Time to discuss who we would like to see newly minted manager, Blake Butera, hire, or at least consider, for each coaching staff position.
Steve, Andrew and I will each weigh in with some thoughts.
Then it will be your turn to discuss in the comments.
Bench Coach
Don:
As has been mentioned here, a Bench Coach needs to push and question the Manager. Give him alternatives and not be a yes man. I like the idea of someone who has been with the Nationals for a while. So my choice would be Randy Knorr or someone like him.
Steve:
I wrote this the other day, In the process, you have to surround Butera with smart people and independent thinkers not “yes men” like former Nats’ manager Dave Martinez had in his dugout this season. They call that “groupthink.”
Picking a bench coach to me is a yin and yang complementary move — and it always starts with the pick of the manager. After Butera was picked, I would want a bench coach with previous MLB managerial experience as well as a good tactician. Someone who has forgotten more baseball than Butera and Paul Toboni has lived as an adult. The math on that combines for 31 years.
All I know is that the Nats won with Chip Hale. Yes, he was a failed manager, but I respect that he was in Dave Martinez‘s ear a lot with smart advice and often suggesting what he would do. The manager then has to make the ultimate decision. Should we bunt? Should we pinch-run? Should we pull our pitcher now even though his pitch count is low? What about the lineup matchups?
Andrew:
Not be a yes man says it all. You need a strong figure for that job. Like Steve wrote the other day, you want some healthy friction without too much friction where it is bad chemistry.
In the game of musical chairs, there will be a few ex-managers who don’t have a job after the Padres, Rockies, and Twins sign-on managers. I wish I had a name. I could see Rocco Baldelli because he has a connection to Butera as his brother, Dante Baldelli, played at Boston College like Butera, and Baldelli came through the Rays system just like Butera.
Don:
Agree with everything you both said. Quite often fired managers become good bench coaches. Perhaps that is the path forward.
Steve:
Baldelli is 44 years old. How many candidates will have an issue answering to guys aged in their mid-30’s? Might not be an issue — but could be.
Hitting Coach
Steve:
A month ago I penciled up my dream coaching staff. I had David Popkins whose name didn’t mean much to anyone at the time. He was the very analytical, hard working hitting coach of the Toronto Blue Jays. Clearly he isn’t leaving. It was wishful thinking a month ago. What about doing something crazy and grabbing the head hitting coach from Driveline who taught Popkins? Give Travis Fitta a call. Also, the Blue Jays plucked senior hitting biomechanistic Ben Jones, a former Driveline staffer for a job in player development.
I could also go backwards and say Daniel Murphy. Yes, he learned from Kevin Long, and understood that hitting wasn’t alway about comfort. He got up on the plate and dared pitchers to come inside on him. He made launch angle work. Murphy is the success story of a bad hitter turned into a great hitter. Maybe Murphy should be the head hitting coach and Fitta would be a good assistant hitting coach. Fitta is into new age stuff like biomechanics and the use of weighted balls that made Popkins and Blue Jays hitters even better with their increase in bat speed.
Don:
I wonder if Coach G is interested? I would be fine with Murphy as long as he is not a one size fits all guy like Kevin Long (and Coles). But given his current gigs with the Mets, I doubt he is interested.
Andrew:
The Red Sox poached a few Driveline coaches for behind the scenes roles. I have to think Toboni will do the same to support an experienced MLB hitting coach. Everything about Popkins really came together after he left Minnesota.
Steve:
I can’t wait to see where Butera/Toboni go with their choice.
Assistant Hitting Coach
Don:
I would be inclined to keep Chris Johnson. Again, someone who knows the history is a good thing. He was also very vocal when he disagreed with the umpires. That is something we need to see more of.
Steve:
Like you I really liked the energy Chris Johnson brought. But after thinking about it, nothing really worked. If anything Brian Daubach at Triple-A was the star hitting coach for the Nats. Think about the adjustments that Daylen Lile and others made. When Lile was demoted, Daubach got him back on track. Now Lile is a lethal hitting machine.
Andrew:
I think none of us would have an issue with Chris Johnson. The issue is the results, other than Lile which you credit to Daubach, is really not good in the second half. You could say that James Wood got hot with his own coach (Coach G) then the Nats coaches did what as Wood was struggling?
Don:
Lots of choices here. Maybe this will be the surprise move. Another minor league manager?
Pitching Coach
Steve
Chris Hook for pitching coach. He is already in that position with the Brewers and is one of the best out there. Probably wouldn’t move — but who knows.
Don:
I wonder if Ethan Katz is still available? I recall discussing him with you on Twitter. He was the White Sox pitching coach and was let go. I think you said that Lucas Giolito‘s father said he was very good.
Andrew:
Ethan Katz was the guy behind Garrett Crochet too. Of course the White Sox slid in 2025 based on who they had. I’m shocked that Katz hasn’t been scooped up yet.
Steve:
Don, yes, I posted up what Mr. Giolito tweeted to us. Andrew, good point on what Crochet did under Katz. Could he do the same with MacKenzie Gore?
Assistant Pitching Coach
Don:
Gotta have Sean Doolittle here. He is into analytics and has gotten positive comments from the current staff regarding how he has helped them.
Steve:
Somewhere you would hope that Doolittle would fit in for the Nats organization.
Andrew:
Sign me up for Doolittle.
Don:
We are unanimous 😂.
1B Coach
Steve:
When Antoan Richardson became available from the Mets, that’s the guy. I wish Davey Lopes was still able to do it. How’s about digging into the college ranks and getting Selwyn Young for 1st base coach?
Andrew:
The impact great coaches have on players is immense. Richardson would be a great hire.
Don:
I like the Richardson choice. But since he left the Mets over money, Maybe he wants an outrageous number. Given what he did with Soto on stealing bases, he is worth a lot to the Nats given that the team has quite a few speed guys who could be improved.
And hey, 2026 would only be Davey Lopes age 80 season. Maybe he wants to come back and be the grandfather figure for Butera 🤣.
3B Coach
Steve:
Brian Butterfield for 3rd base coach.
Don:
I doubt he is interested since he retired his position as the Angels manager, But maybe he’s interested in a less stressful position? If so, I’d love for him to be the 3B coach. With the Braves he also improved their infield defense. Another thought is Bo Porter. That was a long time ago, but IIRC he was a good 3B coach.
Andrew:
I think Bo wants to be a manager or bench coach again. He was lobbying hard for the Angels job and didn’t get it. Third base for Bo would be a great add. Look what he did for Jo Adell and see who Adell credited: Bo.
Steve: I had Bo’s name in the hat for the Nats job. Not sure I see him as the bench coach but that’s an interesting one. Would he see third base coach as a step up?
Catching Coach
Don:
Wilson Ramos is my choice. He has said he wants to get into coaching and volunteered to help Keibert improve his game. He was a great all-around catcher and his one problem – catching throws from the outfield on a bounce got batter once he had lasik (as commented here recently).
Steve:
Wilson Ramos for sure.
Andrew:
I think there is only one correct answer here. That is Wilson Ramos. The work he is doing in the MLB coaching program is a real plus. He has been in Nats camp helping catchers. That would be a good add and this team certainly needs some coaches from Latin America.
Steve:
That is a good point. You really want a Latino coach on this staff. I could see that in the bullpen. An interesting point that we made when Andrew Wright was hired is that he speaks Spanish. While he is now in the front office, it was good to see that. Another quick point on Wright, he already changed his LinkedIn to the Nats.
Don:
Once again, we are unanimous. 😂.
Now it is the readers turn to weigh in!
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