Nationals fire Matt Williams, coaching staff

The Washington Nationals have fired manager Matt Williams, as James Wagner of the Washington Post first reported Monday. 

The team has since announced Williams' firing in a press release, while also announcing that the rest of Williams' coaching staff has been relieved of their duties as well. 

Williams' firing has long been expected. The Nationals' 2015 season was supposed to be their best yet, with many experts picking them to win the World Series. The team not only did not qualify for the postseason, but posted their worst record since 2011. 

Many around and inside the game felt Williams' communication with the players and his decision-making skills were both subpar, which ultimately lead to the fall of the Nationals, and now,  his firing.  

Both these issues were highlighted just a few weeks ago, when Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon confronted one another, with the latter strangling the former. Not only did Williams not see the argument, he promptly put Papelbon in the game. Papelbon blew the tie game and took the loss. 

Williams was named the Nationals' manager prior to the 2014 season. He was signed to a two-year deal with a team option for 2016, which the team exercised back in February. 

The 49-year-old Williams went 96-66 in his first year as manager, leading him to be named the National League Manager of the Year. This season, however, the Nationals struggled to a 83-79 record, finishing in second in the NL East.

​--Devan Fink

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