A Fond Farewell For the Fired Manny Acta
It may be cliche’, but it truly was nice knowing Manny Acta, MLB’s nicest guy and it’s most undeserving fall guy since Joe Torre in New York.
Usually when a coach or a manager is dismissed, it’s because a team that should be competing is not responding to the motivational tactics of its skipper. Players who have otherwise demonstrated talent and discipline, have tuned out strategy and insight, and since their contracts aren’t easily moved, the next best thing is to get a fresh face in the big office.
But that wasn’t the case with Acta, who in three years piloted a doomed ship through incessant injuries and bad play, and smiled as the barge continued to sink. The Washington Nationals have failed at almost every level of administration and execution, on and off the field. Acta had to be fired, but joining the ranks of dismissed local coaches is less of a dubious distinction for him.
He was never put in a position to do anything but fail.
His front office was embroiled in scandal, his pitching staff was approaching historically-bad levels of performance, and despite having some hitting talent in his lineup, the team is not built to score five or more runs every night.
There was never a question of if Manny Acta would be fired, only when. We have no choice but to look to a future of years of rebuilding, likely to occur under two or more managers in the future. So in a way, it is a sweet release for Acta. He’ll get another job. He’ll be respected for hanging in with a doomed situation, and be rewarded with another ship to steer one day.
The Nationals? They’ll continue to FAIL, and we’ll continue to hang our heads in disgust. Everybody except for this guy, who is rejoicing in the fulfillment of a season-long prophecy.
Just another day in the circle of life for Washington sports, huh?
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