Washington president Stan Kasten needed 30 minutes to figure Manny Acta could be the Nationals next manager. It must have been a slowday.
Acta took two minutes to impress a small crowd outside Nats owner Ted Lerner’s downtown office on Tuesday. He’s funny and forceful, brainy and brawny. Antonio Banderas sans the hair.
The great part of baseball’s return to Washington is providing something besides the Redskins to commiserate over and Acta’s going to be a major talking point around town — in two languages. He wants a solid pitching and defensive-minded team that can still crank one out. Acta can work the locker room as a player’s coach, but still deliver a forceful stare that would even melt predecessor Frank Robinson.
And most of all, Acta understands what managing a team in the nation’s capital means. The 37-year-old Dominican knows Washington’s impact in all things — sports and politics — resonates worldwide. He can reach out to the growing Latino community while charging an impressive fan base as the team readies a standout stadium for 2008.
“I kinda borrow Lou Gehrig’s phrase, which is one of my favorite ones I’ve been saying for 20 years, I considered myself the luckiest guy on the face of the Earth,” Acta said.
“How appropriate an immigrant from the Dominican Republic like me comes to America, works hard, keeps his nose clean and gets a chance to manage the capital of the United States’ baseball team. God bless America.”
The Nats may have gotten lucky on this one. Acta’s name kept coming up while interviewing numerous candidates. A former minor league infielder turned coach at age 22, Acta spent three years with the Montreal Expos before heading to the New York Mets as third base coach in 2004 while the Montreal franchise relocated to Washington.
Nats general manager Jim Bowden’s wish list included someone can who lead, motivate, discipline and believes in pitching/defense first.
But Acta is also the youngest manager in Major League Baseball so might his youth be disadvantageous when overseeing older players?
“I’m not afraid to crack the whip,” Acta said. “I don’t worry about personal stuff. I go to bed with [wife] Cindy so whoever’s mad at me it really doesn’t bother me at night.”
Oh, that drew a look of disbelief from Cindy Acta, a cackle from mostly older sports writers and a round of applause from bystanders over such candor.
“Time to Acta-vate, baby,” Bowden cried.
Oh yeah, Acta makes you wish baseball was starting again today. After all, the local pro football season is practically done.
“We’re going to have a winner here sooner than later,” Acta said.
Sounds familiar, but Acta makes it sound believable.
Acta ingredient
» In 1986, Acta was signed as an undrafted free-agent infielder and played six seasons for the Houston Astros.
» As a manager, he led the Licey Tigers to titles in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean World Series in 2003.
» Did you know? At 37, Acta is the youngest manager in the majors … He also lives in the same apartment complex that was hit by a private plane being piloted by former New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
