ESPN Deportes was first on the story in the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning. The Washington Nationals fired manage Manny Acta as the team headed into the All-Star break with a major league worst 26-61 record. It was not a shocking move as rumors of his firing have been out there for quite some time.
Acta was in a no-win situation with a poorly constructed team but there was little to no chance he was coming back in 2010. The Nationals had not picked up his option for next year and given the horrendous stretch between 2008 to present, it was a foregone conclusion that whomever the new GM was going to be was likely to move in a new direction with his guy. I have no doubt that Acta will resurface someplace else in the near future. Most likely as a bench coach but a second tour of duty as a manager is going to happen.
He was not the right guy for this situation (to be honest, no one really is/was). His calm and even-keeled nature with a team that made mental and physical errors practically every game came across as complacency and ambivalence. While a bit more fire might have helped in the near term, it was not Acta’s style to be that guy.
Replacing him as manager is bench coach Jim Riggleman.
My feelings on this selection are crystal clear.
Pointless.
Riggleman is a retread. His career record is 522-652 in three stops (San Diego, Cubs, & Seattle). He’s had only two winning seasons (and one of those was a 73-71 in 1995).
He appears to be a placeholder interim manager for the rest of 2009. And I honestly hate the move. He brings nothing to the table aside from a warm body. He is not the long term answer as manager and I see no reason for the selection.
If the Nationals felt that a move was necessary why not go with one of their minor league managers? Tim Foli in Syracuse, John Stearns in Harrisburg, Trent Jewett in Potomac or bullpen coach Randy Knorr are better selections.
None of those guys are hot managerial commodities but any of them would have been a better choice than Riggleman. Why not see how players react to guys who have been tasked to develop the future Nationals?
It seems that if they are going to have a guy manage out the season and then make wholesale changes, give a guy a chance to prove himself a candidate where it counts.
#1 by RD - July 13th, 2009 at 09:33
I feel bad for Manny. He really had a rough go here, and a lot of it wasn’t his fault. This team would be pushing .500 if not for the pathetic bullpen. The performance of the pen is not his fault. He’s tried every candidate he’s had in house and everyone has flopped. Not to mention he’s had 4 rookies in the starting r otation for pretty much the entire year.
He’ll get another job somehwere, and probably be a very solid manager.
#2 by John O’Connor - July 13th, 2009 at 09:41
If you’re blowing out Manny because of the repeated mental errors and the sense that the team has checked out, then why install the guy who has been Manny’s first lieutenant for the entire year?
What’s Riggleman done to bring some fire and attention to detail to the team?
#3 by dd - July 13th, 2009 at 10:09
Rizzo wants time to search options for next year. If he hired anyone else (Stearns, Foli, etc….) questions would arise whether they would be retained for next year. This way, everyone knows Riggleman will not get the job next year, while the team sets records of futility, and no expectations are placed on a “new” guy.
#4 by Nick - July 13th, 2009 at 10:10
While Manny was given very little to work with, the fact remains that he failed to adjust his managing style to type of team he was given. if you don’t have the big guns, stop waiting for the big inning and try winning by playing small ball – bunting, stealing, advancing runners, double switches, etc….That was what made Felipe Alou so great, even when he had nothing to work with, he still won by squeezing the most out of the players he had. As for Riggleman, well let’s just say it seems they didn’t want to risk losing out on Bryce Harper.
#5 by John - July 13th, 2009 at 10:43
I think they know this situation is so messed up that they want to give the new manager a fresh start from spring training.
The rest of this year is about dumping vets they don’t want, signing Strasburg and getting guys in their proper defensive positions.
They may also want Foli and want him to stay in Syracuse to help them win and have their prospects in a winning environment this year.
#6 by Dick - July 13th, 2009 at 10:44
They could make for a lots of things today by naming Rizzo General Manager!
#7 by Sue Dinem - July 13th, 2009 at 11:12
dd – FYI: The nats are only three wins away from avoiding the record for losses in a season. And to correct a common misnomer — like the Braves streak of 11 division titles — it’s not held by the Mets but by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.
#8 by sportsfan882 - July 13th, 2009 at 11:48
Brian, this move isn’t about Riggleman, it’s about getting one of the worst managers in baseball off this team. Acta is a disgrace in making baseball decisions and he does not make up for it in the locker room because he is too soft and does not hold players accountable.
Look at this roster. We should not be historically awful. Not a great team but no reason they shouldn’t be 10-15 games under or so.
#9 by Brian Oliver - July 13th, 2009 at 12:03
sf882 – But it is about Riggleman in part. You can replace Acta given the circumstances but Riggleman was the absolute wrong choice. He brings NOTHING to the table. Use this as an opportunity to see if John Stearns has the chops to be a major league manager.
#10 by dd - July 13th, 2009 at 12:09
sue-Wow, the Cleveland Spiders!! Did some checking up: They had Cy Young till 1898.
#11 by Suns Fan - July 13th, 2009 at 12:10
Darnell Coles deserves a shot. I think he’s the right type of guy for the situation the Nationals face.
#12 by Other Marc with a C - July 13th, 2009 at 12:48
Brian – I understand your point about Riggleman, but if you give Stearns the “chance” to manage this mess, don’t you risk getting him tarred with the stink of losing? Is this team really anyone’s “opportunity” to see if they have the chops to manage in the major leagues?
I prefer to keep them clean, let Riggleman have the stink, and keep if off of otherwise talented guys in the system.
#13 by Sec 204 Row H Seat 7 - July 13th, 2009 at 12:51
Brian,
My sentiments exactly. They could have kept Acta on until the end of the season. Of course, if the NATS go on a post all-star winning tear, you and I will have been proven wrong.
One question, do you think Kensing deserves another shot with NATS pen giving in post-demotion record at Syracuse?
#14 by Brian Oliver - July 13th, 2009 at 12:51
Other Marc – Perhaps though I don’t see it that way. I don’t believe this team’s stink would stick to a guy like Stearns. Give him the 75 games and see what comes of it.
Odds are that he will be moving on next year anyways. Either the new GM will want to bring in his guys or more likely Stearns will move to another organization in some capacity.
#15 by Real Fake Sports - July 13th, 2009 at 13:23
Some good comments. Why promote the bench coach? Get some fresh blood in there. This team isn’t going anywhere this season anyway.
#16 by sportsfan882 - July 13th, 2009 at 13:35
This season is a waste anyways. They will hire a candidate completely outside the organization in the off-season. It didn’t matter if they hired Stearns, Riggleman, or whoever to finish off this season.
We Want Bobby v!
#17 by SpringfieldFan - July 13th, 2009 at 13:50
Obviously it matters (on a number of levels) who they bring in as manager for the rest of the season. I have to agree with Brian that bringing someone up and giving them a shot as manager would send a very different message — a message that the team is looking to the future and looking to develop internal talent of all different types, which seems to be the message that today’s “letter to fans” is trying to make — than the promotion of Riggleman does. Seems like the written statement is at odds with the front office’s actions.
And no, “we” don’t want Bobby V. We really don’t.
#18 by Bill Wanner - July 13th, 2009 at 13:57
Lets get the house in order from the top first, We do have alot of promise, just need to pull some heads out of butts. I like the thought of Foli for next season, as long as new management have their heads on their shoulders. I agree with Springfield,, we DONT want or need booby v.
#19 by nats fan too - July 13th, 2009 at 14:08
Tim Foli is one of the least respected and most disliked people in baseball, the Nats DO NOT want him to be the manager. He will quite likely not be a leftover in the organization when all of the changes are made next fall.
#20 by Andrew F. - July 13th, 2009 at 14:13
Just another step in Rizzo separating himself and this organization from the Bowden era. He is undoing just about everything JimBo did. Zimmerman’s comments to Sheinin in Nats Journal about character guys was also interesting given that they seemed to be intended for two more Bowden guys in LMillz and Dukes.
While I’m not enthused with Riggleman by any stretch, I think I can see some kind of big picture here, even if it is only marginally less horrific than the current one. Undoing Bowden’s mess is only a start, and it’s going to be a pretty big job.
#21 by nationals fan - July 13th, 2009 at 15:46
WHat did Foli do for such a bad reputation? I think he is a good baseball man, as is Knorr and Coles too. However ,it will be a very difficult situation for anyone to take on.
#22 by Jeff E. - July 13th, 2009 at 15:59
Everyplayer develops street cred through the years….RIGGS is just a sacrificial lamb for the remainder of the year. Corrales comes back to help some of the catching corp. I am really surprised that kasten canned one of his own in St. Claire and did not start with the head and work down in the reclaying….can anybody tell I liked St. Claire..LOL!!!! Everybody west of Rockies knows that when D-backs really bring on the energy….Chip Hale is the true spirit out there under Melvin and now…white collar AJ Hinch…everybody is more turned on about the 16 year old phenom in Vegas compared to RIGGS…the stink of losing??? RIGGS had that in CHICAGO…a small market NL Central club which could not compete with PITT/MTL/PHIL/STL for years….yeah..MTL had better clubs than Cubs for years…Rizzo remaking nats into his nats….just trade Johnson and the expo cloud is almost removed except for the sweat equity guys in P&D corp….Mock- the ex-D-bax- up soon…even Chico may get another shot ( why?)…
#23 by Jeff E. - July 13th, 2009 at 16:24
Yeah, DD..and when Nap was in CLE- they were nicknamed the Naps…..perhaps that should be the Nats fans nickname at the park cause most are in naps by the 7th IP stretch….. I know many are crying more for Jessica Simpson getting dumped than Manny Acta! amen, Nick,…on Father Felipe turning water into wine in MTL……
#24 by Nick - July 13th, 2009 at 16:54
Jeff E – Come to think of it, this Nats squad is exactly the kind Felipe would be able to turn to gold – young, hungry and ready to prove people wrong. With the talent coming up, it won’t take long to turn it wround, but they cannot afford to make any more mistakes(Manny, Bowden, Rijo,etc….)
#25 by Tom - July 13th, 2009 at 21:20
Riggleman was specifically brought in as Manny insurance. I’ll bet he was told such in January when they hired him. If any of you watched him during ST he was just an observer, not an involved teacher. As bench coach I understand he was a listening ear.
He’s been just bidding his time waiting for the job to come open.
#26 by Jeff E. - July 13th, 2009 at 23:10
I know I have said this several times on here…that Colon deal wrecked the ex-pos/Nats for 10 years…..Selig and MLB29 sure shook the tree bare….Sizemore and Phillips ( who Frank Rob loved) would be so so GOOD right now….we cannot change the past except by drafting players with tool portfolios like them…..allow Rizzo to deal with Boros…bring in LaCava! I hear the beeping of the truck backing up…agree with Tom Boswell about rebuilding in his POST piece July 8th…..Dodgers could have some puppies for A plus or AA for Beimel and Villone ( Torre can use several bullpen arms)…if anybody needs some humor… read Bill ‘Spaceman” Lee’s 2007 book BASEBALL ECCENTRICS….#37 on several good teams in MTL…Nats could use some unsung heroes like Rodney Scott or Jerry White…lets go with Gonzo, Hernandez , Orr and Bynum for the next few months….deal harris, Christian, Nick, Kearns…see how Dunn feels playing in DC without his Cincy days buddy like Kearns did ….Bobby V….Japan loves you and needs you…sayanara on that idea…just cause he was involved with Bill Singer in that Messersmith deal….no…lets go REAL young…erase the “potential” athlete experiment….Milledge earlier…Dukes…bye bye…Manny Acta was not a mistake…the moving truck just arrived from MTL missing a few bodies who were in Anaheim, Cleveland and San Diego….Lerner just has to spend money more like Ted Turner than a tight lawyer…
#27 by Jeff E. - July 13th, 2009 at 23:12
PS: bring in Lacava and maybe Jim Fleming could be lured away from Marlins…
#28 by Jane - July 14th, 2009 at 05:44
Jim Tracy, current Colorado Rockies Manager, would have been the best choice for Manager, if he were still available. Jim always brings the best out in players!!
#29 by blueducgal - July 14th, 2009 at 07:23
I hope the nats truly have an “open audition” for the spot and not have already selected someone.
Does anyone know who is taking Riggleman’s spot on the bench??
#30 by Brian Oliver - July 14th, 2009 at 07:24
Pat Corrales is the new bench coach
#31 by e. ionni - July 14th, 2009 at 09:57
hopefully stearns leaves hbg., but big mistake to bring him to wash. hbg. has veteran players that make numerous base running mistakes, poor fielding decisions. looks like little league where everybody play any position. strike out to walk ratio high for hitters, only one player with double digit steals and failure to move runners or hit in clutch situations. pitching coach has done a great job with not alot of talent. if they have talent they move up fast.
#32 by Jeff E. - July 14th, 2009 at 17:24
I wonder if Stearns being a Boone connection has 75 games left in the org. also??? Stan Kasten was with the Atlanta Thrashers….enough said….
#33 by BinM - July 14th, 2009 at 19:38
I agree with sitemaster Brian on this one – Riggleman brings nothing to the table with this move. Oh sure, he can’t help but be more boisterous in defense of his “players” than Manny (the ultimate stoic/zen persona) was, but how many games does that win every year? In terms of actual in-game strategy (small-ball vs. 3-run HR or bullpen moves in a critical situation), it’s a relative wash, in my mind. I honestly hope he proves me wrong, for the sake of the big club; I just don’t see it happening.
#34 by BinM - July 14th, 2009 at 20:07
@nationals fan & nats fan too: Foli (as a player) was Larry Bowa lite; Did anything he could to win, could be prickly, sometimes fiery & loud as a persona, but floated around the league with a number of teams (MON, SF, NYM, PIT [2], CA, NYY), rather than spend the majority of his career with one team (PHI, CHC, NYM).
What is accomplished as a player has little to do with managerial skills, but what you are percieved as in your playing years can have an influence on the chances you get later in your career.
My point being, Foli probably deserves an interview at the end of 2009 for the full-time gig with the Nationals, along with some of the other names that have been mentioned (Valentine, Melvin, etc), but he isn’t quite ready for “the show”.