The Washington Nationals Managerial Dilemma: On Manny Acta, and Passion

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jun 15, 2009 12:18 PM EDT

Today, I digress from my usual news-related postings to offer opinion on embattled manager Manny Acta, and the precarious position the organization has put him in.

Some people think that just because Manny Acta doesn’t scream and yell that he doesn’t have passion for the game and his team.

There is a very vocal segment of the fan base that is calling for Acta's head simply because he isn't jumping up and down screaming his fool head off. In other words, acting like Rob Dibble.

Acta (any MLB manager, for that matter) has more passion for what he’s doing than any of us making commentary about it. For us, baseball—this awful team—is a diversion from the mundane serial boredom of our everyday lives.

You think we have the right of be frustrated and disappointed about what's going on? Sure we do. But as a typical fan, we can't do anything about it, other than voice our opinion and scream at the TV every time something goes wrong.

But for Acta, it IS his life...

Acta is a very thoughtful person, contemplative by nature. It has not been his style to jump out of the dugout and argue with the umpires on bad calls. Should he argue more? That point is debatable. How effective is the manager of a last place team arguing?

Is some of it causal? Do the umpires know that Acta won't show them up, so they aren't on their toes as much, leading to missed calls? What about "protecting his players"? You see that thrown around a lot. But how many Nationals players have been ejected this season?

Imagine, for a moment, having your perfect dream job. Now imagine that your company was owned by the Lerners, continually doing things with the short-term in focus instead of forward thinking long-term goals.

Or if your direct boss had the word "acting" in front of his title and he/she always had to go over their own heads to get a decision made.

Or if someone you managed consistently wouldn’t listen to how you wanted things done and did things their own way.

How about if you're a widget maker, and personnel gives you three left widget makers when you need a left, center and right widget maker?

Think you could succeed in a job like that? Regardless of how much passion you had for that job?

Passion is a very personal thing. It's not fair to anyone to tell them how to be passionate about something. Because a person is contemplative by nature, should he be forced to display his emotion for our sake? Should it be a requisite for the job?

Acta is well-respected in baseball. He'll have another job very quickly after this one ends. He knows this.

But more than that, Acta is well-respected as a human being. He is a tireless worker, generous to a fault, and respectful to everyone he comes in contact with.

If the ownership group has already made the decision to make a change at manager as has been reported by multiple sources, they should show Acta the same respect he shows others in his daily life. Allowing a good man to twist in the wind is just the latest indignation of this ownership group, and unfortunately, just par for the course.

Remember, they couldn't even fire Jim Bowden. In his last, self-serving act, Bowden fell on his own sword.

Poll

Is manager Manny Acta getting a "fair shake" from the organization?

He's an employee, they can do what they want

62 votes

He's being treated unfairly and without respect

86 votes

148 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Do you think Clint Hurtle should have been fired?

I didn’t think so, but look what it did for the Rocks, it has definately lit a fire under their ass

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on Jun 15, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

it's a temporary salve

the bump after a firing is fairly common, but 20 games does not a change make.

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jun 15, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

it keeps me from throwing stuff at the tv for two weeks

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on Jun 15, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Can you edit the headline, NNN? It says Mangerial.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, Roscoe. - the Editor

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Jun 15, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you.

This has been my thought all along.

by Chris Pendley on Jun 15, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

BOWDEN!!

I’ll miss Manny when he’s managing the Mets and they finally make it to the post-season without choking. Maybe we’ll be a .400 team that year…

To be more generous to the ownership, they must realize that this season isn’t all, or even primarily, Manny’s fault—but they have to do… something… Maybe they’re trying to find some way to keep Acta.

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 15, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

I predict they'll pick up his option this week and all this talk will be for nothing.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh.

It’s that nasty press, like what made poor JimBo quit. That would be kind of awesome, I have to say. Then maybe we could trade him to the Mets for K-Rod before he becomes a free agent. Wait, or could we get picks for Manny? Is he at least a Type B manager? What are the prospects like in the 2010 Coaching Draft?

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 15, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Rigs
Randolph
Valentine
Hurdle
Yost
Girardi?
Wedge

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on Jun 15, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I would take Bobby Valentine. Way better press conferences. I love Dave Trembley's pressers.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Pass.

Maybe Girardi or Yost of that group, but they’re all mostly multi-retreads that have demonstrated enough incompetence that they shouldn’t be allowed within 25 feet of a dugout without a ticket.

by Chris Pendley on Jun 15, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

MASN reports...that there's nothing new to report.

http://masnsports.com/2009/06/acta-is-still-the-manager.html

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

The Nationals are considering Bobby Valentine, who has a history of transforming losing teams into winners. Valentine’s managing the Chiba Lotte Marines now, but they’re not expected to bring him back after the season ends in November. – Jon Heyman

Also said Rizzo is expected to get the GM job

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on Jun 15, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Isn't Bobby the yelling type?

by Berndaddy on Jun 15, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Not yelling, PASSIONATE!

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 15, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

depends on which disguise he is wearing

by Parks Smith on Jun 15, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d take Valentine or try to get Davey Johnson out of retirement.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it's funny. Bobby V. is like the opposite of Manny and both ex-Met coach/managers, ummh!

I don’t know if I like this re-tread. You kick the tires on this one and they punch you back… On the other hand Bobby is managing in Japan that’s got to mellow you out alittle, eh.

by Berndaddy on Jun 15, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Bobby V is a clown.

i’d LOVE to see Davey Johnson in the dugout again, even if it’s just to the end of the season.

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jun 15, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

C'mon, it would be great when he got tossed and showed up in the shades and fake stache...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Jun 15, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Ballad of Manny ( to the tune of Daniel by Elton john)

We use to see Manny manage his game
We’d hear the umpire’s calls but Manny would never turn blame, oh and
Manny would stand like a brick in wall
Oh gosh, it looks like Manny is just gonna stand like he don’t care at all

Oh now Manager Manny you weren’t here longer than Frank
Do you still feel the pain of the stars who out shine you
Did you ever cry or receive of shaving cream pie
Oh Manny you a star to your kids and your Mom maybe your wife…

Manny coached third base for the Mets
Back when his star was climbing but now Nats bullpen cooled his jets
Oh and the Nationals defense let him down
Oh darn it looks like Manny should have taken more practice out of town

(It could be better—-it could be worse…)

by Berndaddy on Jun 15, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

geen-yus

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jun 15, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

LeCroy....oh LeCroy.

Silver lining…managing the Hagerstown Suns…if you can call that a silver lining.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Anybody have any clue about this Horacio Ramirez person?

According to the International League transaction wire, the Nationals have signed Horacio Ramirez to the minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. Ramirez had a 5.96 ERA in 22.2 IP for the Royals this year before being designated for assignment just over a week ago.

From MLBTR

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

Oh god.

::stabbity::

He sucks. Like, sucks. Like, will make you long for the halycon days of Mike Bascik sucks. Like, career ERA+ of 93 sucks. And a career K/BB of 1.2. (1.5 is pretty much the lowest possible acceptable ratio to not suck.) A career K/9 of 4.12. He pitches to contact and walks too many guys to justify pitching to contact. He’s god-awful. Pray he never sniffs the ML roster.

He’s worse than Daniel Cabrera.

by Chris Pendley on Jun 15, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That last sentence seals it for me. Just a place filler in AAA for when the Nats sell off the veterans.

by RoscoeNats on Jun 15, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Who's buying their pitchers?

by Chris Pendley on Jun 15, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he is a Cabrera replacement?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

In AAA?

by Chris Pendley on Jun 15, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Got to give someone in the Chiefs some work to do.

Cant have a team full of pitchers with control…. coaches would be bored.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

excellent post NNN

well written and well said.

by vaclipper on Jun 15, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

I know I'll be laughing.....

This week the Nationals will hit dozens of home runs in that little league park. The team will sweep the Yankees and there 250 million dollar payroll. Manny will be carried off the field by a joyous group of Nats players( Elijah, Ryzim, Shairon, and Rigglemann(not to happy) This will begin a big run by the Nats to get right back in wild card contention. Manny’s contract will also be extended. Everybody wins: unless you are Rigglemann or the Nationals opponents.
Go Nats Go!
Go Nats Go!

by ryzim22 on Jun 15, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

I hope, but I doubt, that Teixeira's 0 for the series...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Jun 15, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

+0-for-series for Tex-Ra!

As much as I argued against Big Wilkie, didn’t I point out that he was a way better deal than Teixie? Slug ‘em into the dust, Dunn! That overpriced pee-wee field can’t hold the Donkey Ball!

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 16, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

by Doghouse on Jun 16, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey, DC took 2 of 3 last time they played the Yankees...in '06...

Tex is going 0-for!!!

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Jun 16, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions