Nats' Martinez clarifies comments about players: 'Never about them'

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said he wasn't specifically blaming his players when discussing the club's offensive struggles with reporters amid a seven-game losing skid.

Martinez appeared to take aim at his team Saturday when he said "you got to put the onus on the players" and that "it's never on coaching." However, he clarified his remarks Sunday.

"They were great. I talked to a lot of them already. ... Hey, it wasn't on them, right?" Martinez said, according to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. "My comments were nothing about them. They know that. They read through it. ... The clubhouse is about as good as it's ever been."

He added: "Was never about them, right? I never mentioned anything about players, right? I played. I understand how hard this game is. They know that."

Martinez acknowledged he was questioned about the coaching staff's role in turning the club's fortunes around.

"They asked about the coaches. 'Do you put the blame on the coaches?' No, I don't," the 60-year-old skipper said.

Washington's bats have scored just 30 runs in 12 games in June.