"I think most of those comments are blown out of proportion. People are really mistaking my relationship with Omar Minaya and (Mets VP of player development) Tony Bernazard. We are friends. Those are two guys I talk to during the season, and during the offseason, too, because they are my friends. It has nothing to do with Expos, Mets, Nationals or anything. Its a friendship. Im a National. I'm very happy here, and Ill be here as long as the Lerners, Stan Kasten and Jim Bowden want me to be."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Times, 6/18/2008)
Denial is not just a river in Southeast (that's the Anacostia, actually): Manny says he's a Nat.
But the Wilpons will keep the seat warm for Acta for as long as it takes. Manny's under contract through next season, and the Nats have a club option in hand for 2010, but...
Chico (not Matt) reports that the Nationals wouldn't even consider letting the Mets talk to Manny; this, of course, according to Jim Bowden, who very well might not be around to make that call when the time comes (via Washington Post, 6/18/2008):
General Manager Jim Bowden, asking how Washington would respond if New York sought permission to speak with Acta, said via e-mail that "Manny Acta is our manager. Permission would be denied."
Meanwhile, the one thing everyone seems to be able to agree on is that the Mets' organization is a joke -- starting with the Wilpons -- in the wake of the botched Randolph firing. Joel Sherman of the NY Post lights 'em up (via NY Post 6/17/2008):
"Mets ownership, Fred and Jeff Wilpon, completed the impossible: They have made Hank Steinbrenner appear the level-headed baseball owner in town...
It would have been impossible to believe the Mets would approve a dumber cross-country flight than the two they allowed Ryan Church to take with the lingering effects of a concussion. But move over into coach, Ryan, here is Randolph flying 3,000 miles to manage a game before being fired. That dismissal was made official at 3:14 a.m. Tuesday with a fax statement."
(Photo of Manny Acta on TV by The Nationals Enquirer Staff)
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