What's Up With The Nats?

RYAN ZIMMERMAN AT BAT IN LOSS TO PITTSBURGH

A fun night out at the ballpark with friends, but not so much on the field. What's up with our team? Manager Davey Johnson, at his post-game press conference, called today one of the toughest he's faced in baseball. That's probably because of the firing of hitting coach Rick Eckstein, who will be replaced, starting tomorrow, by Rick Schu. It prompted one reporter to ask him a question related to his own job security, to which Johnson said he didn't "want to go there."

According to Adam Kilgore in The Washington Post, Johnson "disagreed with General Manager Mike Rizzo’s decision, telling Rizzo he could fire him instead if he wanted."

Here's my take at washingtonian.com.

TANYA PAI, MELISSA ROMERO AND SARAH ZLOTNICK

It's probably fair to say that fans in the stands tonight sensed a frustration among the players. I was in the second row behind the Nats dugout with my friends Tanya Pai, Melissa Romero and Sarah Zlotnick. Not alot of smiles as the players came and went. Maybe the new guy will bring a change of spirit and luck.