Let’s just say it — the Washington Nationals appear clueless.
Firing manager Manny Acta won’t make any noticeable difference. The Nats may still finish with baseball’s worst record ever.
Everybody has hope in the season’s second half that starts Thursday, said President Obama during the All-Star Game on Tuesday before adding, “Except the Nationals.”
Sorry, it’s hard to take baseball advice from someone who throws like a beer league rainbow pitcher and wears a Chicago White Sox jacket. The Nats shouldn’t need nearly a century to win a World Series, unlike the south side team. First the president stiffs Nats fans on Opening Day and now he stiff armed them on national TV by saying everyone’s great but you guys.
But the Nats deserved the high hard one. The Lerner family has squandered a wonderful chance of reviving baseball, instead turning it into a joke.
Commissioner Bud Selig says the Lerners are doing a good job. Boy, there’s an endorsement. Like Tony Romo saying he loves Jessica Simpson before kicking her to the curb.
Hiring general manager Jim Bowden off a second-rate TV show was a horrific move. Some say Bowden charmed the Lerners. Please, you think real estate developers don’t know bull when they hear it?
The Lerners can’t run a business as absentee owners. Don’t tell me they’ve been involved when no one from ownership attended Monday’s news conference over Acta’s firing. President Stan Kasten tries to protect the owners by saying it’s all his responsibility, but that’s not true. Kasten isn’t perfect, but he’s better than ownership has allowed him in operating the team.
Simply issuing an unsigned statement as a group that they’ll try to do better isn’t sufficient. Someone has final say. Put your name on the letter. By the way, will someone please explain to the Nats the nation’s capital has a comma and periods as in Washington, D.C.
The Lerners should do four things right away. First, sign interim GM Mike Rizzo to a longterm deal. Second, sign No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg before the Aug. 17 deadline. If Strasburg wants crazy money, then it’s the Nats fault for taking him. Unsigned players don’t help.
Third, show up at the turnstyles. Show the colors to fans who are still coming. Fourth, end this stupid losing streak by Teddy. It devalues a great fan attraction.
It’s up to the Nats owners to turn around the team.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
