New voice and new leader for Nationals must meld clubhouse personalities to succeed

The 2015 season came crumbling down for the Nationals despite having an extremely talented roster returning from a divisional title season. Injuries, bullpen issues, leadership and communication from the manager were many of the reasons why this promising season got untracked.

On Monday morning, Matt Williams was dismissed as manager of the Nationals, one season removed from 96 wins and a National League Manager of the Year award.

The Nationals stumbled to only 83 wins in 2015, playing well against sub-.500 clubs but unable to earn wins against top teams in crucial moments.

Williams made curious by-the-book decisions with his bullpen on when to pull starters, leaving left-handers in after they were able to get a left-handed hitter out but then letting them ride against a right-handed batter. You don't have to call for a bunt in every end-of-game scenario.

Sometimes with less than two outs, you can let your free-swinging power infielder do just that, swing for the fences. Like a quarterback throwing for a touchdown with one last heave on third down, going for the win right here and right now, knowing you have the sure-money field goal kicker and a great defense waiting to give you the points needed to win it another way, too.

His decision to pull starter, and arguably hottest pitcher in the league, Jordan Zimmermann, in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS through 8 2/3 innings was one of the first signals that his feel for the job was overwhelmed by his need to play the numbers.

As the 2015 season lost momentum, published reports described a lost clubhouse, with his interpersonal communication skill with players questioned.

The most public example was his decision late this season to allow closer Jonathan Papelbon back in a game to pitch after the fiery hurler had got into a physical altercation and choked the Nationals best offensive player Bryce Harper in his dugout, some 35 feet from where he stood.

Williams did not see the altercation and did not ask the depth of the scrum, and his lieutenants did not let him know the extent of the fight in the moments before the ninth inning commenced. He admitted the mistake the next day.

With Williams' dismissal, the Nationals are desperate for a new voice from a new manager, but will also need those in the clubhouse to step into leadership roles. This becomes even more critical with the likely departure of homegrown veteran players Ian Desmond and Zimmermann, who have been leaders on and off the field since their arrival in D.C.

Max Scherzer and even 22-year-old Harper have stepped into vocal leaderships roles to parallel their abilities to lead by example on the diamond. But Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth also must redouble their efforts, too, and become more active in the clubhouse as the two veterans who have knowledge of how this team can operate when they are at the top of their game.

It is a spot that is crucial to the culture of this clubhouse to maintain cohesion. Young players like Trea Turner, Michael A. Taylor and Joe Ross will look up to these veterans to step up.

The veterans need to make sure that this team has better communication and an open-door policy with their new manager. It is a two-way street. It is not all Williams' fault that the cohesiveness expected in the brotherhood of a major league clubhouse became stilted.

But the new manager for the Nationals has to be a person who has experience in dealing with how to maintain a clubhouse, a clubhouse that communicates well and plays for their manager, but also has respect for that leader.

The list of potential candidates is not limited, but here are some possibilities:

Dave Martinez, the bench coach for the Chicago Cubs, reportedly interviewed well two years ago when Williams got the job in D.C.

Billy Gardner Jr., has managed in the minor leagues for 21 consecutive seasons. He is currently the Nationals' Triple-A manager in Syracuse.

Bud Black, Ron Gardenhire and Cal Ripken Jr. are other names that have been mentioned.

With Williams' dismissal, one major issue that needs to be resolved for the next Nationals skipper to be a success - for the team, the clubhouse and the manager himself - is to improve communication. Unhindered communication between player and manager builds respect.

It's a big step in getting a talented ball club to return to the success they had just 365 days ago.