We knew this was going to happen, we just thought it was going to happen sooner:
In the middle of his third season as manager, Manny Acta has been fired by the Washington Nationals, a source with knowledge of the situation said tonight. Asked in an e-mail about his job status, Acta replied, simply, "Thanks for everything." Acta's Nationals made it to the all-star break with a 26-61 record, worst in the majors, finishing with six losses in their last seven games. During the first half, Acta's job status was the subject of much debate, and those in and out of the organization questioned whether his unfailingly patient approach matched the needs of a sloppy, error-prone team.
Overall, this is just the latest of several de-Bowdenification moves GM Mike Rizzo has made with this team. It's a good move. Acta, for all of his potential, has not seemed at all inspired in the past few months and some fresh air is needed. And now is as good a time as any to do it, mostly because his replacement -- who, if previous speculation is accurate, could be bench coach Jim Riggleman, on an interim basis -- will have a day or two to get his head about him before taking over.
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Manny will be in a Mets uni next year, meaning that the Razor Shines era in Flushing will be over!
This is well overdue. He was a bad manager from the get go. With no inspired baseball, he never got himself thrown out of a game, never got in anyones faces, never called anyone out or challenged anyone. You can't lead baseball players that way. Everyone needs a good kick it the rear in Washington. There is far more talent than the effort on that field. They should easily have 10-15 more wins, not over 500 by any means, but not worst team in baseball by 10 games either. Hopefully this starts a trend of improved baseball in DC. But honostly, i think thats 2 years away. I just hope we don't trade Dunn and Willingham. I think Nick Johnsons gone though for sure. Bring in Lou Panella to Washington when the Cubs fire him for the epic failure they will have this season!!!
Because we all know that MLB players desperately need to be "challenged". If only Manny had kicked dirt on one or two first-base umpires, the team would be just a few games away .500.
@j.ep - He has a valid point. You need to know that your managerial staff is there leading you. You need to know that your manager's got your back.
Acta just sat there like a bump on a log. He didn't seem to care. He got his paycheck and was content letting them coast along in last place. As a Nats fan, I'm glad he's gone.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Stan Kasten: "I had this great talk around the batting cage last night with Terry Francona, the young, possibly genius manager of the Boston Red Sox. And I said, 'Terry, I remember when you were a dummy as manager of the Phillies.' And he says, 'Stan, I promise you, I'm still a dummy, I just have better players.'"
The Nationals have no pitching (they have some talent but the kids are far too young to be relied upon) and have never had pitching and the ownership refuses to invest money on the team. Firing Manny is just a scapegoat maneuver for a poorly managed franchise from the top down.
A good man who will someday be a good manager. This was a no-win job.
Managing the Nationals is a darn near impossible situation. Unfortunatly for Acta he didnt even play the part of a concerned manager, the team is going to take on the personality of its leader and in this case the unemotional, seemingly uncaring attitude of Acta has resulted in a team full of players who are equally uncaring.
I was willing to give Manny one more year as he's been dealt with veterans who forget the fundamentals of baseball and have just been awful with errors and just bonehead plays.
Now the pitching is another story. So many opportunties to save the game and end up with a curly W only to lose it because of awful relievers.
The Nationals have no pitching (they have some talent but the kids are far too young to be relied upon) and have never had pitching and the ownership refuses to invest money on the team. Firing Manny is just a scapegoat maneuver for a poorly managed franchise from the top down.
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This statement is not entirely accurate. The owners tried to sign Texiera, and offered the same as the Yankees. They also just got the full reigns of ownership completed last year, with this offseason being the first that thet could spend on, but being first time owners, with a terrible front office, don't have a clue how to spend. They didn't try for a single quality pitcher, bullpen or starter. And some of the pitching is good, which is why its more frustrating. Lannon and Stammen are quality pitchers, with Mcdougal a solid closer. We just never close games. And the majority of the bullpen is horrible. Manny Acta is not a scapegoat if he puts in the worst bullpen pitchers at the worst time, never replaces anyone, doesn't demote the guys with 7 ERA to triple A, and doesn't make changes to the defense when we are leading. That and hes unmotivational is the very definition of a bad manager.
From what I can see, ALL these guys who call themselves baseball players NEED to go back to basics. I would practice them all till they dropped, or asked to go back to mommy. What a bunch of lazygood for nothing bos-ohs, If any of them are getting more than $50 a week, it's a crying shame.
I love these Nats fans -- those who remain, anyway -- who chide Acta for being "like a bump on a log," as if blowing a gasket every other game worked wonders for Frank Robinson. Thank the front office and ownership for the abysmal record, not Acta.
The front office made sure the Nationals are a below .500 team, but Manny Acta made sure their the worst in baseball by far. Frank Robinson made them mediocre. I think mediocre is better than worst in baseball by far dont you think...
With Frank Robinson they had even less talent then they do now, but some guys actually played with the same fire that Frank exhibited. These guys are better players than those on the Robinson teams, and they play much much worse.
No, I don't, and I hope that the Mets fire "Gangsta" Jerry at the end of the season and give Manny the job.
Again, from Stan Kasten, just a few weeks back: "I had this great talk around the batting cage last night with Terry Francona, the young, possibly genius manager of the Boston Red Sox. And I said, 'Terry, I remember when you were a dummy as manager of the Phillies.' And he says, 'Stan, I promise you, I'm still a dummy, I just have better players.'"
The difference between winning and losing in the majors is more than just a motivational speech (paging Herm Edwards).
Sure, Manny had some bad luck -- horrific bullpen when the starters were doing well, mediocre starting pitching when the bats came alive, etc. -- but the team that Bowden handed to him this season was awful.
Players are half of winning, and coaching is the other half. Terry Franconia won 2 World Series with great teams, but how many other managers especially in Boston had great teams and lost. Didn't Jimmy Williams get fired for keeping Pedro Martinez in when he was at 115 pitches when the Red Sox had the best bullpen in baseball. Last time i checked thats managing. And Acta doesn't know how to do that. Not yet. Then again Joe Torre failed for years even with decent teams. Now he has done well in both New York and LA. Only time will tell.
50/50? You are giving WAY too much credit to managers. (How did Casey Stengel go from managing a Yankee dynasty in the 50s to a 40-120 Mets team in '62? Did he suddenly lose his edge?) I don't doubt that they have a measure of influence in the clubhouse and deserve credit/blame for on-field tactics, but I would trust the National League All-Star Game squad in the hands of an amateur before giving Earl Weaver or Tony LaRussa the current Nats roster.
Nats are 28th in the league in total player payroll in 2009 -- one notch up from the #29 Pirates, so of course it's time to dump Acta. That'll fix it!
I wish the Astros would trade Cooper for Acta. They need a new manager, any manager, rather than the clueless Cooper.