Nationals dismiss Acta as manager - 07/13/09

Nationals dismiss Acta as manager
Announcement expected to be made early today

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

07/13/09 1:55 AM ET

HOUSTON -- About five hours after losing their 61st game of the season, the Nationals dismissed Manny Acta as their manager on Sunday night, according to multiple sources. An announcement is expected as early as today.

Acta learned about his dismissal at Nationals Park after the team arrived from Houston at Dulles Airport in Washington. Team president Stan Kasten gave Acta the news. Acta then went into his office, packed his things and said goodbye to some of his players.

"I thank the Nationals for giving me this opportunity, and I'm sorry that things didn't work out as expected," Acta told ESPN Deportes. "It's normal for the manager to pay the price when the team is not doing well."

According to a source, bench coach Jim Riggleman will replace Acta as the Nationals' manager.

This will be Riggleman's fourth managerial job. He managed the Padres (1992-94), Cubs (1995-99) and Mariners (2008) and has a 522-652 record. His best season as a manager was in 1998 when he guided Chicago to the playoffs after the Cubs won a Wild Card tiebreaker over the Giants. The team lost to the Braves in the National League Division Series, 3-0.

Riggleman is scheduled to have a workout with the team at Nationals Park on Wednesday evening.

Acta managed the Nationals for two-plus seasons and compiled a 158-252 record in his first managerial job. This year, the team had a 26-61 record, the worst in baseball. The Nationals have the youngest starting rotation in baseball -- all five pitchers are 25 years old or younger. But it was a struggling bullpen and a porous defense that were the major reasons for the disappointing record.

A published report from FOXSports.com on June 13 said Acta was going to be dismissed, but acting general manager Mike Rizzo said the report was unfounded at the time.

According to one source, the Nationals have contemplated letting Acta go since late May but decided first to relieve Randy St. Claire of his duties as pitching coach on June 2. Washington hired Steve McCatty to replace St. Claire.

Acta, Kasten and Rizzo could not be reached for comment.

After Sunday's game, Acta was optimistic that the team could turn it around under his leadership after the All-Star Break.

"We are going to play better in the second half,'' Acta said. "I have no doubt about it. We are already better the last month or so. We are headed in a better direction.

"The first month and a half of the season we felt we were winning once a week, maybe. Since we started that series [winning two out of three against the Yankees], we were right in there. I feel we are going to play a lot better."

The Nationals will now try to get better under Riggleman.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

That sucks!


I want to see the Nats lose 100 games

Keep on Losing Nats