Washington manager Dave Martinez enters his new job knowing he'll be deemed a success only if he wins at least one playoff series in 2018.
A big part of ending one historic drought in Chicago, Martinez now moves on to Drought 2.0 in D.C.
After waiting years for a chance to slide over into the manager's chair, serving as Joe Maddon's wing man the last decade with the Rays and the Cubs, Martinez's time finally has arrived.
But instead of running a start-up with the built-in patience factor, the former Cubs bench coach won't be afforded the luxury of "growing into" his first managerial job. When spring training begins in Florida in February, the 53-year-old Martinez will be at the helm of a ready-made contender that once again should cruise to a National League East title and compete with the Dodgers and Cubs for a World Series reservation.
Dusty Baker did that the last two years in D.C., but still got bounced when the Nats couldn't take that next step to the National League Championship Series. Dave Johnson and Matt Williams failed to get there as well.
So why will Martinez be the outlier?
"He fills a lot of things we're looking for," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a young, energetic manager that's come from two analytically savvy organizations, but he also has an old-school way about him as far as playing 16 years in the big leagues.
"Doing all the research we did and talking to him and talking to all the guys around him, he was a guy that handles players well. He's handled star players and he's handled the 25th man on the roster, so he does a lot of things that really appeal to us."
Rizzo said having a Spanish-speaking manager also "is important to us, (as) five or six of our top 10 prospects are Latin players."
It's hard not to root for Martinez. We go back to 1987, when he was a rookie outfielder on the Cubs and I was in my first year of being part of the Chicago Tribune's baseball coverage after two years as Mike Royko's legman.
Martinez was dealt to the Expos in 1988, but our paths crossed again when he signed with the White Sox after the strike ended in the spring of '95. The Sox had an impulsive manager in Terry Bevington, who occasionally switched his corner outfielders, Martinez and Tim Raines, between innings. Once it paid off and saved a run.
"He had a hunch the guy was going to hit the ball to left," Martinez explained. "He wanted to have a stronger arm (Martinez) there so he swapped me and Tim Raines."
After writing that down on my notepad, I told Martinez it was ridiculous and just another example of over-managing by Bevington, a critical flop who was trying to keep his interim job.
"Why is it ridiculous?" Martinez replied. "If you have charts and a certain guy hits a ball a certain way and you want a better arm to try and cut off a run _ to me that's called winning baseball. He wants to do the best he can to win the game. I don't see anything wrong with that."
The flip-flopping of corner outfielders based on arm strength never caught on, but defensive shifting in the infield is now normal, and Martinez knew it was coming.
That brief interview is one reason I believe Martinez will succeed in Washington. Like Maddon, he's not afraid of trying something different, no matter how wacky is seems, and he isn't shy about politely telling reporters when they're misinformed.
Martinez learned a lot in his 16-year playing career, and grew even more as Maddon's sidekick. He also shares Maddon's absurdist sense of humor as well. It was Martinez who actually advised Addison Russell to bring a new tray of nachos to a Cardinals' fan in September after Russell's dive for a foul ball spilled the poor man's nachos.
The "Nacho Man" episode soon went viral, and everyone but Jon Lester _ who blamed it on society _ got a good laugh out of it.
During his introductory press conference in Washington, Martinez insisted he doesn't expect to change a bit now that he's the boss.
"Joe and I have been pretty successful together," he said. "I really believe that: Why change something that really works? I am very creative. We shared ideas together. I'll bring a lot of those ideas here. It's a whole different team, it's a whole different perspective here.
"So there might be little changes based on our players. But for the most part, we're going to be prepared, stick to the process. That's the biggest thing that I learned from Joe. It's a long season, and it's all about preparation and sticking to the process."
Martinez is fortunate to run a team that should have plenty of motivation in 2018, not the least of which is shedding its reputation as October chokers.
Bryce Harper will be entering his walk year, trying to show he's a $400 million player while coming off a .211 performance against the Cubs in the NL Division Series.
Max Scherzer will be vying for a fourth Cy Young, and trying to get over the disastrous relief outing in Game 5 of the NLDS _ the fateful fifth inning meltdown that ultimately cost Baker his job.
Stephen Strasburg will be seeking to fix his reputation after being labeled "soft" for seemingly begging out of an elimination game start against the Cubs while being "under the weather." (Strasburg made it, and dominated in the Nats' Game 4 win).
Adam Eaton will be returning from season-ending knee surgery in April, trying to become the Adam Eaton of old while moving to left field.
Though the offseason's still in its incubation stage, the Nats are expected to do only minor roster tweaking, adding a fifth starter, a couple middle relievers and some bench help.
Otherwise, the same basic cast of characters returns, with a new manager in Martinez and a revamped coaching staff that includes Henry Blanco as bullpen coach.
Despite his long-time connection with Maddon, don't look for a carbon copy with animals and costume parties and the like. Martinez is his own man, and will do things his own way in Washington.
But one thing Maddon and Martinez definitely have in common is both will do anything to win.
And I don't see anything wrong with that.
