The departure of Manny Acta as Nationals manager at the All-Star Break was not a huge surprise. I thought he might survive after Stan Kasten’s remarks a couple of weeks earlier at the National Press Club but in retrospect, I’m sure the die was already cast.
It’s been interesting to read some of the comments I’ve received from fans who either love the move or hate it. It’s apparent that many people aren’t sure what a major league manager really does.
“Manny wasn’t a good teacher. The players made too many errors and baserunning mistakes. He should’ve taught them better … ”
Here’s a surprise: On the big league level, a manager is not expected to teach. That’s what the minor leagues are for. That so many players arrived with so many bad work habits can not be laid to the manager, regardless of who that may be.
I had this discussion recently with Rick Dempsey, whose resume includes all or parts of 24 seasons as a player, and many more as a coach and minor league manager.
“You see it all the time, guys brought up with terrible playing habits,” he said. “A lot of clubs leave the bigger prospects alone, and by the time they get here, it’s too late to change them,” he told me. “The mistakes just continue, and the manager has too much else to worry about.”
“Manny wasn’t fiery enough. He didn’t defend his players when the umpires blew a call. He accepted losing …”
Quite some time ago, I spoke with Manny about his reluctance to engage umpires face-to-face, and he told me that his experience in the minor leagues taught him better.
“I was a big time holler-and-scream guy, and I got tossed from a lot of games,” he said. “It never seemed to get my team any breaks, and my employer [Houston] asked me to try and tone it down. I’ll get a few words in between innings.”
If you watched this club in person, you know what he’s talking about. Those conversations never made it on TV. It’s also worth pointing out that most managers these days take the calmer approach. Even Lou Piniella has chilled out quite a bit.
“Manny never called out his players for indifferent play. He was too soft …”
In as much as I’ve rarely, if ever, heard a manager call out one of his own players publicly in 35 years of covering this game, I wonder why anyone would expect Manny to be any different. I know, from some guys who’ve worn the uniform over the past 3 years, that he’s reamed out several players in his office for lackluster play. No camera or microphones there.
Manny will manage again I’m sure. I’m also sure that Jim Riggleman is a solid baseball lifer, who was pretty much on the same page with Manny. It almost doesn’t matter what he accomplishes between now and October; I’m quite sure the club will look elsewhere.
Jim went through the same thing in Seattle last year. He knows how the game works.
Phil Wood is a contributor to Nats Xtra on MASN. Contact him at philwood@
washingtonexaminer.com.
