Washington Nationals Replace Manny Acta with Jim Riggleman: Kasten, Rizzo Say Team "Underachieved" and "Unacceptable"

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jul 13, 2009 2:14 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals held a press conference today to distance themselves from fired manager Manny Acta, calling the team's performance to date "unacceptable" and that the talent they have been working "three hard years" to accumulate has "underachieved".

Rizzo spoke first, announcing that Jim Riggleman, veteran baseball manager and bench coach for the Nationals would assume the position of "interim" field manager and that Pat Corrales -- a long time Kasten lieutenant -- would take over as bench coach, a position he was fired from at the end of last season and replaced by Riggleman.

Citing a need for a "different feel" and a new voice in the clubhouse, the team turns to Riggleman, who has managed for San Diego, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. He took over as "interim" manager for the Mariners last season when they fired John MacLaren mid-way through the season.

Rizzo went out of his way to say that Acta had not "lost the team", but also was careful to say that the team "underachieved" this season, especially the defense and relief pitching. He went so far as to say that perhaps "a different voice presenting the same material" might make a difference.

Kasten called the first half of the season a "great disappointment" and that the organization would work toward "achieving stability" in the second half, noting the organization's strong disappointment in the instability.

Both executives lauded the strong young pitching staff as an area to build upon, but that the fundamentals need "a lot of work", and though they are satisfied with the level of effort, they were not happy with the execution and consistency.

So at the 2009 all-star break, the Washington Nationals have an "acting" general manager and an "interim" field manager. They fired their manager in the middle of the night before the all-star break and scheduled the press conference at a time they knew the regular print media would be unavailable due to travel constrictions.

Yet, they announce their disappointment with the instability within the organization. From a press release, to the fans of the Washington Nationals:

No one is more dissatisfied in the first half of the 2009 Washington Nationals season than we are. Like you, we had hoped that some of our younger players would have matured faster and that the addition of some of our new veterans would have significantly improved our record from a season ago. Our hope was that a solid club leadership would emerge on and off the field and that some intangible combinations would begin to click resulting in many winning streaks.

This organization has much deeper problems than the field manager. Kasten knows it. Rizzo knows it.

They can't catch the ball. The position players are not young (with the exception of Face of the Franchise Ryan Zimmerman). The starting pitchers are young, and still going through growing pains. The bullpen is full of players no one else in baseball wanted at the beginning of the season.

The young players that Jim Bowden lauded as building stones (Milledge, Dukes) have been shipped out, determined that their attitudes overcame their abilities. They failed to sign their number one draft pick last season, and are in jeopardy of the same this year.

The minor league system, destroyed by Major League Baseball under their stewardship in Montreal and the first two years in D.C., is only marginally better than when ownership took over. Their efforts in international scouting are non-existent, due to the Smiley Gonzalez fiasco and resultant FBI investigation into money skimming.

And this doesn't begin to take into account the dysfunction in and around Nationals Park.

But the ownership group is now out of scapegoats. Gone are Jim Bowden, Manny Acta, Randy St. Claire and Frank Robinson. It's all on Kasten now. The part owner/team president is the only one left to answer the questions.

Where to go now? There are two scenarios:

1) The team shows signs of life in the second half and the organization tries to further isolate themselves from Acta, lauding the change as a positive step toward the future.

2) There's no difference in the level of play on the field, and Kasten completely cleans house in the off-season.

Either way, the next two and a half weeks Rizzo will be concentrating on trying to get other teams to give the Nats anything of value for the few sellable parts the Nats have. Then, they have 17 days in August to sign Steven Strasburg.

It is only then, at midnight on August 17, that Nats fans will know where the team stands in relation to the following statement in their letter to fans:

When we bought the Washington Nationals in the middle of the 2006 season – just under three years ago – we committed to a patient, long term approach, building a strong farm system and core foundation that would deliver a perennial and consistent contender; to provide a second-to-none family entertainment value at Nationals Park; and to investment and involvement in the metropolitan Washington DC community. Today we remain steadfastly committed to each component of that mission. We are proud to represent the National Pastime in the Nation’s Capital, and we are proud to call the Capital area home.

We know we have a way to go, but the end result will be all the richer for the early days we’ve spent together at Nationals Park. We are getting better. We want you to be with us as the pieces of the puzzle come together. Your support is powerful to the Nationals and baseball in Washington. Thank you for your continuing patience and your commitment to a shared dream.

Because it won't matter a hill of beans who is managing this team if they fail to sign Strasburg. No one else will need to indict them, as their actions will finally, and certainly, speak for themselves.

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Comments

BOWDEN!!

"It's not a secret, you don't need to be an expert on math to know that walks plus errors equals runs...." --Mannyger Acta

by Doghouse on Jul 13, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

...AND SELIG!!

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

KASTEN!!!!!

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 Jul 13, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

MARCO !!!!

POLO !!!!

by Berndaddy on Jul 13, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!

by John Quinn on Jul 13, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Say, should we arrange a demonstration in middle August for the days approaching the Strasburg deadline? Something to make sure the Nats know we remamber?

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Just like the rest of the year we can't even remamber to remember or what ? Say it again..

Relax don…….

by Berndaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Dear Nats fans,

We feel your pain, I hope soon enough both of our teams can see brighter days.

Sincerely,
All Royals Fans

by kansasjhawk044 on Jul 13, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks ???

Oh yea, thanks….

by Berndaddy on Jul 13, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Nats-Royals world series 2011.

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Can we do it in two year Roscoe, can we?

by Berndaddy on Jul 13, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt it...but it'd be fun to think about.

All we need is a SS, 1B, 2B, SS and a couple outfielders.

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

...and an entire bullpen.

Plus a GM and a manager. But other than that, we’re all set.

"It's not a secret, you don't need to be an expert on math to know that walks plus errors equals runs...." --Mannyger Acta

by Doghouse on Jul 13, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah...and what Mr. House said.

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I say yes to the play offs in 2 years

but we would need two dominating middle infielders, resign NJ, and lots of health to do it. Other than that we have most of the talent we need in place. It just need experience.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Jul 13, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Somebody tell Dave at NNN that Strassburg

is not god and wont be a major reason this team turns around. We have tons of young pitchers who have proven ability, so Strassburg right now can only provide depth. If we fail to sign him, them next season we could sign something we need such as a dominating middle infielder in the #2 slot. Sure Strassburg might be a future Cy Young, but based on the histories of all the past drafted " first overall best prospect ever pitchers" the odds of him winning one Cy Young is about 1%. The odds of him winning 15 games once is about 20%. The odds of him having a 15 year career is about 5%. So signing strassburg to huge money may hurt the team more likely than help. Never forget that hype always damages potential. That is why the best players come as often from the 20-30th draft rounds as they do the first.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Jul 13, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

I think you're underestimating the reaction fans will have...

…if the Nationals don’t sign Strasburg…and it has nothing to do with whether or not he pans out…many fans, myself included were furious when they let a relatively small pile of cash get between themselves and Aaron Crow, and he was just considered the best right-hander available, not the best prospect in years or ever or however dramatic you want to get…whether or not he pans out is sadly beside the point…they have to start showing fans that all the suffering is worthwhile because it will pay off in the end…

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 Jul 13, 2009 8:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Brian, i respect your opinion, however...

this organization needs to prove to itself, the fans, the current players, any future potential free agents and Bud Selig himself that they are interested in becoming a winning Major League Baseball franchise, not just merely content on owning a Major League franchise.

not signing your number one pick two years in a row is a particularly damning statement that says “We don’t give a damn about fielding a winner, we only want to talk about it and look like we do.”

i don’t think that Strasburg is a god. hell, he might not ever take the mound for this organization. but you don’t draft the consensus overall number one player if you don’t plan on doing what it takes to sign him — then not sign him.

and according to one source, the two sides haven’t spoken since the day the Nats drafted him.

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

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jul 13, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate to appear a bandwagoner but I’m going to have to agree with Ed and Dave here. The Nats don’t absolutely need Strasburg the way they need reliable position players who can hit, but I think the most important thing is the fans. By not signing him, they send the wrong message, particularly because they would have done the same thing two years in a row. By signing him they show that they really are interested in improvement, and are willing to pay for it.

Strasburg, if he turns out to be even half as good as they say he will, will be a real moneymaker for the Nationals, because fans will come out to see him play. They’ll buy his jerseys, and watch him on TV. Of course, this is all assuming that he turns out to be the player the Nationals think he’ll be, but if they don’t sign him they’ll never know.

by John Quinn on Jul 13, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

And it's not just the fans...

…Nats don’t sign Strasburg this year, how likely are they to sign Bryce Harper (or whatever awesomely-desirable position players are at #1 and #1A) next year? Who will sign a free agent deal with a franchise that fumbles two #1 picks in a row? The “loser tax” will become high to pay for [insert expensive government program].

"It's not a secret, you don't need to be an expert on math to know that walks plus errors equals runs...." --Mannyger Acta

by Doghouse on Jul 13, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus the 2nd #1 pick...

…or “#1A” as you label it, would have unprecedented leverage…If the Nationals don’t sign him they would lose the “Strasburg-pick” as I’m sure we’d all be calling it by then…

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 Jul 13, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

All I can say is...sign Strasburg or lose all your fans.

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea but I take his point

Im not sure blowing $50m on Strasburg is going to help us either. We should try to sign him but I dont think its at any cost.

I think its a terrible lose-lose-maybe win situation for the Nats. If they sign him for a fortune and he fails – they look like complete goats. If they dont sign him they look unambitous. If they sign him and he becomes anything less than a Cy Young winner within 2 seasons and they still look silly. Oh to be a GM

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

by Mezza on Jul 13, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, sign Strasburg within reason. $20,000,000 or less. I think that double the highest bonus ever paid should be sufficient.

by RoscoeNats on Jul 13, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose there's a chance they could get away with not signing...

…if it comes out that Stras’ demands are totally wacky or something. I don’t know what, exactly, they’d have to be in order for the Nats to “get away” with not signing him. I’d rather not find out.

"It's not a secret, you don't need to be an expert on math to know that walks plus errors equals runs...." --Mannyger Acta

by Doghouse on Jul 13, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Id like to see him signed – early too…I think it would send a good message. But I dont think it can be a $50m message.

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

by Mezza on Jul 13, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be the figure id be sticking to as well Roscoe…but I do think its a high-risk/high-reward kinda deal. I feel like the Nats are sticking all their chips on a red part of the roulette wheel in Vagas and saying…“let it ride”.

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

by Mezza on Jul 13, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions