Problem Solved? Randy St. Claire Out as Nationals Pitching Coach

The Nationals announced the firing of pitching coach Randy St. Claire on Tuesday, which doesn't come as much of a surprise when you see their 5.49 team ERA. The team told St. Claire on Monday night, and they'll have Steve McCatty working with their pitchers when they face the Giants in Washington.

While the move isn't surprising, it isn't particularly fair either. You'd need to be a miracle worker of the highest order to make something out of the slop merchants that the Nationals employ in their bullpen, especially playing in front of a terrible defense. Their rotation, while nothing to write home about, looks like it's headed in the right direction with the arrival of Ross Detwiler and Jordan Zimmermann.

St. Claire, to his credit, took it like a man.

"That's life. I've been in this game for 31 years. I've been fired before. But it's a tough one ... I would have liked to be around when the organization takes off. The pitching isn't performing up to where it needs to be to win, and I think a lot of factors go into it, but I guess I'm easier to replace than 12 guys. Easier to replace and cheaper to replace. But that's the game. When the team doesn't perform, they're bound to make changes."

The move isn't likely to cause much change in the Nationals' fortunes, but it could portend further changes in their dugout. Their 13-36 start has Manny Acta on the hot seat, and St. Claire's departure probably doesn't buy him all that much time to start showing better results before he also hits the unemployment line.

Take heart, Nats fans, just seven more days until you can call Stephen Strasburg's rights your own.