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Forget benching, dropping Mags makes more sense
Either way, Nats need to act
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Well, the Nationals can't fire Manny Acta now.
Not after winning two of three games from the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Acta's job security remains as tenuous as it was last Saturday when I reported that the Nationals had decided him to replace him with bench coach Jim Riggleman. But the timing has changed. If my story had "no basis," as Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo said, then the team should end the uncertainty over Acta's status and announce that he will remain manager for the rest of the season. But if my story was correct, then the Nationals should make the change sooner rather than later. Acta, who has handled himself with grace and dignity throughout a trying season, deserves a resolution one way or another. Most baseball people view Acta with sympathy, believing he merits little blame for the Nationals' 18-46 record. The team's sloppy play does not reflect well on Acta, but the players certainly have not quit on him. The Nationals, however, are an organization in flux. Rizzo, who took over for Jim Bowden in March, does not yet know if he will be permanent GM. Team president Stan Kasten understands the value of stability from all his years of working for the Braves. But as owners, the Lerner family continues to evolve. Meanwhile, Acta twists. Whatever the Nationals' reasons, they are not treating him right. — Ken Rosenthal |
Some first-place club.
As the Tigers prepare to host the Brewers this weekend (Saturday, MLB on FOX, 4:10 p.m.), the rest of the AL Central can take great comfort in the developing Motown Meltdown.
Left fielder Carlos Guillen might miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Left-hander Dontrelle Willis is back on the disabled list with anxiety disorder.
Oh, and in case you've missed it, the Tigers are paying Gary Sheffield $13.6 million to outperform their designated hitters as a member of the Mets.
Unbelievable. The Tigers released the wrong slugger.
Sheffield's OPS is .876. Ordonez's is .690. Sheffield has eight home runs and 25 RBIs. Tigers DHs have five homers and an American League-low 18 RBIs — in 78 more plate appearances than Sheff, mind you.
But back to the comparison between Ordonez and Ortiz.
Leyland's approach seems much harsher than Francona's, particularly since Ordonez's OPS remains slightly higher than Ortiz's.
The difference is that Ordonez is on pace to make enough plate appearances to vest his $18 million option for 2010.
Ortiz's contract includes no such provision; his $12.5 million salary for next season already is guaranteed.
Ahem.
The Tigers, with little difficulty, can cite performance reasons for benching Ordonez, starting with his .343 slugging percentage, which is lower than Ramon Santiago's, lower than Adam Everett's, lower than most of the free world's.
Who ever thought that Magglio would hit like Rey Ordonez, the famously light-hitting shortstop with the same last name?
Magglio, 35, led the AL with a .363 batting average in 2007. He hit .317 with 21 homers and 103 RBIs in '08. His home-run total this season stands at two — two! — and he has hit none since April 27.
His scariest number, though, is 215.
With that number of plate appearances, in addition to the 865 he has accumulated since the start of '08, Ordonez would guarantee his $18 million for next season.
If he plays enough this season and next season, he can guarantee another $15 million for 2011.
Just another friendly proviso from the ever-helpful creative department at the Scott Boras Corporation — and one that makes Ordonez extremely difficult to trade.
Frankly, the Tigers should just release Ordonez, to whom they owe approximately $11 million in '09 salary, plus a $3 million buyout in '10.
Problem is, they've already released Sheffield. They might want to release Willis, to whom they owe approximately $18 million through next season. And don't forget lefty Nate Robertson, who is a $7 million reliever this season and looms as a $10 million mop-up man in '10.
Hoo boy.
The good news, if you want to call it that, is owner Mike Ilitch's willingness to continue throwing good money after bad.
Ilitch told the Detroit Free Press' Drew Sharp earlier this week that — if necessary — he would add to the team's $115 million payroll, the fifth highest in the majors.
"We're going to do whatever we've got to do," Ilitch said.
Quite a statement, considering that the Tigers' 26.2 percent decline in home attendance is the second largest in the majors behind only the Nationals', according to STATS LLC.
The Tigers need a starting pitcher, seeing as how their fourth and fifth starters might as well be named Null and Void.
They also need a slugger, unless they are comfortable with Ryan Raburn as Ordonez's replacement in right field.
The Twins must be loving this. Ditto for the White Sox, and even the Royals and last-place Indians, who are only seven games back in the division race.
O Magglio, Magglio, wherefore art thou Magglio?
Lost at the plate. In steep decline. On the bench.
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