Dave Martinez.
Oct 29, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning in game six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
I can remember the night of Strasburg’s debut in 2010. He was hailed as the franchise savior and lived up to every expectation that night, striking out 14 Pirates over 7 innings of work. It doesn’t always work out this way. For every Tiger Woods or LeBron James, both of whom met and exceeded their expectations, there are about a dozen Michelle Wie’s. While Strasburg clearly succeeded more than Wie, the narrative always seemed to be about what he wasn’t. That was compounded when the Nats shut him down in 2012, short of the postseason, and then a monumental collapse of pitching against the Cardinals led to their elimination. It was compounded when he would suffer the very arm trouble the team was trying to protect him from a few years later. Even I had added to the narrative by saying he just wasn’t mean enough. By that I mean to say that the power pitcher must be intimidating to maximize his capacity. Strasburg has a greater arsenal than Nolan Ryan ever had and the command of Roger Clemens. What he did not have was the intimidating presence of either. Ryan and Clemens were feared by hitters. Strasburg was not because he simply did not pitch inside enough. The intent need not be to hit batters but the thought that he might is in of itself a weapon and an advantage to the pitcher.
In 2017 he turned down a postseason start against the Cubs due to illness and the narrative about his “heart” ratcheted up yet again. Even tossing 7 shutout innings in his eventual start in Chicago in an elimination game to send the series back to Washington did not quiet the whispers.
Today, as the Washington Nationals prepare to take to the streets of our nation’s capital for their World Series victory parade, there are no more whispers and the narrative is clear and without dispute or subjective to interpretation: Stephen Strasburg is the World Series MVP and one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever. His 1.46 earned run average is top 5 for pitchers with at least 7 starts. When you are on any pitching list with Sandy Koufax, you no longer need to explain yourself to anyone. He is the evolution of the hype.
I am as happy for manager Dave Martinez. For years, I have been playing softball with a group of rabid baseball fans, several of whom root for the Nats. A Sunday could not pass without second guessing his handling of the bullpen or bench. I might add that they had the same criticisms of previous managers Dusty Baker, Matt Williams, and Davey Johnson. Two of those 3 I believe have Hall of Fame cases. The point is that even though the managing changed, the results were still the same. So clearly managing was not the central problem.
The second guessing of managing and coaching is baked into the sports talk culture. Given that there are 162 games plus the postseason, its understandable that it be even more so in baseball. The two most common flaws in the criticism of managers or coaches are, 1) the assumption of knowing all the factors in the decision made, and 2) an analysis of choices without an analysis of options. The latter was precisely the burden of Martinez. For most of the year, the Nats had the worst bullpen in baseball. Doolittle was hurt and Hudson was in Toronto. Those were their only two consistently reliable relievers. Even when the team was 19-31, Craig Kimbrel, one of the best closers over the past 10 years, who played that role on the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox, was waiting for a call. Instead, the Nats chose Fernando Rodney. No disrespect to Rodney, who has led the league in saves and has been a 3-time All-Star, but he is 42.
Martinez stayed the course with what he had. He even endured a heart health scare. The bottom line is that if Martinez’ management of the team were as much of a liability as so many claimed, the team would have never won the title.
His critics should admit that they were wrong.
I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen. I will say that the best response to one’s critics in sports is to win, and being the 2019 World Series Champions is something that no one can ever take from either Strasburg or Martinez.
