Acta To Manage

[love_that_reefer]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Nationals are finally set to hire a manager.

Mets third-base coach Manny Acta was expected to get the job Tuesday, when the Nationals said they would hold a news conference to announce a replacement for Frank Robinson.

The 37-year-old Acta would become the youngest current manager in the major leagues.

It would be Acta's first managing job in the majors. He has managed in the minors, and led the Dominican Republic to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic this year.

Acta was Robinson's third-base coach with the Montreal Expos from 2002-04, before the franchise moved to Washington.

The Nationals told Robinson he wouldn't be back at the end of last season, when the club went 71-91 and finished in last place in the NL East for the third consecutive year.

Washington interviewed several managerial candidates, with varying degrees of experience, including Lou Piniella and Joe Girardi, both saying they withdrew from consideration.

Acta is familiar with the team and could pull a Girardi type season if the Nats got some talent behind him so maybe not like Girardi.

[DirtyKash]

Acta = 500 times better than Frobby.

[McKain]

Acta won't ruin pitchers and bat Cristian Guzman second.

I like it.

[Molina00]

I didn't know Acta was that young. He was one of the big candidates being considered for the Rangers job. I hope things go a little better for him than they did for Robinson.

[DirtyKash]

Acta won't ruin pitchers and bat Cristian Guzman second.

. . . or sleep in the dugout during the game.

[McKain]

I dunno about that part. Acta mght do that.

[love_that_reefer]

Only when Livan pitches.