As it did for general manager Jim Bowden — and even pitching coach Randy St. Claire earlier this month — the countdown begins for Nationals manager Manny Acta.
A man who still has plenty of supporters in the front office just won’t be able to last much longer if the losses continue to mount. A FOX Sports report on Saturday afternoon has the Nats making a change by Monday — a move team president Stan Kasten would not confirm over the weekend. Acta did board the team plane Sunday night bound for New York and a three-game series against the Yankees that begins Tuesday. But his job status clearly is shaky. There are plenty of reasons why firing Acta is justifiable — and even a few to keep him around.
Recommended Stories
Pros No manager can survive a 148-236 record over two-plus seasons. Acta hasn’t been given much to work with. But he also hasn’t done much with what he’s had during that time. He is a patient man and he’s needed to be. But there are some around baseball who think he’s patient to a fault. Acta won’t apologize for that. But at this point the approach clearly isn’t working. Privately, Nats players respect Acta. But the record is so horrendous some team officials think a change is needed just to establish some accountability.
Cons What could any manager realistically accomplish with the rosters Acta has been given over the last three years? The Nats won 73 games in his first year — far more than expected. They dropped to 59 games in 2008 thanks to a rash of injuries that crippled the lineup. This year’s team was supposed to be better. But an awful two months from the bullpen destroyed any chance the Nats had of becoming decent. With the season already gone, some ask, why fire a man so many people think could still turn into one of the game’s better managers? Why let another team reap the benefits of Acta’s experience in Washington? One thing is clear — the players haven’t quit on him yet. That alone is enough reason to keep Acta around for the summer and then make a decision. His contract is up at the end of the season.
