Mannyger Acta’s 2009 Option Picked Up

September 28, 2007

Wooo! The Nationals picked up one of the two club options on Manny Acta beyond next season (which means a raise each year too, according to Barry Svrluga). Interesting discussion on his previous post about the Mets fans wanting them to bring Manny back to New York to replace Willie Randolph. To them I say “heck no!! He’s ours!! Back off!” Here is the press release after the jump:

NATIONALS EXERCISE 2009 OPTION ON

MANAGER MANNY ACTA’S CONTRACT

The Washington Nationals today exercised the 2009 option on manager Manny Acta’s contract. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Named Washington’s manager on November 14, 2006, Acta has guided the Nationals to a 72-87 (.453) record in his first season at the helm. The second skipper in Nationals history, the 38-year old Acta is the youngest manager in baseball.

“Manny’s ability to lead, as well as his infectious optimism and attention to detail is impressive,” said Bowden. “I feel the Nationals’ future is in good hands with one of the best young managers in baseball.”

A trendy pre-season pick to finish last in the National League East, Acta’s Nationals instead enters the season’s final weekend in Philadelphia having already trumped last season’s win total (71) despite losing their top two offensive performers—Alfonso Soriano (free agency) and Nick Johnson (injury)—from 2006 and enduring an NL-leading 1,242 games lost to injury (DL time).

Acta went to Spring Training with only one spot in his initial starting rotation secure. Seven months later, Opening Day-starter John Patterson was limited to one win due to injury and Acta’s Nationals have had 61 percent of their games (97 of 159) started by pitchers with less than 10 career wins. Exactly a third (33%) of Washington’s 159 contests this season has been started by a true rookie—either Matt Chico, Joel Hanrahan, John Lannan or Levale Speigner.

Yet, entering the season’s final weekend, Washington’s magic number to clinch fourth place, and escape the NL East cellar for the first time since 2003, is one. Acta’s managerial maneuvers have helped the Nationals post a stout 27-24 record in one-run games, and the 27 one-run victories are tied for second in the National League behind only NL West-leading Arizona (32).

Under Acta’s watch, the Nationals sport a team fielding percentage (.982) that would rank as the sixth-best in the franchise’s 39 NL seasons if the 2007 campaign concluded today. Acta not only inherited a Nationals club that last season ranked last in baseball in both errors (133) and fielding percentage (.978), they have been without Johnson’s defensive prowess at first base and saw shortstop Cristian Guzman’s season limited to less than 50 games by injury.

A tireless ambassador for the Nationals’ numerous community relations endeavors, Acta also targeted improved baserunning acumen this season. The Nationals’ 75.0 percent stolen-base percentage (69 stolen bases in 92 attempts) in 2007 is not only five percent better than the industry average, and a nearly 13 percent improvement on last year’s percentage of 66.4, but Washington—to date—has made 39 fewer outs on the base paths while attempting to swipe bases compared to 2006.

Posted in Front Office, MLB, Washington Nationals