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After tumultuous 2015, Matt Williams is at peace in Arizona After tumultuous 2015, Matt Williams is at peace in Arizona
(about 4 hours later)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt on second base during Wednesday’s spring training game against the San Diego Padres, Matt Williams paced up and down along the third-base line. He flashed a sign for Goldschmidt. Then he hunched over, hands on his knees, to stare intently at home plate for the next pitch. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt on second base during Wednesday’s spring training game against the San Diego Padres, Matt Williams paced up and down along the third base line. He flashed a sign for Goldschmidt. Then he hunched over, hands on his knees, to stare intently at home plate for the next pitch.
This is Williams’ new life post-Washington Nationals. He returned to his old job with the Diamondbacks, coaching third base, leading the defense and instructing the infielders. He is happy to be back with an organization he knows well and able to spend more time with his family. The Diamondbacks’ spring training facility is a 10-minute drive from his home and Chase Field is 15 minutes away. This is Williams’s new, post-Washington Nationals life. He returned to his old job with the Diamondbacks, coaching third base, leading the defense and instructing the infielders. He is happy to be back with an organization he knows well and able to spend more time with his family. The Diamondbacks’ spring training facility is a 10-minute drive from his home, and Chase Field is 15 minutes away.
“It’s nice to sleep in my own bed at night,” Williams said. “It’s a really good situation.”“It’s nice to sleep in my own bed at night,” Williams said. “It’s a really good situation.”
[Seven decisions that doomed Matt Williams in Washington][Seven decisions that doomed Matt Williams in Washington]
Time and perspective helps. Five months ago, Williams was at the center of the storm that was the Nationals’ 2015 season. After 96 wins and the Manager of the Year Award in 2014, Williams was fired the day after the 2015 season ended. Amid preseason World Series aspirations, the Nationals won 83 games, missed the playoffs and Williams endured growing questions about his managerial style and strained relationships with players. Time and perspective help. Five months ago, Williams was at the center of the storm that was the Nationals’ 2015 season. After 96 wins and the National League’s manager of the year award in 2014, Williams was fired the day after the 2015 season ended. Amid preseason World Series aspirations, the Nationals won 83 games, missed the playoffs and Williams endured growing questions about his managerial style and strained relationships with players.
“It was tough to hear,” Williams said of his final meeting with Nationals General Mike Rizzo. “You want to do as well as you possibly do. It is what it is. That’s the way I look at it. You have choices. You can wallow or move on. I decided to move on.”“It was tough to hear,” Williams said of his final meeting with Nationals General Mike Rizzo. “You want to do as well as you possibly do. It is what it is. That’s the way I look at it. You have choices. You can wallow or move on. I decided to move on.”
After his firing Oct. 5, Williams declined to talk publicly about last season, not wanting to aggravate old wounds. Since his Diamondbacks’ hiring, Williams has talked only briefly about his time in Washington with local reporters. But after Wednesday’s game, Williams shared his memories of two years of as Nationals manager. After his firing Oct. 5, Williams declined to talk publicly about last season, not wanting to aggravate old wounds. Since his hiring by the Diamondbacks, Williams has talked only briefly about his time in Washington with local reporters. But after Wednesday’s game, Williams opened up about his memories of two years of as the Nationals’ manager.
“I did the best job I could do,” he said, at ease sitting on a bench outside the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse. “Tried to make the decisions that were appropriate on any given day.”“I did the best job I could do,” he said, at ease sitting on a bench outside the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse. “Tried to make the decisions that were appropriate on any given day.”
Then Williams stops himself. He is leery of rehashing incidents or player issues. “It doesn’t do anybody any good,” he said. He makes clear that he is at peace.Then Williams stops himself. He is leery of rehashing incidents or player issues. “It doesn’t do anybody any good,” he said. He makes clear that he is at peace.
“I loved the opportunity,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. Although it didn’t work out for us, I learned a lot. I grew to know and respect a lot of those guys over there. I can take that with me and help be a better coach to the guys I’m working with now.”“I loved the opportunity,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. Although it didn’t work out for us, I learned a lot. I grew to know and respect a lot of those guys over there. I can take that with me and help be a better coach to the guys I’m working with now.”
[After two seasons, Nationals fire Matt Williams][After two seasons, Nationals fire Matt Williams]
Still, the inability to meet the sky-high expectations the Nationals set for themselves still bothers Williams. Still, the inability to meet the expectations the Nationals set for themselves has stayed with him.
“There was opportunity for us and it didn’t happen,” he said. “I say that for a reason: it was us. The manager is one part of the team but everybody had great desire. … That desire, to get back to that point — whether it’s as the manager or the third base coach — to get back to a position to play in October and have a chance, that’s what burns inside me. I get a chance to do that under [manager] Chip [Hale] here, with this great staff, with these talented players and I’m excited about it.” “There was opportunity for us, and it didn’t happen,” Williams said. “I say that for a reason: It was us. The manager is one part of the team, but everybody had great desire. . . . That desire, to get back to that point — whether it’s as the manager or the third base coach — to get back to a position to play in October and have a chance, that’s what burns inside me. I get a chance to do that under [Manager Chip Hale] here, with this great staff, with these talented players, and I’m excited about it.”
Williams refuses to blame others for what happened to the once-promising 2015 season, but he concedes injuries — such as Stephen Strasburg, Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon — made it more difficult. And as he did late in the season, Williams declined to address the accusations leveled anonymously by players against him, his decisions, personality and the team’s chemistry, most notably in a Post series. Williams refuses to blame others for what happened to the once-promising 2015 season, but he concedes that injuries — to Stephen Strasburg, Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon — made matters more difficult. And as he did late in the season, Williams declined to address the accusations leveled anonymously by players against him, his decisions, his personality and the team’s chemistry, most notably in a series by The Post.
“The personalities on every club are different,” Williams said. “I can tell you that I had meetings with a lot of players that came into the office that said, ‘I didn’t say that.’ Whatever is written is written, and people can believe whatever they want to believe. I love every one of those guys. I respect each and every one of them for their effort.”“The personalities on every club are different,” Williams said. “I can tell you that I had meetings with a lot of players that came into the office that said, ‘I didn’t say that.’ Whatever is written is written, and people can believe whatever they want to believe. I love every one of those guys. I respect each and every one of them for their effort.”
Before Dusty Baker was hired by the Nationals in November, he called Williams — his former player and pupil — to give him a heads up about his interest in the vacant job.Before Dusty Baker was hired by the Nationals in November, he called Williams — his former player and pupil — to give him a heads up about his interest in the vacant job.
“Dusty and I have been friends for a long time so I wish him nothing but success, except when we play each other because we want to win,” Williams said. “He’s been a confidant for me, plus a coach and a manager. I respect him with everything that’s in me. The fact that he called and said that was a sign of respect and friendship.” “Dusty and I have been friends for a long time, so I wish him nothing but success, except when we play each other because we want to win,” Williams said. “He’s been a confidant for me, plus a coach and a manager. I respect him with everything that’s in me. The fact that he called and said that was a sign of respect and friendship.”
Once third base coach Andy Green left to become the Padres’ manager in October, Williams and the Diamondbacks talked about a reunion. Williams has known Hale since playing against each other in high school. Hale, who is entering his second year as a major league manager, said Williams has been a helpful sounding board. Once third base coach Andy Green left Arizona to become the Padres’ manager in October, Williams and the Diamondbacks began talking about a reunion. Williams has known Hale since the two played against each other in high school. And Hale, who is entering his second year as a major league manager, said Williams has been a helpful sounding board.
“I can call him any time if I feel like there’s an issue, whether it’s in the clubhouse, relating to people above or below us,” Hale said. “He’s a guy that’s been through it. You couldn’t have a better demeanor for what he’s doing right now. He’s loving what he’s doing and there’s a lot of energy out there.” “I can call him any time if I feel like there’s an issue, whether it’s in the clubhouse, relating to people above or below us,” Hale said. “He’s a guy that’s been through it. You couldn’t have a better demeanor for what he’s doing right now. He’s loving what he’s doing, and there’s a lot of energy out there.”
[How Matt Williams lost the Nationals clubhouse][How Matt Williams lost the Nationals clubhouse]
As he watched batting practice or hit groundballs to infielders on Wednesday morning, Williams joked with players. From afar with the New York Mets for the second half of last season, reliever Tyler Clippard watched injuries and clubhouse issues derail his former team. He said he could tell there was “some bad energy over there in D.C.” and he was sad to see friends struggle, and former coaches lose jobs. Now with the Diamondbacks, Clippard said he is happy to see a more relaxed Williams. As he watched batting practice and hit groundballs to infielders on Wednesday morning, Williams joked with players. From afar with the New York Mets for the second half of last season, reliever Tyler Clippard watched injuries and clubhouse issues derail his former team. He said he could tell there was “some bad energy over there in D.C.,” and he was sad to see friends struggle and former coaches lose jobs.
“He’s got a professional intensity about him but he knows when to let his guard down and let loose and joke around with the guys,’ Clippard said. “In this scenario where he isn’t the manager in Arizona, he gets a little more of an opportunity to do that with the guys. I like that. I’ve always liked that side of him and being around him.” Now with the Diamondbacks, Clippard said he is happy to see a more relaxed Williams.
In Arizona, Williams gets to work with a crop of young, promising infielders in Arizona, from Nick Ahmed to Chris Owings to Brandon Drury. He said he hopes he gets another chance to manage. Whether that happens is beyond his control, and whether teams are willing to give him a chance following the ups and down in Washington. “He’s got a professional intensity about him, but he knows when to let his guard down and let loose and joke around with the guys,’ Clippard said. “In this scenario where he isn’t the manager in Arizona, he gets a little more of an opportunity to do that with the guys. I like that. I’ve always liked that side of him and being around him.”
“I enjoy being on the field and working with players,” Williams said. “I love this game. Any opportunity that is presented to me I certainly would jump at it. That’s why I’m here. I’m here because somebody gave me that opportunity and I appreciate that very much.” With the Diamondbacks, Williams gets to work with a crop of young, promising infielders, from Nick Ahmed to Chris Owings to Brandon Drury. He said he hopes he gets another chance to manage. Whether that happens — whether teams are willing to give him a chance following the ups and down in Washington — is beyond his control.
“I enjoy being on the field and working with players,” Williams said. “I love this game. Any opportunity that is presented to me, I certainly would jump at it. That’s why I’m here. I’m here because somebody gave me that opportunity, and I appreciate that very much.”