Bud Black gives Nats a manager who knows pitching

Many of the frustrations caused by former Nationals manager Matt Williams stemmed from his handling of the Nationals pitching staff - from top to bottom. Those concerns surfaced during controversial decisions in the 2014 National League Division Series, then carried over and lasted throughout the Nats' most recent disappointing campaign.

From pulling starters too early to old-school matchup approaches to overworking his bullpen, Williams never seemed to push the right buttons. When he approached the second half of the season without having ace Max Scherzer in line to start in either of the first two series against the Mets - the team the Nats were battling for the division crown - Williams proved he didn't have the feel or instincts to manage a pitching staff either.

So now Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo turns to Bud Black - a former major league starting pitcher - to lead his team beginning with the 2016 season, which presents a roster expected to be filled with turnover. It will be Black's second shot at managing in the big leagues. Over eight-plus seasons as skipper in San Diego, Black went 649-713 before he was fired back on June 15.

Many debate whether former pitchers are fully equipped to be managers in the majors. So Rizzo has taken a bit of a gamble on Black, who never led the Padres to the postseason. Only two other current managers - Boston's John Farrell and Cincinnati's Bryan Price - are former pitchers.

So there will be plenty of questions about how Black deals with the entire roster as well as offensive situations. But many of the most pressing decisions that await when Black is formally announced as manager next week deal with the pitching staff.

The Nationals will most likely lose right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister to free agency, leaving two open spots in a rotation that still boasts dominant righties Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg and left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Right-handers Tanner Roark and Joe Ross are the obvious candidates currently on the 40-man roster to become permanent mainstays in the rotation.

Ross was impressive during his rookie season and Black is familiar with the 22-year-old. Ross pitched in the Padres minor league system before being traded to Washington last December and his brother Tyson developed into a solid starting pitcher under Black after arriving in San Diego in 2013.

Top Nationals pitching prospect Lucas Giolito may find his way into the rotation in 2016 and Black will guide his entry to the big leagues.

But the biggest task facing Rizzo and Black this offseason will be a near overhaul of the bullpen. Dealing with closer Jonathan Papelbon - who has one year left on his contract - is the most pressing issue after the veteran attacked Bryce Harper in the dugout at the end of the season. Right-hander Drew Storen will probably be granted a change of scenery following a disastrous second half. The Nats are unlikely to pick up right-hander Casey Janssen's option and 39-year-old lefty Matt Thornton is a free agent.

Along with pitching coach Darren Balsley, the Padres finished second to only the Nats in 2014 with a 3.27 staff ERA. Before taking over as manager in San Diego, Black won a World Series ring as Anaheim's pitching coach in 2002.

So Black figures to clean up the Nationals' pitching concerns, but whether he will realize the playoffs for the first time as a skipper next season will depend on his ability to manage Harper and company and the entire game.