According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, citing baseball sources, the Nationals are set to fire manager Manny Acta. The ax could come as soon as an off-day on Monday, with the team preparing to start a series against the Yankees. According to the report, Acta would be replaced by bench coach Jim Riggleman.
The 40-year-old Acta has compiled a 147-231 record in two and a half seasons as manager and has led the club to a league-worst 15-43 mark this season. It's a real shame because Acta never had much talent to work with and guided a far-worse team to a 73-89 record in 2007. But after the firing of pitching coach Randy St. Claire earlier this month, and the selection of Stephen Strasburg this week, the organization seems desperate to carve out a new image. Acta is but a fall guy in a pretty misguided narrative.
The thing I don't understand is that if this story already leaked, why not just show the man some respect and let him go today instead of waiting until Monday? It's akin to firing Willie Randolph after letting him fly out and manage the first game of a West Coast trip. It's not like Riggleman doesn't know the players. He's the bench coach. Let him go already.
_
Leave a Comment:
Saving...
Bad move. Acta is a pretty decent manager, and it's not like it's his problem the team sucks. That's more due to the team's failure to field a single pitcher worthy of the major leagues.
Yes, because it's Manny Acta's fault that the National do not have a starter that could even be considered a number 3 on most teams. Their roster sucks, their 8 best hitters are 1B/OF...last I checked you can only play 4 of those types in the NL. Don't blame the cook for crappy steaks when you gave him squirrel to work with.
Riggleman has had 5 bad seasons,2 average seasons and 1 90 win season (in 1998 when Sosa had a career year) so he is not an elite Manager by any means but if he can show some passion and fire up the team then I am for the move.
The Nats won't get the results the Rockies (10 game win streak) have gotten from firing Hurdle but that is because the Nats have less talent and are in a tough division.
Also, the Nats have to face the elite AL East in interleague play,which makes it very tough to win.
Acta will get another chance hopefully. He can't be too picky, but he needs to hold out for a team that is at least trying to contend. It would be better to be a third base coach for a couple years than to rush into a job with a crappy team. As an Indians fan I'd be glad to have him replace Wedge.
Hey Nats fans, relax. As a Mets fan, things don't get much better for eons. The Mets have seen post season play maybe once in 25 years, and after the "Willie" firing episode, not a damn score nor stat has changed. But support your team anyway you can so you may have them around for your kids to enjoy.