Nationals manager ejected, enters submission for tirade of the year

A closer look showed just how epic Martinez's tirade was.

Thursday's blowup comes just one week after Martinez made headlines for breaking out a photo during a postgame interview following Washington's loss to the Houston Astros. Martinez was upset because the Astros scored the game-winning run after a throwing error on what would have been an inning-ending play, and the umpires didn't call Jake Meyers for possible interference on first baseman Michael Chavis while running down the line.

The former big-league outfielder is in his sixth season at the helm in the nation's capital and after going 82-80 in 2018, the team won the World Series in 2019. Since the title, the organization has seen the departure of stars like Juan Soto, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, which has coincided with a steady decline in success.

Martinez's crew went 26-34 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, dropped to 65-97 in 2021 and finished 55-107 in 2022, which was the franchise's most losses in a season since they lost 110 games as the Montreal Expos in 1969. Since finishing in first, second or third place in the NL East for nine straight seasons (including first or second from 2012-19), the team has had three consecutive last-place finishes.

Following their 5-3 loss on Thursday, last-place Washington is now 28-46 and 19.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves (47-26).