July 13, 2009

Washington Nationals Fire Manager Manny Acta: The Washington Nationals (26-61) fired manager Manny Acta after making the worst start in Major League Baseball this season, the team said on Monday. The Nats trail the Philadelphia Phillies by 22 1/2 games in the National League East standings. Jim Riggleman becomes the sacrificial lamb, er, interim manager. If the Phillies play .500 baseball the rest of the season, the Nats must win 63 out of their last 81 games to catch them.

posted by rcade to baseball at 05:15 PM - 8 comments

No doubt this has been a terrible start for the Nats. But there really is no reason that they would have to catch the Dodgers at all. Not that trailing the Phillies by 22.5 is much better, but comparing the Nationals and Dodgers means nothing. At minimum, the Nats would have to catch the NL Wild Card team (which they won't do).

(I guess after thinking about the feat, if the Nats do happen to catch the Dodgers by winning 70 out of 81, it's my contention that they would then deserve both the NL East and NL West Division titles.)

posted by BoKnows at 05:49 PM on July 13, 2009

I admit I don't follow baseball much anymore, but when did the Dodgers join the NL East?

posted by dusted at 06:26 PM on July 13, 2009

How about just National League standings?

National League West doesn't work either.

(Don't you just love Mondays?)

It did say East, then West, right? Now it's back to East. This isn't funny, rcade.

posted by BoKnows at 06:46 PM on July 13, 2009

Yikes! Worst error ever!

This reminds me of driving from San Diego to San Francisco a decade ago to bring a friend her dog. The driver and I got back into the car after a gas stop, then promptly drove south for an hour by mistake, never thinking about why the setting sun was to our right. Added two hours to the drive.

posted by rcade at 06:48 PM on July 13, 2009

I have a feeling there is a lesson in there somewhere. I just haven't found it yet.

posted by BoKnows at 06:59 PM on July 13, 2009

It took them long enough to figure it out. Now if they can just catch the Mets -- the embarrassment in Queens would be super!

posted by jjzucal at 07:24 PM on July 13, 2009

It's ok. The Nationals are playing all by themselves now. They can chase whoever the hell they want. Maybe they could be competitive in the AFC West?

posted by bender at 08:25 AM on July 14, 2009

Here's the real list of teams they are chasing. They need 21 more wins to escape membership among the 25 worst major league seasons of all time.

posted by rcade at 11:28 AM on July 14, 2009

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