Martinez reflects on ejection and updates Eaton's status

A little over 24 hours have passed since Nationals manager Davey Martinez was ejected from the 3-2 loss to the Mets. Martinez was tossed for the first time in his managerial career, arguing against the ejection of third baseman Anthony Rendon by home plate umpire Marty Foster. Since that incident on the field, Martinez has had some time to reflect. And he has heard and read a lot about the ejection on his phone and on television.

"It was all over the news," Martinez said. "I'm not typically like that, as you guys know. But I do have that side of me every now and then which I don't like. Unfortunately, you got to do what you got to do.

"I got text messages all night and all morning long. My kids said it's OK dad, there's always tomorrow. So, I said, 'oh, that's good'."

Martinez said in his 16-plus year career as a player, and then as a bench coach for 10 seasons, he has only been ejected from a game a handful of times.

"I think in my whole career, coaching and everything, I've been thrown out five times, which isn't bad," Martinez said. "I try to be reasonable but there's times where reason doesn't matter."

Martinez said that moment where he charges out to home plate to argue the call on the field is a moment where emotion just takes over.

"You don't think about it but for me you really lose your mind," Martinez said. "You know? You are just out there and you try to put things in perspective but perspective goes away really fast."

Right fielder Bryce Harper commented after the game how he appreciated his manager fighting for the team and what an admirable trait that is for his boss to possess. After the game, Martinez said it was important to send the message to his players why he did it and what they mean to him.

"I try to make peace with myself for the rest of the game," Martinez said. "But after the game it's more consoling the guys, and say 'hey, we're going to be fine, don't worry about nothing'. They are giving 100 percent. We stole some bases yesterday, we did some good things. Just keep playing, we're going to be fine."

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Left fielder Adam Eaton returns to the starting lineup Sunday night as the leadoff hitter. Saturday he came in as a pinch-hitter. Thursday Eaton left in the middle of the game after diving to home plate for a run and tweaking his ankle.

Manager Davey Martinez said they are managing Eaton's time on the field as he recovers from off season major knee surgery.

"We have a conversation every day," Martinez said of Eaton. "Last night after the game he said he felt good. I told him, 'well prepare to play and if you come in and you can't then let me know' but he was rip-raring to go."

Eaton has been excited and anxious to play every game, but Martinez also sees a big picture here with Eaton. The skipper is trying to bring his left fielder back slowly from the May surgery with the ultimate goal of having Eaton playing well into September and October, healthy.

"You want him to get his four or five at-bats every day but we know where we are with him," Martinez said. "We want to keep him healthy for the whole year. So far, he's played a lot more than what I thought he would. We're going to give him those days off just to keep him healthy."

And Martinez said it's tough to sit Eaton, or any player, when they are contributing - especially at this time with Nationals attempting to stop a four-game losing streak - a streak where the club has managed only 11 runs and just five runs in their last three games.

"It is hard," Martinez acknowledged. "He's a guy that gets us going, but the day he doesn't play -- yesterday (Trea) Turner led off with a bunt and a stolen base. I was really pleased with that. We definitely want him out there but we know where we are at with him. So, we definitely have to give him days off."