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Preface: Huge shoutouts to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports, and Jamal Collier of MLB.com, who all kindly recorded video of this event and made this article possible.
When Davey Martinez earned the job of manager for the Nationals, both he and the Lerner family promised that Spring Training and the season overall would be more fun — both for the team and the fans.
At the beginning, it was unclear how Martinez would achieve that goal — but when he brought camels to West Palm Beach for the Nats to get “over the hump,” things got a little more tangible and clear.
Today, Martinez had some fun again — by instating a golf chipping competition before practice on Friday.
The Nats are having a chipping competition before workouts this morning. Those balloons mark the hole, which they can’t see from the turf field where they’re hitting. pic.twitter.com/yVkJAvwng5
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Martinez wasn’t messing around — he added caddies to the picture as well.
They got Bob Henley a caddie outfit. pic.twitter.com/hof7D5juGl
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
#Nats are about to begin a golf challenge. Everyone had to hit a shot off the agility field, over the bullpen, into a circle on a practice field. Supposedly 120 yards away but @ThomasBoswellWP assured us it’s actually 102. pic.twitter.com/jviwyFRhMC
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 16, 2018
The Nats are having a chipping contest today. Music from Caddyshack is playing and Bob Henley is dressed in a caddie outfit
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) March 16, 2018
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) March 16, 2018
Apparently, John Smoltz — who just happened to be around — got involved too.
Somebody just picked John Smoltz, here working for MLB Network, to be on their team in the chipping competition. Henley asked him to take the ceremonial first shot.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Tough to see, but they painted a bullseye on the field as the target. Dave Martinez is taking this very seriously. pic.twitter.com/o4Uxuvrklc
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Bob Henley giving directions: “Heckling: Allowed. Encouraged.” pic.twitter.com/k3I2KPoxh5
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Air horns to tell the chippers—who didn’t know where their shots were landing—how they fared? You bethca.
John Smoltz kicks it off. Turn your sound on. pic.twitter.com/utWxxpufXN
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Everyone from Wilmer Difo to Bryce Harper to Victor Robles to Max Scherzer got involved.
Difo tried. Everyone yelled “cuatro!” pic.twitter.com/8SWPME3tAh
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Bryce. pic.twitter.com/YJo1YbTbOC
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Scherzer just hit the bullseye, which I’m sure he’ll never bring up again ever.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Robles, who has never golfed before. pic.twitter.com/sQAO8lzALk
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
It ultimately all came down to Joe Ross for Team Scherzer, who pulled out the victory.
Joe Ross was the extra man for team Scherzer, with a chance to win it... one horn for one point, two for the next closest circle, three for a bullseye... pic.twitter.com/9GCYJasqpy
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2018
Joe Ross’ 3-horn bullseye beats Ryan Madson’s 2-horn near-bullseye in the shoot-off to end the contest. pic.twitter.com/apBBfg9ELf
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 16, 2018
From the tweets and videos, it seemed that the team was enjoying the tournament — however, it’s still unclear if the change in preseason demeanor will have any tangible effect on the end result of the season, which Martinez believes should be a World Series parade.